Show vs Working - what's the difference?

[mooching]

We are anticipating getting a cocker within the next year or so, and, after some initial research, are probably leaning towards getting a working cocker. But it's not definite yet, and I was just wondering what people here felt the differences were between the two cocker types (if any). I'm interested to hear about everything really, eg temperament, behaviour, health and anything else at all that you might want to tell me about!

Also, are working cockers and show cockers available in every colour, or are there some colours which are specific to just one type? And does there tend to be any difference in temperament/character between the different colours? We currently have a CKC spaniel, and there definitely seems to be character differences between the 4 different colours. Previous to that we had a poodle, and the same tends to apply there too.

[mooching]

Sorry moderators, just as I posted this I thought I had (belatedly) better check out the FAQs, and found Jane S's thread there. I would however be interested to know other members's opinions and experiences as well, so if this thread could possibly be allowed to stay, that would be great, but if not, no worries.

[smartietopdog]

I have one of each, and they are totally different! That said, I really think it's about the way they are brought up, and very much like people, you get variety in both breeds!
My show, Chops, is 10 and has never really played (he used to chase Chewitt to steal the ball, but once he had it he wasn't interested) he's quite a lazy boy, is quite happy with his walks, and a bed, and doesn't seem to want much else!

Chewitt my first show cocker was mental  chewed anything and everything for the first 2 years of his life, and always behaved like a kid on blue smarties!! He was perfect, always keen for walks and had a big love of life (he sadly had to be pts at 8, liver tumours )

Smartie on the other hand is a worker, and is again, perfect! She plays, enjoys a couple of hours walk a day, and is the most loyal, loving dog I've ever known. If it's quiet time, she knows, and will sleep (I know alot of workers are hyper ALL the time!)

TBH, when I got her, I didn't know there were 2 types, and went into it totally blind. Thankfully the gamble payed off!

Whichever you decide is best for you, they are the most loyal, faithful, devoted and gentle dogs I have ever known, and can't imagine myself ever having a different breed!

[bajoleth]

I always think there is a fairly basic answer to this question, If you purely want a pet , are able to walk it twice a day etc then I would get a Show, If however you are looking to work the dog, Gundog train it or at the very least do some sort of activity with it (Agility, fell walking etc) then a Working Cocker would be for you. I know that sounds over simplified but in my mind that answers your question.
The two starins not only look very different but have different traits and requirements. A worker generally needs a lot more exercise and mental stimulation as they are bred to work, whereas Show still need regular exercise and stimulation but generally not to the same extent as Workers. The Show Cockers coat requires more grooming etc whereas the Workers require less.
Before joining COL  I had no idea there were 2 strains, I know a lady who has 2 cockers , a Show, and unbeknown to her a Worker, She was chatting one day and telling me she couldn't wait for her coat to grow like Belles, it was obvious to me that the dog was a worker so enquired about her breeder etc, she went on to tell me that her parents/ grandparents had been shown in Crufts etc . I didn't have the heart to tell her she had a worker cos what she thought she had bought was A show. I am rambling now but when you have done your research and made up your mind, make sure you use a reputable breeder and get what you pay for Good luck

[mooching]

If you purely want a pet , are able to walk it twice a day etc then I would get a Show, If however you are looking to work the dog, Gundog train it or at the very least do some sort of activity with it (Agility, fell walking etc) then a Working Cocker would be for you.

The thing is, what we want is somewhere between the two. Yes, we want a dog that is a pet, but also one that is active and loves long walks and games (we live two miles from the coast, and two miles from the New Forest, and we're often out and about at either, but especially the Forest).

We have an elderly CKC at the moment who is a lazy laid-back little lad. Even when he was younger he'd like a bit of a long walk occasionally, but was also happy just to sleep and laze around. And couldn't be bothered to retrieve (he'd just shoot you a look and pootle off somewhere else!) and really wasn't interested in being trained other than to sit.

When he goes, we will be utterly bereft (understatement). One way I am trying to start coping even now is to look ahead, to look past his passing, and look forward to a new adventure with a dog with a different outlook and temperament. Hence my leanings towards getting a working cocker.

I am rambling now but when you have done your research and made up your mind, make sure you use a reputable breeder and get what you pay for Good luck

Thank you! I have located a possible breeder not far from us; they are small and all pups are reserved before they are even born. I've checked some of the names in the lines of their dogs, and they're all from good places. So I think we will be fine there!

