I know i am a bit late posting here but I wanted to put in my 5 pence.
I have never owned a cocker untill now but whilst we were looking the big debate came up of show type versus working type. Obviously we looked into this when purchasing our pup and we found there wasnt a big difference temperament wise with regards to the two strains. I feel this is very much down to the individual owners and breeders.
If your an active family or person then your dog is going to be quite active and energetic but if your relaxed and dont really do much then your dog generally has the same traits.
Working type dogs are like they are because of the way they are reared. The owners of these dogs say they are good with children and they are because they spend a very limited amount of time with the children.
So to summarise, I don't really see how mixing the two strains can be detrimental to the breed. People say they breed cockers to help the breeed yet all they do if bang out show type or working type dogs.
Both types of breeders say to the prespective buyer stay away from the other, surely this is more detrimental to the breed?
I see no reason why the two "different" strains cannot be mixed so long as they have both been DNA tested.
Obviously if you want to show your dog at crufts you will need all show characteristics.
I'm afraid I couldn't disagree more with this post, it's also an extremely worrying post to read from someone that's just bought a working cocker puppy
I also don't really understand the DNA testing reference - there are specific conditions that should be tested for in both parents from kidney disease to eye problems to hip issues and these can't be done with a 'DNA' test.
I know a number of working cockers that live with children, and in the
right home (an active, experienced working type dog home) working cockers
are wonderful with children - even when they spend a lot of time with them. As an aside, I have a show cocker that I have to be more careful with around children than most of the working types I know... but I've also had a show cocker who was absolutely bomb proof around children.
Of course you can hype dogs up or calm them down depending on how you live with them and handle them, but within reason. I've owned two show types one had a very high working drive, was naturally very very busy and energetic and was difficult to mange but none the less a wonderful dog (this was the one that was great with kids).. the other which whilst he has his moments, is generally very laid back and has a hunt drive but nothing that 'normal' walks can't satisfy (very different to my other dog). Interestingly, it's this dog that I have to be a bit careful with around children or anyone that isn't good with dogs. Both dogs were raised in the same way in the same family (with young children), so their differences are clearly not nurture and most definitely down to nature and their genetics.
You say that there wasn't a big difference in temperament between the strains when you researched buying a pup... did you see these dogs in their home or out on walks? How much time did you spend with them? A working cocker in a home environment being introduced to new people isn't likely to display very different characteristics to a show cocker, you are only likely to see the differences when you start to train, walk them and most importantly manage living with them for the rest of their lives....
I don't know the history, temperament or lines of the pup you're buying obviously, but I very much hope it is suitable for your lifestyle.. there are lots of 'working' cockers out there that have been bred for money and without the true nature of the breed kept in mind and some of these still carry very high hunt/working drives but lack the biddable nature and focus that a well bred working dog should also have, and these are the dogs sold to the pet market that can be very difficult to manage (even in active homes) and often end up in rescue.
I've also not come across
good breeders telling buyers to stay away from show or working types in the way you've described... why would they? A good breeder is breeding their dogs for a specific type of owner and will make sure that their pups go to homes that are suitable for the pups, it's only breeders breeding (often badly) for money that will try and sway a buyer without properly discussing what they want from their dog and the suitability of the strain and litter..
If you've experienced a 'sales' tactic similar to what you've described from a breeder, I would stay well away.
I'm not having a go or being controversial for the sake of it, but I had to reply to your post as I do feel it's been written without any real experience of the breed and a naivety that could be dangerous for prospective puppy buyers reading this board. There are numerous experienced show and working type owners on this board that have owned or bred cockers, both working and show types, that would strongly disagree with what you've posted I'm afraid. Just as there are numerous sad tales of owners having serious problems or not being able to handle the puppies they've been misguidedly sold, which backs up the reality of the general differences between the two strains, the reasons two strains are bred and why it's a bad idea to mix breed show and working strains....
