CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: crunchie on January 03, 2007, 03:09:25 PM
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Could somebody explain the differences between a working cocker and a show cocker. I am only asking because I was having a nosy on the kennel club website and noticed that Pringle's breeders had more puppies and they were advertising them as working cockers. Now I know all dogs are individuals and have different personalities but Pringle is so unlike the 2 previous cockers we had. She is a lot more lively, is always really 'busy' and is a terrible thief. She pinches everything and really likes carrying things around in her mouth. So I'd be interested to hear the differences both physically and characteristic. Physically, I think she is quite small. She is quite slim and athletic and weighs 11.5kg. Thanks
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if you do a search on working cockers, you should find some really interesting threads. somewhere there is a pic showing working cockers alongside show-types.
as i understand it, after comparing my working cocker with all the show cockers that we meet- workers generally have slightly higher set, possibly shorter, ears (more like a springer spaniel), a smoother coat, and are built more athletically with longer bodies.
when barkley is next to a show type cocker, their heads are pretty much exactly the same shape but the difference in their ears is striking. also, barkley is nearly always bigger and faster. he is always mistaken for a springer spaniel (despite being almost entirely black) or a cross-breed. i have never met anyone who has guessed that he is a cocker spaniel and most people look sceptical when i tell them that he actually is! :)
if you can post a recent pic of pringle, i'm sure people here will be able to tell you what they reckon. also, if you have her pedigree, and lots of ftchs (field trial champion) appear then there are definite working lines.
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Methinks Pringle is a working cocker :005:
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OK stupid question time..................Do working cockers generally need more exercise than show type - both mentally & physically?
I was ignorant to the fact before COL that there was a difference & I've seen such gorgeous choccy workers on here, I have to say I could be very very interested one day if I could ever persuade OH that 2 is no different to having 1. :005:
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my working girl, Annie is 18 months, she needs lots of stimulation and exercise where as my 10month old Teri, show-type, does not need as much exercise and sits quietly (most of the time!)
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do you have any photos you can post of pringle?
some show cockers are just as energetic as working cockers.the coat is usually the easiest was to tell the difference.show types have beautiful long feathers and skirt.workers have a much shorter coat and shorter feathers.the tail on a show is docked shorter than a worker too.
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I'd say generally it is believed that working Cockers need lots of exerise and mental stimulation - Ruffy certainly does, he's off his onion at the best of times.
Vahri our other working Cocker, is the exception to the rule - she could easily be a couch potato - infact we thought all working Cockers would be like her, that's why we got Ruffy. As they say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ::)
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Looking at Pringle's pedigree, she is a show cocker. :D
Did her breeders have other dogs too? The new pups advertised may be from different parents. :-\
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I don't have a show type, but here's a piccie of my two working type - overall I say they look quite Springerish.
(http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL679/2627309/5236221/217966224.jpg)
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.the tail on a show is docked shorter than a worker too.
unless of course like me, you have both types of cocker, with their natural long tails :luv:
here's my two girls - Tilly show cocker is the orange and white with long locks, and Hattie is the liver and white, much more practical :lol:
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b141/penel/Tilly-Hattie.gif)
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I'd say generally it is believed that working Cockers need lots of exerise and mental stimulation - Ruffy certainly does, he's off his onion at the best of times.
Vahri our other working Cocker, is the exception to the rule - she could easily be a couch potato - infact we thought all working Cockers would be like her, that's why we got Ruffy. As they say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ::)
I think these differences can be seen amongst all cocker spaniels - working and show strain ;) Many show strain cockers end up in rescue as their owners were under the misapprehension that they were "cute little lap dogs" when in effect some need as much, if not more stimulation than larger breeds ;)
True working dogs will spend much of their time kennelled - they are not out all day every day; but I do think that a dog with proven working genetics will have higher intellect than "average" and so will need lots of mental stimulation to thrive ;)
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I saw some puppy pictures of Pringle in an old thread, she looks like a blue roan show-type cocker to me.
