Breeder of Merit

As you can see by the banner to the right, we are an AKC Breeder of Merit. What does that mean? Basically it recognizes our commitment to the AKC programs through our activities and successes. To be accepted as a Breeder of Merit we have to meet the following requirements: 

• Have at least 5 years involvement with AKC events.

• Earned AKC Conformation, Performance or Companion event titles on a minimum of 4 dogs from AKC litters we bred

• Be a member of an AKC club.

• Certify that applicable health screens are performed on our breeding stock as recommended by the Parent Club.

• Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring 100% of the puppies produced are AKC registered. (We believe that this can have a positive impact on curbing the decline in the number of AWS in the world today. Just like we felt that expanding the recognition of the breed to Europe in countries like Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, and Hungary would be a positive step forward for the breed.)

How do we stack up to those requirements?

We have been involved in AKC events since 1989 and have successfully participated in hunt tests, obedience trials and dog shows. The number of our dogs that have earned AKC championship and performance titles far exceeds the minimal requirement of the AKC. We hold membership in multiple AKC clubs; both local and national. Our commitment to breeding healthy dogs has driven us to exceed the rudimentary number of health screens called for by the AWS Parent Club and we have called upon that club to expand the number of health screens used by breeders. Our sales agreement and follow-up program with our puppy buyers demonstrates our commitment to strive for 100% of our puppies being registered with the AKC.

Bred with Heart

As conscientious breeders of AWS we make every effort to assure that our breeding stock is clear of potential health disorders. In the summer of 2015 the AKC began the "Bred with H.E.A.R.T." program and we have been a part of that program ever since. The program gives AKC a new way to engage, encourage and recognize ALL breeders who meet specific health testing standards and who participate in continuing education. We immediately joined the program and are proud of our commitment to it. Here are just some of the requirements breeders must agree to in order to participate in this program:

• Certify that applicable health screens are performed on breeding stock as recommended by the respective AKC Breed Parent Club and be prepared to supply proof of such compliance upon request

• Must agree to comply with the AKC Care and Conditions Policy, including inspection(s) by the American Kennel Club or its duly authorized representative

• Must agree to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding the ownership and maintenance of dogs

• Must agree to complete AKC-approved and/or AKC-provided continuing breeder education courses annually

We screen our stock for thyroid disorders, hip dysplasia, eye abnormalities, heart problems, degenerative myelopathy, and other potential health concerns. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals certification numbers for our breeding dogs are available on our website or directly through the OFA website. We back the health of our puppies with a written health guarantee that covers debilitating genetic health defects. Throughout our time as breeders, we have strived to stay well educated on the science and art of dog breeding. For that reason, we often spend time keeping up with the new literature, attending theriogenology workshops, participating in educational programs offered by the AKC, and much more.

Temperament is of special concern to us and we do our best to assure that we use only temperamentally sound stock. In addition, because we are now working with fourth and fifth generation dogs from our foundation stock we have a good idea of what to expect from the puppies that we produce. Staying in touch with puppy buyers and helping to train many of the pups that have been bought from us allows us to stay well informed about our ‘Little Brownies’ family.

Through constant observation, our knowledge of canine behavior, and years of experience, we identify the various personalities of our puppies and use that identification, along with information contained in our questionnaire/application, to help us match each pup to the individual puppy buyer. In addition, we go to great lengths to provide socialization for the pups while raising each litter. This includes exposure to a variety of people, sights, smells, and sounds. Those looking for a hunting dog might be interested in knowing that all the pups are introduced to birds and bird scent beginning at the age of 6 weeks. Weather permitting, we will even take the litter down to our pond for a dip in the water before they leave for their new homes.

Puppies are not allowed to go to their new homes until they reach the age of at least eight weeks, and we try to have them all on their way between eight and nine weeks of age. When they do head off with the new family the pups have had their dew claws removed, age-appropriate vaccines, are micro-chipped, and wormed. The buyers receive a copy of the puppy’s pedigree, the puppy’s AKC registration papers, veterinary medical record, and a list of suggested reading material.

