Why you have the cocker type you do

[Cob-Web]

I thought I'd explain a comment on another thread, where I stated that I was specifically looking for a cocker spaniel with no working lines when we decided to chose a dog 

When a reputable breeder of working dogs decides on a pairing, they do so with a view to producing pups with the best possible chance of becoming successful working dogs - either to the gun, or in trials. To be successful at this, dogs must be intelligent and have higher than average fitness and stamina.

These traits are genetically influenced - training also plays a part, but the inherited temperment and physique of a dog plays a significant part in its abilities.

When my OH and I decided that the time was right for a dog to join our family, we did some deep soul-searching on what we were able to offer a dog. I say soul-searching because our first-choice breed (for both of us) are German Shepherd Dogs. We knew though that we could not offer a GSD a suitable home, so we began to look for a breed which had different traits.

For all the reasons we could not offer a GSD a suitable home, the same applies to a dog which has working lines within its ancestry, and is more likely to be physically and mentally active 

We knew that show lines are selected for their appearance, and that their temperments and levels of activity vary significantly, which is influenced by genetics. The temperment of the sire and dame of the litters we enquired about and visited became very important to us, and we eventually decided on Molo for many reasons, including the the nature of his sire and dame, which we met, and immediately realised they were both very special dogs

We knew that cockers are not lap dogs, and chose a breed that was able to offer me companionship on hikes (and occasional run) through the Island scenery, but one which could happily settle with us in front of the TV, and play with our daughter.

We wanted to give our pup the best possible chance of succeeding, and we knew we could not offer a dog of any breed with working lines in their close ancestry the type of home that they thrive in 

We knew when we took him on that Molo may not have been as laid back, and quite frankly as dim, as he has turned out to be  ; and we considered carefully the various options that would be open to us if this turned out to be the case  We based our choice on likelyhoods - as there are no guarantees - and have been priviledged to share our life with one of the most special dogs I have ever known 

One day, when our household circumstances are different, we will probably chose a dog with totally different "typical" characteristics; although I do think there are some breeds, and certainly individual dogs, that we are too inexperienced to offer a suitable home to 


I look forward to the day when I am able to experience the thrill of living and training a dog that is wired, intelligent and physically robust, and love reading the day to day activities of COL'ers with working strain dogs. 
Having experienced the joy's of Molo (a slightly dippy cuddle-monster), I think I might have to have two or more doggies, just to get the balance right 

[flozac]

I chose working type  because of their intellegnce, eagerness to please, ease of trainingand their ability to retreive. Their not so heavy coat and i just love the way they look in general.Their cheeky little personalities are so endearing.

I felt they would fit in with my life style and my family. for once in my life I was soooo right.

I love them!!!

[Pammy]

I chose working type  because of their intellegnce, eagerness to please, ease of trainingand their ability to retreive.

These are traits common across both strains but not all from both strains will display the abilities as well as others.

I chose the show type cocker as wanted the more solid dog and length of coat etc. My belief was that working cockers needed much more mental stimulation than show type ie in a working type capacity and needed much more outside time. This is actually again not necessarily true and can be so heavily influenced by the breeding although I do believe it is more common in Workers but many show type need that same level of interaction and activity/stimulation.

[Petra]

I guess my answer does not really count - I chose show cocker as I did not know working cockers excisted!!!

[sharesy]

I guess my answer does not really count - I chose show cocker as I did not know working cockers excisted!!!


Me too.

[Jeeves]

I know I am a bit biased here, but if you are not specifically after a cocker from working stock why not look for a rescue one, like the ones from Many Tears (where our very own Parker came from!!)

These dogs are desperate for a loving home and can become real treasures.  We could not wish for a better dog.

I do witter on about rescue dogs but I genuinely feel that if you are not fussed about showing or working them, they are a really good option!

[Penel]

I've had two show types and one working type now so I can comment from both sides  
My first dog Saffy was a blue roan show type - and she was the bestest dog in the world - we had a connection that I'll probably never have again with a dog, although Lola is coming a close 2nd.... however her genes weren't good, she became poorly at 3 yrs old, and ever so sadly died when she was 5.... she was incredibly trainable, incredibly active - a joy to live with.....
Tilly, we got when Saf was 10 months old - to keep her company - Tilly is orange and white, another show strain.  She is not nearly as bright as Saffy was - but is the sweetest dog - just adorable.... still quite easy to train, very food oriented.... not nearly as active as Saffy was - she'd be more than happy to lie on the sofa most days  
Then 2 years ago we changed sides, and went for a working cocker - Hattie.  She is very very active, very very trainable, very very intelligent - I can't imagine that there is anything I couldn't train her to do.  She is very affectionate, slightly anxious when separated from me - she is like my shadow... prefers to be with me than with the other dogs really....

Personally we changed to a working cocker mainly because of the health worries we had with Saffy - working cockers (proper ones I mean not ones bred to be pretty pets which seems to be happening more and more  )  are bred for their working ability, their health, stamina - not for their looks..... I wanted a dog I could do lots of training with, and who would be tough health-wise.... Hattie has been all that and more...

[PennyB]

I chose show type because thats what I knew about and didn't feel at the time I could give a working type dog the stimulation they needed.

Mine are brilliant though (cheeky mischievous hooligans) and I couldn't have asked for better dogs --- both from quite confident litters. They may not have working strain in them but can certainly put up with a lot (barring accidents of course ), and the more I ask of them the more they want. My two are very eager to please even if Ruby has more than her fair share of stubborn streak in her.

