Welcome to DA Spaniels

Welcome to our little world of spaniels, where our home is filled with wagging tails, happy paws, and an abundance of love.

Our family's journey with spaniels began long before we ever considered ourselves breeders. We first fell in love with these wonderful dogs simply as owners, and that love eventually grew into a desire to thoughtfully preserve the breeds that had become such an important part of our family.

We began our breeding journey with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in 2012. After many wonderful years devoted to Cavaliers, we welcomed English Cocker Spaniels into our breeding program in 2026.

Our English Cocker Spaniels are show bred, also commonly referred to as “bench bred” English Cockers. Our program is not focused on field bred or working line English Cockers. We strive to preserve the beautiful breed type, structure, temperament, movement, and characteristics expected of the show bred English Cocker Spaniel while continuing to place health and temperament at the forefront of our breeding decisions.

Formerly located in Sacramento, California, our family has since relocated across the country and now calls Charlotte, North Carolina home.Although our location has changed, the heart of our program has not. Our dogs are first and foremost members of our family. They share our home and our everyday lives and receive the same love, attention, training, adventures, and, of course, treats that they always have.

If you have followed us for a while, you may have also noticed that they happen to be my favorite photography subjects. As a photographer, I truly couldn't ask for better models.

Our Breeding Philosophy

Our goal has never been simply to produce beautiful puppies. We strive to preserve the qualities that make the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel so special while placing a strong emphasis on health, temperament, structure, and adherence to the breed standard. Every breeding is carefully considered. We look beyond color and appearance and evaluate the individual dog as a whole, including health, temperament, structure, pedigree, and how two dogs may complement one another.

Responsible breeding cannot guarantee that a dog will never experience a health condition during its lifetime. Dogs are living beings, and even generations of careful breeding cannot eliminate every possible health concern. What responsible breeding can do is provide us with valuable information when making breeding decisions and help reduce the risk of preventable hereditary disease.

That is why health testing remains one of the foundations of our program.

Health Testing & Transparency

Our active breeding dogs undergo breed appropriate health screening and genetic testing before being incorporated into our breeding program.

Depending on the breed and individual dog, our health screening includes evaluations such as cardiac examinations, ophthalmologic examinations, patella evaluations, hip evaluations, neurology evaluations, blood laboratory work, and DNA testing for known breed related genetic conditions, and additional testing when appropriate.

We also believe health testing should be transparent. Each of our breeding dogs has an individual profile on our website where families can review available health testing information and learn more about the dog behind each litter.

Our Puppies

Our puppies are born and raised as part of our home. The first weeks of a puppy's life have an incredible influence on how they experience the world, which is why our responsibility extends far beyond simply keeping puppies fed, clean, and comfortable.

As they grow, our puppies are gradually introduced to age appropriate experiences designed to build confidence and prepare them for family life. This includes regular handling, grooming, brushing, nail care, baths, household sounds, different surfaces, crate introduction, early potty training, leash and collar exposure, and safe opportunities to experience new sights, sounds, people, and environments. Our goal is not to overwhelm puppies with experiences, but to introduce the world gradually and positively while allowing each puppy to develop at their own pace. Every puppy has an individual personality, and we pay close attention to those differences as they grow.

Finding the Right Family

Communication is an important part of our program. We want our families to feel comfortable asking questions, and we also want to learn about the families who come to us. When you submit an application, we ask about your household, lifestyle, experience with dogs, preferences, and what you are hoping for in your future companion. This information helps us determine whether our program is the right fit for you and, eventually, which puppy may be best suited for your family. While color and gender preferences are always considered, temperament and compatibility are incredibly important to us. Our responsibility is not simply to find homes for our puppies. It is to find the right homes.

Waitlist Policy

Our waitlist allows us to thoughtfully plan upcoming litters while keeping the number of families waiting for a puppy manageable. Before joining our waitlist, families must first complete our application process and review our puppy contract. Submitting an application, receiving approval, communicating with us about an upcoming litter, or expressing interest in a puppy does not automatically reserve or guarantee a position on our waitlist.

YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A SPOT ON OUR WAITLIST UNTIL WE HAVE RECEIVED BOTH A SIGNED CONTRACT AND THE REQUIRED DEPOSIT.

A family's waitlist position is considered officially reserved only after both requirements have been completed. Our waitlist is maintained in the order that reservations are finalized. Preferences such as sex, color, and anticipated timing are taken into consideration. However, because litter size, sex, color, and individual puppy temperaments cannot be predicted or guaranteed, placement in a specific litter or the availability of a particular puppy cannot be promised.Our priority is always finding the best possible match between each puppy and family. If a suitable puppy is not available within the anticipated litter, we will communicate with the family regarding available options and future litter opportunities. We ask families joining our waitlist to remain in communication with us and notify us of any significant changes to their preferences, timeline, or circumstances. Our goal is to make the process as organized, transparent, and fair as possible for every family waiting to welcome one of our puppies.

Our Health Guarantee

Even with responsible breeding practices and comprehensive health screening, no breeder can ethically promise that a puppy will never develop a health condition. For this reason, every DA Spaniels puppy is accompanied by our written 1 year genetic health guarantee.

The specific terms, conditions, coverage, and responsibilities of both the breeder and puppy family are clearly outlined in our contract, which every prospective family is given the opportunity to review before placing a deposit. We encourage families to read the contract carefully and ask as many questions as necessary before making a commitment.

Our Contract

Before a puppy can be reserved or a family can officially join our waitlist, we require our puppy contract to be reviewed and signed. Our contract exists to establish clear expectations for both the breeder and the family and, most importantly, to protect the wellbeing of the puppy. It includes information regarding the puppy's health guarantee, parental health testing, registration and paperwork, deposits and payments, ownership responsibilities, and what families can expect when welcoming a puppy from our program.

Deposits are not accepted without a signed contract, and a waitlist position is not secured without both the signed contract and required deposit.

One provision of our contract is especially important to us:

If at any point in a dog's life one of our families is no longer able to care for their dog, we ask that they contact us. Circumstances change. Life happens. There is no judgment. A dog produced by our program will always have a place with us, and we never want one of our dogs to enter a shelter or uncertain situation because a family was afraid or embarrassed to reach out. Our commitment to our puppies does not end when they leave our home.

Registration, Pedigrees & Breeding Homes

Our breeding dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club, and pedigree information is available upon request. Families may also request printed pedigree information for the parents of their puppy.

We welcome respectful inquiries from established or aspiring responsible breeders who may be interested in one of our puppies for a breeding program. Breeding rights are considered individually and are never automatically included with the placement of a puppy. When contacting us regarding a breeding prospect, please provide information about your program, breeding goals, health testing practices, and plans for the puppy so that we can determine whether our philosophies align.

Visiting Our Puppies

The health and safety of our puppies and adult dogs will always come first. Because young puppies are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases before completing their vaccinations, we maintain a low traffic environment and do not currently offer in home visits. We completely understand how important it is for families to feel connected to their breeder and future puppy, so we are happy to arrange virtual meetings through FaceTime or Zoom. Families can meet us, see the puppies in real time, ask questions, and become more familiar with our home and program while allowing us to maintain important biosecurity precautions for our puppies. Throughout the puppies' development, we also strive to keep our families involved through photos, videos, updates, and communication.

A Lifetime Commitment

Breeding is much more than welcoming puppies into the world. It is making thoughtful decisions before a litter is ever conceived. It is health testing, studying pedigrees, understanding temperament, raising puppies intentionally, supporting families, continuing to learn, and accepting responsibility for every life we bring into this world. We are incredibly grateful to every family who trusts us with such an important addition to their home. Whether you are just beginning your search or are already waiting for your DA Spaniels puppy, we invite you to explore our dogs, review their health information, learn about our program, and reach out with any questions.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know our family and the dogs we love so dearly.

Welcome to DA Spaniels.