Hi to everyone

[CarolineL]

I think you are right. Looking a pics of Heidi (who is the image of our old dog) and Roxy who looks very like Emily, I am convinced she has worker in her.  Her mum was definitely a show cocker, I have called the breeder today to see if he can send a pic of his daughter's dog who is the father, but can't get through yet.  Thanks for all the advice, I had no idea there were two types, but I knew she looked different to what I expected.

Hopefully the breeder will be able to tell you whether or not her sire was a worker or show type.

If you have a search on differences between show types and workers you will see lots of pics of grown up workers to grown up show types and also read about their general traits (physical and mental), there can be significant differences in required levels of activity (both mental and physical stimulation) between the 2.

Regardless of whether she is show or worker though she is absolutely gorgeous 

If she gets too much please feel free to post her to me   

[emilymae]

Hi Caroline,
I did do a search and I must admit I'm slightly worried now.  Firstly the working cocker seems to need  very high excercise and stimulation, and secondly the grown up dogs look very different to the show cockers.  The show cockers all look very similar apart from colour but the workers seem to have lots of different "looks" maybe it has to do with breeding, eg part worker part show? as to what they turn out like. Google searching showed a wide variety of looks and colours.

[CarolineL]

don't be worried 

they don't look the same as show cockers but I think personality wise they are mostly very similar (very sooky/soppy, happy go lucky characters)

There are also workers out there who dont need as much stimulation as some shows - mostly it is down to the breeding. If her mother was a show type and sire a worker then she'll still be a mixture and TBH she could take the behavioural characteristics of the show and the looks of the worker - the thing is with mixed breeds - regardless of if they are within the same breed if you see what I mean, you never know what characteristics you're gonna get 

Your first port of call should really be to speak to the breeder and find out what you've got!!!  and take it from there

[*Theresa*]

Don't be worried. I have two working cockers both of which look very different and have very different energy levels from each other but both are adorable as are all the other workers Ive met 

[emilymae]

Hi again,
Well I got in touch with the breeder who said that her sire and dam were both show cockers!!  One golden one black.  I'm quite surprised cos I was sure she was part worker.  I'll have to wait and see how she grows.  Her ears are definitely shorter than most cocker puppies.  Thanks so much for all the comments though, everyone has been so welcoming.

[CarolineL]

my dogs ears were very short whe he was a baby but I think that's because they are half ear, half hair these days........

[Nicola]

Hi and welcome to COL 

I have 3 working cockers, tbh your wee girl does look at least part worker to me but it can be hard to tell with young puppies. Can you ask the breeder to send you a copy of her pedigree? You should be able to tell from that.

She's very cute though    and I'm sorry to hear about your other girl passing away.

[Worthy]

She is really lovely

you are very lucky, we have Kasper also bought without papers he looks show in the main but I think that there may be a little worker in him too

                                                     

[emilymae]

Well whatever she is, she is lovely.   She has been to my husband's office today all day and has been fantastic.  I can't wait for her to finish her jabs so I can take her out.  Do I have to wait a week after her last injections?

[CarolineL]

Our vet told us that as long as our pup was where other vaccinated dogs had been it would be ok. We also carried Hurley EVERYWHERE - it was a key part of our socialisation.

Do you have Gwen Bailey's Perfect Puppy book?? There is a check list at the back which you can mark off when you have done all the key aspects of socialisation

[emilymae]

Hi Caroline,
Yes I have Gwen's book. It's very helpful.  I know I'm full of questions but does anyone have any idea what sort of food she should have.  When I had her she had diarrhoea,then it settled and now it's back with a bit of blood in it.  She has scrambled egg in the morning, half pack pedigree puppy sachet at 12 the other half at 4, and weetabix before bed.  thanks so much for all the advice, it's so helpful to find out thinkgs like this.

[EmmaA]

Hello to you and Emily-mae

She's a little cracker 
There are a few of us in a similar situation to you. I lost Groove on the 3rd Jan this year and I now have Eric. He's 15 weeks old now and like you he is really helping to fill the void that Groove left in my life.
Keep enjoying the site and I wish you and Emily-mae a long , happy and healthy life together.

Em and Eric

[Annette]

She's gorgeous.

I also thought she might be part working type. Not that it matters in the least.

Our Buddy is 1/4 worker. Here is a photo of him with his mother who is 1/2 worker (Buddy is the blue roan on the right). Bramble was pulling a bit of a face there, but she is beautiful really.



Click to enlarge

[CarolineL]

Hi Caroline,
Yes I have Gwen's book. It's very helpful.  I know I'm full of questions but does anyone have any idea what sort of food she should have.  When I had her she had diarrhoea,then it settled and now it's back with a bit of blood in it.  She has scrambled egg in the morning, half pack pedigree puppy sachet at 12 the other half at 4, and weetabix before bed.  thanks so much for all the advice, it's so helpful to find out thinkgs like this.

All questions are good - we all have to start somewhere - you only have to take a look at my first posts to see how much I needed to learn!

When we got Hurley he was fed scrambled egg and pedigree complete kibble for brekkie, same kibble for lunch then rice pudding for dinner   It soon changed to P@H Wainwrights own brand kibble- however he is now fed BARF (bones and raw food). He was started on BARF at about 6 months and we haven't looked back.

Behaviour can be linked to poor quality foods which although expensive don't have the best ingredients, I liken it to feeding a child MacDonalds for every meal. Burns is an ethically produced dry food, or you can look at James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Wainwrights - I think what sets them above the rest is that they have a higher protein content. Dogs dont need cereals or vast amounts of carbs to survive and foods with a higher protein level as the above have, are better for them.

BARF is definately down to the individual but my dog will not eat kibble at all, and with the high quality wet foods like Natures Menu and Naturediet his poohs were ENORMOUS and he had terrible wind. If you do a search on BARF you will find many a thread on it.

[cadbury]

Hi to you yes she does look like she has some worker in her
but dont worry
Bailey has some worker in him some where on his fathers side but he is 90% show type
and he is adorable but lacking in his coat a bit not the ears though, his breeder said that is the problem if somewhere a long
the line in the pedegree there is some worker in it can show in the coat.
my friends have workers and people always think they are small springers especialy if we out walking with my working springer minstrel
but whatever I am sure you will love your little one,bailey was bought after our other springer Cadbury died.
lv ann