[debbie321]

My answer probably doesn't count either as I didn't know much about the difference although I had done research on the type of dog before chosing a cocker.  I picked a cocker as I didn't want a very large or very small dog, I had other pets, a smallish hatchback car, worked partime and wanted a dog that my daughter could walk.  I asked several owners and went walking in doggy places to watch the various breeds.  I finally asked my vet his opinion and he replied that he loved cockers but suggested that we get a working type if possible as they were hardier (in his opinion).

I looked at one site (I think it was the Felstead one) and then looked for a breeder.  After seeing her dogs and Bens mum (let alone the babies) I was hooked!

That's how I ended up with Ben    He has been much harder work than I ever imagined and I do think that they are far more challanging but that's because I can only judge Ben (who deserves an ASBO at the mo)!

He has fitted into our lives ....... or we have fitted into his   but I wouldn't swap him for the world.

[Cob-Web]

I know I am a bit biased here, but if you are not specifically after a cocker from working stock why not look for a rescue one, like the ones from Many Tears (where our very own Parker came from!!)

These dogs are desperate for a loving home and can become real treasures.  We could not wish for a better dog.

I do witter on about rescue dogs but I genuinely feel that if you are not fussed about showing or working them, they are a really good option!

I have rescued dogs in the past - but with a three year old dog-inexperienced child in the house, we were advised by breed rescues and rescue centres that it was unlikely that there would be a dog that would match our family environment 

Ex-breeders from rescue centres like Many Tears need expert and specialist handling; I would not have the confidence in my own abilities to offer a home to one of these dogs (thank goodness there are people who do); I cannot offer a suitable home for one of these dogs atm anyway - although I would love a rescue greyhound if my OH agreed 

[Helen]

rachel - hope you didn't think i was being obnoxious on t'other thread - i was truly curious

i'm not entirely convinced i can describe jarv as wired, intelligent, and physically robust - and i can definitely not describe myself as having those attributes (if you thought i was striding across miles of forest and field and stream in an attempt to wear out this boy, you'd be sadly mistaken, although we do have 2 very good outings a day!)  I'm think i have a particularly laid back worker version (we have ascertained today he is fairly much a midget gem!), and i guess from my experience with him i find it hard to relate to some perceptions of workers.

He loves to run, sniff, retrieve, play, swim, learn, meet other dogs and do it all again and again - all day if he could (....and is evenly matched by sarahp's daisy and dill when we last meet - in fact these show cockers are duracell roans!).  he was a fantastic puppy, chewed nothing he shouldn't, was housetrained at 11 weeks, has always had fantastic recall, and is now (at 13 months) getting easier and easier to train (they say workers shouldn't be gun dog trained until they're at least 9 months - i can see why now ).  we'll continue to add in other activities like agility and gundog training (as I'm sure you will for molo, esp the agililty) as long as he has an appetite for it.  He is a total snuggle monster, and in between our 2 walks a day he is very relaxed and sleeps and mooches.

....jarv he was the most submissive in the litter which may explain his slight exception to some working cocker *rules*.....which in this case has proved to be a blessing for us with socialising and training, and i would choose the same again.

why did we choose a worker in the first place? well, tbh i wanted a lab or a gsp - but was introduced to chalky, a red worker (much like maximus and ben) and fell in love with him.  i had never met a happier or more loving dog.... so that was it for me.

Your reasons for not having a worker are realistic and I admire your pragmatism, but you should borrow jarv for a weekend just to see......(in preparation for no.2 dog  ).  i am fearful of no.2 dog in our house...after having a dream 1st puppy, the next one is bound to have 666 tattooed under his tuft

[debbie321]

the next one is bound to have 666 tattooed under his tuft

Sorry Helen - that one's mine 

[Helen]

the next one is bound to have 666 tattooed under his tuft

Sorry Helen - that one's mine 

ben has been a *challenge* but i reckon you and ben are starting to work things out nicely  (it will get easier  ) When all's said and done he's still a damn handsome boy 

[CraftySam]

I have a working Lab. Like many of you of said about cockers, I had no idea that there was two lines of Labs.  Sapphi was our first puppy and it was certainly a rude awakening, shall we say.  Quite frankly she was a bit of a nightmare.    She bounced off the walls 24 hours a day. It took us a little while to understand what was going on and how to deal with her, and not before we'd lost a few carpets to her.    She's a darling girl who I love dearly.   Not the sharpest pup in the litter, but will do anything for food.    She's calmed down an awful lot now and we discovered her love for flyball which makes her very happy.

So after our experience with Sapphi we decided to choose a show line Golden Retriever, who was entirely the opposite to Sapphi, though he is a different breed. Max is the most laid back dog I've ever met and he was such an easy puppy.  He's totally adoreable.  

When we decided on a cocker it went without saying that it would be a show type.  Barney's a little poppet and is such a cuddle monster. He's very responsive and is training really well, he loves playing with the other two, and he's almost as easy as Max was but not quite.    I also love the longer coat of the show type.

I am sure that not all working lines of all breeds will be as much as a nightmare as Sapphi was, but I'm very pleased I picked my two show line boys.  

[Michele]

I have show type cockers because I wouldn't have got very far in the show ring with a working cocker