[Helen]

If you purely want a pet , are able to walk it twice a day etc then I would get a Show, If however you are looking to work the dog, Gundog train it or at the very least do some sort of activity with it (Agility, fell walking etc) then a Working Cocker would be for you.

The thing is, what we want is somewhere between the two. Yes, we want a dog that is a pet, but also one that is active and loves long walks and games (we live two miles from the coast, and two miles from the New Forest, and we're often out and about at either, but especially the Forest).

We have an elderly CKC at the moment who is a lazy laid-back little lad. Even when he was younger he'd like a bit of a long walk occasionally, but was also happy just to sleep and laze around. And couldn't be bothered to retrieve (he'd just shoot you a look and pootle off somewhere else!) and really wasn't interested in being trained other than to sit.

When he goes, we will be utterly bereft (understatement). One way I am trying to start coping even now is to look ahead, to look past his passing, and look forward to a new adventure with a dog with a different outlook and temperament. Hence my leanings towards getting a working cocker.

I am rambling now but when you have done your research and made up your mind, make sure you use a reputable breeder and get what you pay for Good luck

Thank you! I have located a possible breeder not far from us; they are small and all pups are reserved before they are even born. I've checked some of the names in the lines of their dogs, and they're all from good places. So I think we will be fine there!

have you checked they're fully health tested? 

[Jane S]

The thing is, what we want is somewhere between the two. Yes, we want a dog that is a pet, but also one that is active and loves long walks and games (we live two miles from the coast, and two miles from the New Forest, and we're often out and about at either, but especially the Forest).

I don't want you to get the impression show-type dogs are lazy couch potatoes although some might be There are plenty of show-type Cockers who love nothing more than long walks in the countryside and who also enjoy activities like agility. When I used to do more hiking than I do now (when I was fitter ), I always used to take a couple of our show dogs with me & they were more than capable of doing long hikes but equally if I wasn't going out for a long walk, then they'd be equally happy with a shorter walk & then mooching around the garden with me. If a working Cocker would suit you better, then that's fine but just didn't want you to get the wrong idea about show-type dogs.

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

Just because a dogs a show cocker doesnt mean it doesnt have lots of energy. Of course comparing show and working the worker will have a higher drive and more energy but comparing a show cocker to a CKC the show is going to have bundles more energy.


I have working cockers and my friend has show type, they all go on really long walks together and all the dogs keep up with each other. The only difference is when we get home hers sleep and mine are waiting for whats going to happen next  

There are show cockers who excell at flyball, agility etc and have lots of stamina and energy for what you describe. With working cockers its not all about walks its about what you do with their minds too, shows do tend not to need as much mental stimulation (though of course still need quite a bit) and be happy to sleep after a long walk (just genralising all are of course different) whereas I have taken mine out for the whole day fell walking and they are still rearing to go, You can never, ever physically tire a working cocker.


Posted at the same time as Jane

[Nicola]

If you purely want a pet , are able to walk it twice a day etc then I would get a Show, If however you are looking to work the dog, Gundog train it or at the very least do some sort of activity with it (Agility, fell walking etc) then a Working Cocker would be for you.

The thing is, what we want is somewhere between the two. Yes, we want a dog that is a pet, but also one that is active and loves long walks and games (we live two miles from the coast, and two miles from the New Forest, and we're often out and about at either, but especially the Forest).

If you get one from the right breeding - speak to the breeder and have a look at their dogs - there's no reason why a show Cocker wouldn't suit you perfectly. I've seen plenty of show Cockers who are well up for long walks and plenty of activity, there are show Cockers on here who take part in agility, cani-cross etc. You'll get many varying opinions on this and although I realise that it is happening more and more and plenty of people have working Cockers as pets I still don't agree with them being bred and sold for the pet market. I think there is unfortunately almost a split appearing in working Cockers with 'pet' bred dogs and real true to type 'working' bred dogs.

Thank you! I have located a possible breeder not far from us; they are small and all pups are reserved before they are even born. I've checked some of the names in the lines of their dogs, and they're all from good places. So I think we will be fine there!

As well as the health testing and also really checking out the lines and dogs behind them and what kind of dogs they produce the question I would ask is that if they are producing really well bred, true to type working Cockers why would they sell them as pets and not as working dogs? And also is a pet home really going to be the best environment for that kind of dog?

