It’s difficult to advise a first time owner on what breed of dog would suit them. Most people on the forum are here because they may have had problems! A working cocker would certainly be too much of a handful for a first dog in my opinion. Any working breed has hard wired instincts that are impossible to change,because that’s what they were bred to do.
Most show cockers are delightful, very intelligent and very active.
Mine needed a trip to a groomer every six weeks at pricing between £30 upwards. He had a very thick shiny coat, which he wouldn’t let me do. The feet and ears get very muddy or sandy and must be well trimmed inside and out. If you ask a groomer to do a puppy cut, they should keep it cut more shaggily, but you need to ask round, because so many of them do a quick all over clip, to owners’ horror. It is hard to find a hand stripper person because it takes hours and therefore is expensive. Also it is hard work on groomers fingers. I used to use a cutting rake called the Mars Coat King which thins hair out.
You can use a clipper yourself and choose the length of coat you like with the different attachments. I do this with my poodle cross, naturally scruffy. There is a guide on the Grooming section which gives all the numbers for doing legs, back , tums and feet.
My dogs hair did not change texture, but he wasn’t neutered. When shiny hair grows after clipping, it’s like a crew cut, not a blend of long and short hairs, so it’s bound to look less natural.
Good luck with search.