Could you tell me if there is any difference in temperament, exercisse requirements or health issues between working and show cockers?

I am giving up work at the end of May and have started looking for a cocker puppy. The working cockerspaniels that I have seen on various websites have a very different appearance to 'regular' cockers, but what are the other differences?

'Work' bred cockers tend to have a lot more get up and go about them. They usually need more mental stimulation to keep them happy. Do you plan to work it? :-)

Working Cockers are generally less heavy coated than show ones and in my experience have less ear/temperament problems. (not knocking them !) Working Cockers are very active busy little souls and personally I prefer them. However if it is a Cocker you want and it purley for a pet, go for the show bred one, it may be suited better for pet life.
Dawn.

I agree with the others - working Cockers generally need much more in the way of mental stimulation than show-bred ones (but don't necessarily need more exercise) & if you don't intend to do gundog training, then perhaps agility or obedience training would be something to think about - they are not couch potato dogs whereas some of the show Cockers can be :-) As regards coat, yes working Cockers do have less coat & are generally non-trim (won't need much in the way of stripping out) unless you have one neutered - I groom a couple of working Cockers who have grown quite thick coats since being spayed. As far as health issues are concerned, are you talking hereditary defects or just generally? Certainly PRA (eye disease)has occurred in working lines as well as show lines but am not sure about FN (kidney disease), the other main hereditary problem known in Cockers.

Jane