Working Cockers and Show Cockers
This is how the Kennel Club describes the Cocker Spaniel:
“Spaniel (Cocker) THE MOST POPULAR OF THE SPANIEL family, the Cocker is an active, happy, small dog, who quickly adapts himself to his surroundings. He is highly intelligent and affectionate, and is in his element foraging around fields and hedgerows. He also employs his retrieving instincts around the house, and can often be found with a toy or slipper in his mouth, his tail wagging furiously, waiting for praise.
He originated as the ‘cocking spaniel’, and derived this name from flushing woodcock. Easy to train – his main aim in life is to please his owner – he is a busy little dog who enjoys plenty of exercise, and thrives on human companionship.
As with a number of gundog breeds there is a difference between those used for work and those used for show. The Show Cocker is a sturdier, heavier version of his Work Counterpart and is but one of a variety of spaniels divided because of their size and usefulness.
Cockers were recognised as a separate breed from Field and Springer Spaniels soon after the formation of the Kennel Club in 1873.”
Also from the Kennel Club are these decriptive lists after which you will find our own comments and descriptive annotations:
Breed Group: Gundog
Vulnerable Breed: No
Size: Medium
How much exercise?: About 1 hour per day
Length of coat: Medium
How much grooming?: Every day
Supposedly sheds?: Yes
Town or Country: Either
Type of home: Small or Large House
Minimum Garden Size: Small/Medium
Acceptable Colours for Spaniel (Cocker) Registrations:
Black
Black & Tan
Black & White
Black & White Ticked
Black White & Tan
Blue Roan
Blue Roan & Tan
Golden
Liver [Chocolate]
Liver [Chocolate] & Tan
Liver [Chocolate] & White
Liver [Chocolate] & White Ticked
Liver [Chocolate] Roan
Liver [Chocolate] Roan & Tan
Liver [Chocolate] White & Tan
Orange & White
Orange & White Ticked
Orange Roan
Red [Fox Red]
Sable
We have annotated the list [in brackets] as the Kennel Club does accept the colour of Chocolate as opposed to Liver as well as the colour Lemon.
Having raised both sides of the Cocker Family tree it is up to the individual to choose what is for them. Suffice it to say that Bolli’s [the show cocker] nose did not really develop until she was older and in France [where she came from] they do use the show cocker as a gun dog.
The Working cocker is much easier to keep and has a lighter coat that requires much less grooming [read very little] and sheds lightly whereas Bolli shed continuously!
The temperament of the Working Cocker, as described for Krug and Taitti, is normally simply amazing