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this pic isn't brill, but Harmy at the front was show and Dash is working behind. They are both the same age. Although Harmy was Petite.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k252/supaspaniel/CNV00031.jpg)
then this one is of my 3 shows and Dash, so comparing George (black and white) with Dash is probably better
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k252/supaspaniel/CNV00024.jpg)
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(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c200/sarahclinton/P7140025.jpg)
Harvey a Show type cocker :blink:
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I saw some puppy pictures of Pringle in an old thread, she looks like a blue roan show-type cocker to me.
I've just done a search too and agree she really looks like a show cocker - I wonder if she might be a mixture though ? spose it depends on what the pedigree says ? Saffy was a very different show cocker to Tilly - she was incredibly energetic, and miles more intelligent (sorry Tils) :luv:
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Thanks for all your replies. I've attached 2 recentish photos of Pringle from back in the summer when she was about 8 months old. When we got Pringle he had 3 other adult cockers - mum, dad and another little girl from a previous litter who was about 9 months old at the time (and completely insane !!).
Dad was very big, but her mum was quite tiny so perhaps she takes after her. We don't care what she is as we love her to death anyway :luv:. It was just through seeing his advert and some of her latest antics ;) made me wonder
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e15/AnnLewitt/priggermany007.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e15/AnnLewitt/various044.jpg
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Crunchie's pedigree looks to be all show-type (a mix of show breeding and commercial/pet breeding) although I don't actually recognise the breeder's affix so she isn't a show breeder as such. Sounds like she must breed both types if she's currently advertising working puppies for sale.
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my ayla looks alot like miss poohs black dog.
She is not a big dog which is good because a cocker was originally given its label based on weight and height. In contrast to my springer spaniel she is about half his size so you can definitely see the difference when they are together. Funny really my dogs go up in levels, ayla (cocker) daniel (spaniel) bonnie (weimaraner) Duchess (great dane) and Duke (great dane) so funny to see them all together :005: :005:
The working dogs that I have seen are definitely 'busy' and have such fun characters they are a real pleasure to work and have in the home but do need a job to do or something that will keep their minds occupied. Pity the breed has split so much :-\
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My Elle and Ruben look very much like Harmy and Dash its uncanny.
Working cockers have endless energy distintive slinky short coats some have
fluffy belly,chest and legs,long in body and very athletic.
When i let Ruben off the lead he is like a greyhound chasing a hare at the
start of a race complete manic and noisy with it the word nutcase springs to
mind.He is 2 years old and no signs of slowing down.Such adorable creatures
full of love and bum waggles.
Michelle,Elle and Ruben
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From your pics Pringle most definitely looks like a show cocker. Alfie and Tilly in my avatar and signature pics are working cockers and I think you can see some marked differences in the shape of their heads/ears, Lisa 's(Supaspaniel) pics also show it really well.
Alfie and Tilly are endlessly energetic when out on walks and could run all day but they are very laid back and lazy around the house. Currently Alfie is on his back on the sofa beside me, legs akimbo and Tilly is flat on her side on her blanket on the floor beside the radiator :luv: so I really feel like I've got the best of both worlds with them :D
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Louie is still only 5 1/2 months old and only 1/4 worker but he has the stamina and speed of worker, He outruns Jasper and most dogs he meets. So far his body is fairly short haired but his head and ears, and his legs are feathered and all more like a show type. He has a mixture of SH CH and FT CH in his breeding.
I'm hoping he'll be a nice mixture of points of each and grooming will be so much easier than Jaspers thick long coat
(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i180/jaspersmum/PC080050.jpg)(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i180/jaspersmum/P1010038.jpg)
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I don't know that much about Cockers, but I went for a pup from show lines as I presumed a working one would be more active.
I was talking to an old couple at the vets a couple of weeks back, they had a young working Cocker. They said they went for a working one as they thought it would be much quieter and calmer than one from show lines! I told them I thought it would be the other way round, but I don't think they believed me ph34r, I just hope their boy stays as quiet as he was, as I am not sure they would cope with him otherwise. From what they said he was their first dog!
Oh and the vet said how calm and well behaved my daughters Cocker was :luv: :shades:
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Well said, I think that is why they do end up in rescue. No thought or research gone into what the dog needs or requires before getting one. Thats how I ended up with my Cocker, Bo.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q14/lezah04/Picture006.jpg
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i think charlie is a worker although we have been told his dad was worker and his mum show hes very big allot bigger than many we have seen out and about on walks.