Braken, I'm not intending to show Ollie, but would like him to look 'showlike'. I do enjoy grooming him and he is very patient, sometimes he falls asleep, I think due to boredom!! I think I will follow your lead and print off some photos in the hope they will give me something to follow. He has quite a long beard and a hairy face at the moment, he won't let me near his face with the scissors so we are off to the groomer's on Wednesday to sort that out. I've not been able to find groomer who is used to doing cockers locally, that's why I'm having a go myself. Good luck with showing Lace.
Emma, I think you're right about the genetics and the brown tinge, Ollie's mum was golden and his dad black. As you say it only shows in certain lights at the moment, he did have the brown tinge on his back, but since losing the puppy coat there the brown has all gone.