[Sarah1985]

I went for working cockers. I only considered Cocker spaniels in my breed search when i discovered the working strain as opposed to the show strain. I wanted a springer but my house is too small to take a springer. I like the high eared look you get with a working cocker.

Ill proberly get slatted for saying this but my research led me to believe there is less tendacy for genetic health problems in working strain. They're bred to be fit enough to work not to meet a cosmetic standard so as a result there is less incidence of joint and hip problems.I believe a dog should be bred to be fit for its original purpose and not for a cosmetic standard.

Also I found that the working strain were bred to be less noisy as working dogs need to remain quiet on shoots. 

Obviously there are no guarentees with anything and each dog will be different.

I have 2 working cockers and they are brillient. Whatever the time of day i can take them out for a walk and they'll be up for it. I love their energy and creative little minds. However if i go more than a week without doing some sort of activity with them (obedience classes, agility, flyball) they can get mischivious and start making trouble round the house. If you have lots of time, energy and a sense of humour, they are brillient dogs.

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Hi there,

I've had two show types and both have been more than capable of walking running like loonies all day. My first show type was exhausting, he rarely rested and was actually harder work (as in needed more training and stimulation and exercise) than a lot of the working cockers I know now. My current show cocker is a lot more laid back at home but as I've already said will run all day given the opportunity. He loves training and loves retrieving - particularly from water, he'd rather drown than leave a ball or stick floating away But he's Mr Chill at home. He lives with my 5 yr old Weimaraner who's 3 times his size and needs a lot of exercise but he easily keeps up with her although he does struggle a little more if we're out on the bikes just because his legs aren't as long - which you'll have with a working cocker too, but it's not a real problem.

They do all vary but show types thrive in an active household in my experience - I think it's a little of what they're used to and how you want them to fit into your life. Most cockers can adapt the other way and be happy with a bit less exercise too if that's the life they have - but it's all within reason if you see what I mean!

From what you've said so far, a show type would easily provide you with enough 'fun' and stuff to do together - they are very different to Cavs in my experience

There are no hard and fast rules about temperament and colour differences, my solid gold was a lot softer and more predictable than my blue roan - which if you believe folk lore is the wrong way around SO it's best to meet the breeder and find out about the temperaments of the parent dogs do give you an idea of the pups character, but even then.... you never know for sure and a lot of it is how you bring them up !

Good luck with your search!

[Jane S]

Ill proberly get slatted for saying this but my research led me to believe there is less tendacy for genetic health problems in working strain. They're bred to be fit enough to work not to meet a cosmetic standard so as a result there is less incidence of joint and hip problems.I believe a dog should be bred to be fit for its original purpose and not for a cosmetic standard.

Really? I'd love to see the research for that claim, if you still have it? Unfortunately the working community are way behind the show breeders when it comes to health testing but thankfully that is beginning to change and we are now seeing more working strain dogs being health screened. But until more working dogs are tested, it's impossible to come to any conclusions about their health status - you can certainly find poor hip scores recorded amongst the few working bred dogs to be scored so any complacency about their hip health may be somewhat misplaced.

Also the "cosmetic standard" you mention has been in existence since the 1900s and was drawn up by working men - it described a solid, compact dog with totally unexaggerated conformation and still does now. I think people who slate the breed standard often haven't even read it - if they did, they might be pleasantly surprised

[supergirl]

Given whats said above, I have both and find that the show cockers do tend to settle after we get in from a walk, whereas Lexi will still be looking for something to do - looking out of the window, chasing the cats, trying to get one of the other dogs to play with her.  However, out on walks I haven't noticed any difference in their stamina.  I do agility with both my show types and they are very fit.  The other difference would be the type of coats that they have.  My working cocker Lexi only ever needs a bit of brush whereas my two show types take a lot more looking after, clipping and brushing (if I don't brush them everyday then I pay for it later with matts in their coats).  But thats not the case with all working cockers as I do know of some working cockers that do have fluffy coats, but I would say that the majority of working cockers that I've seen have quite easy to care for smooth coats.

[mooching]

From the breeders' website, the info on one of their bitches says that she has a current clear eye test certificate, Optigen prcd_PRA tested clear, FN tested Clear, gonioscopy tested clear & a hip score of 7:6. Their stud dog has the same test results and a hip score of 4:6

Any comments on those test results? I'm not really sure how to interpret the numbers for the Hips test.

[bajoleth]

Everything you would like to see done, they have done, not sure about Hip scores but they are nice and low