INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Aim to buy a purebred puppy from a responsible local Cocker Spaniel breeder. It is a good idea to visit a few local breeders before choosing one from which to buy a puppy. Check local classified listings, talk to area vets, attend dog shows, visit dog parks, and ask other local Cocker Spaniel owners for referrals to reputable breeders. It's best to shop locally so you can meet the puppy first and establish a relationship with a knowledgeable breeder. Browse the database of Cocker Spaniel breeders at the American Spaniel Club (ASC) website to look for ASC-registered breeders in your state: http://www.asc-cockerspaniel.org/index.php/breeders.html Ask how many years of experience the breeder has; ideally, they should have at least a few years of experience. Also, ask if they only breed Cocker Spaniel puppies or other breeds as well. If they specialize in Cocker Spaniels, they are more likely to be knowledgeable about them. Be polite and direct with questions like:  "Have you been a breeder for many years?" "Have you only bred Cocker Spaniels?" Making sure that your new puppy is healthy is of the utmost concern, and it should be a breeder's primary concern as well. Be sure to ask your breeder if the puppies’ mother is current on her vaccines, as puppies receive their early immunity to disease directly from their mother, and if either parent had any genetic defects. You should also inquire if the puppy will be seen by a vet before it is sold.  Conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, glaucoma, cardiomyopathy, and hip dysplasia are common in Cocker Spaniels, so ask if either parent of the litter has been afflicted with any of them.  Both the mother and the father should be certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) as well. Almost all pet stores puppies come from puppy mills, which are essentially puppy factories with horrible, unhealthy conditions. Given the popularity of the Cocker Spaniel breed, many Cocker Spaniel puppies will be sold in pet stores. Buying your new puppy from a pet store, however, supports and perpetuates the puppy mill business that exploits and harms animals. Dogs raised in pet mills are also likely to carry parasites and suffer from health problems. If you contact a breeder to buy a puppy, make sure to visit the premises before going through with your purchase. Breeders who avoid your visit and offer to deliver the puppy to you are likely trying to hide the true conditions of their breeding operation. If you are not able to see the condition of your puppy’s first home, as well as the state of its mother, you should not trust the breeder you are dealing with. Given the popularity of Cocker Spaniels and their unfortunate appeal to exploitative breeders, you should be vigilant about who you are doing business with. Puppy mill breeders are concerned with profit above all else, so they will likely fall all over you to make the sale while evading questions about their business. Steer clear of any breeders who are  not forthcoming or secretive. Responsible breeders invest time and care into their puppies and are more likely to be choosy about who they do business with, and express interest in the conditions of the new home the dog will be going to.

SUMMARY: Locate local breeders. Ask about the breeder’s experience. Ask about health considerations. Do not buy from a pet store. Insist on visiting the premises. Read the breeder’s behaviour.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: By now, your branches may be too thick for pruning shears, so a fine-toothed saw ought to do the trick.  Cut as close to the base of the trunk or branch as possible. If you leave a stub, it may harbor pests and diseases. Consider pruning the small shoots at the ends of the branches as well. This will give you bigger, tastier pomegranates! This is something that you should be doing throughout your tree's lifespan. Suckers and water sprouts will appear the most in the summer, but if you see them at other times during the year, it wouldn't hurt to prune them off. Incoming suckers and sprouts will always be thin, regardless of the tree's age, so a pair of pruning shears will do the trick. You can allow the tree to grow taller, but it will be harder to harvest it. This is because most of the fruit grows on the top of the tree. You can easily reach the fruit on a 10 to 12 ft (3.0 to 3.7 m) tall tree with a 9 ft (2.7 m) tall ladder. Most pomegranate trees will reach about 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 m), but some varieties may grow taller. In this case, trim the branches shorter. Your pomegranate will bear lots of fruit, but there may come a time when you have to pick-and-choose which branches to keep and which branches to prune.  Cut the branches as close to collar as possible. The collar is the raised ring between the trunk and the branch. If you keep all of the branches, you'll be preventing the healthy ones from getting as much energy as they could. If the tree is still very young, you only need to trim the first 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm). If the tree is older, then it would be better to cut 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm) instead. This will help expose the new wood, which will encourage more growth. Think ahead when pruning in the winter and use your best judgement. If a branch is long and close to the ground, give it a gentle pull. If it touches the ground, prune it shorter. If the fruit touches the ground, it may rot or get contaminated.

SUMMARY:
Remove dead, diseased, or crisscrossing branches in the winter. Prune away suckers and water sprouts in the summer. Keep the tree around 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 m) tall. Prune away branches that don't bear good quality fruit. Trim the tips of the branches to encourage new growth. Make sure that the fruit does not weigh the branches to the ground.