Retrograde Kennels

Q. & A. with Megan

• Why did you start breeding?

  My grandfather was a field trial judge who bred English pointers and German shorthair pointers. My dogs compete in AKC conformation only. My very first pet growing up was a cocker spaniel and I loved her with my whole heart, so when I began to compete in AKC the breed was my natural first choice.

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• What makes your program special?

  My breeding program offers puppies from champion and grand champion parents that grow up in a child socialized environment. This makes my dogs a first choice for families with young children or with frequent child visitors as puppies are worked with by my children and I starting just days after they are born (under supervision of course) and then provided with early neurological stimulation starting at 1 week old to encourage healthy adaptability as they continue to grow. Potty training is started with artificial turf over puppy pads and puppies go home already consistently using the method. Our puppies are NEVER raised or kept on wire flooring and always have their feet on solid ground. Although this is a lot more work, we feel it is worth it to have puppies raised like the family member they are and will be once they go to their new homes. It encourages them to learn how to go potty on the grass so they don’t just go “wherever.” As potty training is the single largest hurdle for new puppy owners, we feel we owe it to them to have a solid foundation for them to be able to transfer quickly into whichever situation they will have in their new homes. We begin grooming our puppies weekly at about 2-3 weeks old. This helps start the desensitization to grooming equipment early and encourages them to not be afraid of the sounds and feelings. The grooming, while minimal at the beginning, later on includes the use of clippers, a nail dremel, brushes, baths, and the use of a velocity force drier. These are common sounds in the grooming salon that your puppy will have to be ok with to have a safe grooming experience In the future, so we take it very seriously from the get-go. We specialize in breeding Parti-Colored Cocker Spaniels. We do not breed solid colors. We never have nor will breed with or for the Merle gene as per the American Spaniel Club’s guidelines.

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• What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

  Our puppies include brown white and tan, brown and white, black white and tan, red and white, and black and white. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

• Where do your breeding dogs live?

  They live in my home.