I advertised my litter on the KC website as I have done before. This time I was not allowed any text for the advert. OK no problem.........I have had 4 phone calls in the last 3 days asking if my dogs were workers. No, show dogs. Never had enquiries before for working strain. Contacted the KC and was told it was an extra £5 for text to explain. What a crock!

Working cockers are increasingly being bred for the pet market, like the working type English Springers, that make up the majority of the pet population of the breed, that are of the type but often generations from any true work.

I think the desire for working bred lines is a desire to avoid the, not unjustified, over-exaggeration seen in many show dogs.

As for the extra fees - another sign of the times

> As for the extra fees - another sign of the times

Act7ually the6yn have alwa6ys charged extra for personalised advert wording.  Basic price just covers the basic listing of breed number of pups, and breeder contact details.

I thought they had always charged for additional wording, and it was at least £10, so for a  fiver think you've a good deal!  In all honesty, I would rather read a little something about the litter on the KC site than not, and an extra £5 won't break the bank

As somebody who was looking for a puppy of a breed that comes in a variety of colours. I appreciated the breeders who put what colour the puppies were. It saved me wasting their time answering my email asking what colour the puppies were.

We have working cockers ( yes, really and truly  properly working at least 4 days a week).     Husband particularly turns into Mr Angry of Haslemere every time  he gets up from his favourite programmes and has to explain the difference to folk on the phone.     
Have tackled the KC on it several times - it wouldn't be too difficult to state which they are, and it would save so much frustration from both breeders and buyers.        Of course, you just get the answer that they're  the same breed.      Don't look much like it, do they?

Working cockers are becoming very popular with those who do agility and don't want a border collie. Have seen a big rise in numbers competing  over the last few years.

The working Cockers are common around me, and the more I see of them the more I like them.

They have coats of a sensible length and are not as manic as Springers (I don't recall seeing a show bred Springer for years)

I met a couple on the the beach a while ago. They were really struggling with their puppy as he was so busy. He is a working cocker. The clue is in the name ......Not the best pet if you do not research, and that is the problem

Lots of Cockers by me are from working lines but in pet homes

We have the working type cockers and YES we work them too!

I started with the show type many years ago and we worked them, they hunted and retrieved although not with the speed and style of todays working type. They worked more steadily than the crazy working springers, finding game that the faster dogs had just whizzed past.

I believe that that the Kennel Club have spoilt the Cocker Spaniel by "Designing" these little dogs to look "just so" for the show bench. With their over exaggerated long ears and heavy long hair around their lower parts it makes working very difficult and not practical at all. (you could hardly call these functional Gun Dogs any more), it is such a shame!
The working type has not been interfered with by design and is far more capable of performing the job they have been bred to do (hunting and flushing). Both types will retrieve to hand.  Temperaments are happier and more genuine too.
The working type make lovely family dogs, with good mental stimulation and time for a nice walk each day they settle and become sensible family members.
I have absolutely nothing against the show type, they are pretty little things, I would happily have one again as a pet if I was not able to continue with our country pursuits.

To mate a pair of both types: well you would never do any good at the shows but you will still have a little cocker spaniel that would probably still be able (if clipped) to enjoy the occasional day out in the beating line and at the end of the day a lovely happy family member .