Boy or Girl

Which is best? It seems that most people inquire about getting a female puppy with the common misconception that the females have better temperaments, are easier to train, or will not be aggressive. We often get the question: What is the difference in temperament between a male and female American Water Spaniel? We don't feel that there is much of a difference in the temperament of the two sexes. As breeders we tend to keep more females than males, but of the males we have they have just as nice a temperament as the females and are sometimes even more loving. In fact, most visitors to our home like our males better than the females. The males tend to be very outgoing and love to have fun! We have owned, hunted over and trained many AWS and neither sex has been consistently better in the field than the other. If you are looking for a companion and not a breeding prospect you may want to consider a male too.

While we have tried to give you a good overview of our breeding philosophy you undoubtedly have more questions. Please feel free to call or write with your questions and we will do our best to address them in a timely manner. If we agree to sell you a puppy - we do not sell to everyone who inquires - you will need to place a deposit with us as a means of securing your spot on "the list." Checks must be made out to Paul or Lynn Morrison for the agreed upon amount.

Steps toward purchasing a puppy

To purchase a puppy you must be approved and, in most cases, submit a deposit. Here is the order in which the steps are typically completed.

1. Request our buyer application via phone or email and submit it in a timely manner; the application is not online.

2. If approved, submit the minimal deposit of $300. The deposit is for a puppy from the next available litter. Deposits are non-refundable unless we are unable to provide a puppy of the requested sex or we have a missed breeding (the girl does not get pregnant). In such cases a refund can be issued or the buyer can move to the next litter.

3. After the litter is born, we will send a sales agreement to the buyer(s). That agreement must be signed by the buyer(s) and submitted to us on or before final payment is made.

4. The buyer(s) must make final payment and complete step 4 above, before taking possession of the puppy. 

5. The puppy must be picked up at our home, during the time period we designate, usually three or four day period. 

Reasonable Pricing

We occasionally get inquiries from people looking for a "reasonably priced" puppy. Since most people that we agree to sell a puppy to do not have a concern with the price of our pups, our price appears to be reasonable. That said, here is our take on the idea of a reasonable price.

Breeders seem to price their pups in a variety of ways including; cheap, the same as other breeders, slightly below other breeders, with several conditions/restrictions attached, and on, and on.

It is likely that all breeders believe their price is reasonable and perhaps that the prices other breeders charge are not. We suppose that reasonableness in pricing is really in the eye of the buyer. If we were buying a pup from another breeder, we would not consider it reasonable to pay $1,000 for a puppy when the parents have not had any or had only one or two health clearances. Nor would we consider it a reasonable price if the seller provided no or a very limited written health guarantee. It would also be an unreasonable price if the pup was not examined by a vet and microchipped prior to purchase.

 Things like this add to the value of a pup and if they are missing, well, the value is rather diminished. Do the parents have conformation or performance titles? Great, then a reasonable price is probably going to be higher. Do the parents have all of the necessary health clearances, titles of one sort or another, and does the breeder offer a written health guarantee and a fair sales agreement? Expect to pay more for pups from such parents and breeders willing to stand behind their pups. There is more that goes into the pricing of pups though than simply these aforementioned items. Raising pups right takes time, commitment, money, and much more. Most breeders will want to be compensated for some of this and rightfully so.  

The price we charge for our pups is based on several things including:

• 30+ years as experienced AWS breeders

• Completing and maintaining five health checks, including one genetic clearance, on our breeding dogs

• Mentoring our puppy buyers wishing to begin their own breeding program

• Providing a written health warranty

• One of the fairest sales agreements available

• Raising our puppies in the home (not a barn, out building, garage, etc.)

• Caring for our pups 24/7 monitored by our team of veterinarians with all pups cleared by the vets before leaving our home

• Taking the pups for walks on our property and socializing them with other dogs and people from an early age

• Microchipping all puppies before they are sold and providing registration information to the buyer

• Introducing the pups to birds, taking them to the pond (weather permitting), and other steps to begin their life as gun dogs

• Having breeding dogs that are hunted, hunt tested, field trained, raised as members of the family, obedience trained, shown in competitions of various types, and used as demonstration dogs for a variety of events

• Having attended and continuing to attend educational programs designed to increase our knowledge and ability as dog breeders in all aspects of the hobby from an understanding of the proper raising of pups, to knowledge of canine structure and movement, to behavior, genetics, and more

When someone buys a dog from us they are not simply paying for an animal but paying for the knowledge and experience we have in the breed, the work we put into raising the pups, and the investments we make in our breeding dogs. Is that reasonable? We think so.