Why do Show & Working Cocker Looks Different?
Cocker Spaniels were orginally breed as working gundogs, and officially recognized as a separate breed by the UK Kennel Club in 1892.
In the 1920’s and 30’s, Cocker Spaniels went through a period of huge popularity in England which resulted in two distinct looking types of cocker spaniel being breed: the Show Cocker and the Working Cocker Spaniel.
In essence the Show Cocker Breeders were basing their bred progammes on improving the constuction of the cocker while those who were breeding cockers as working gundogs placed more emphasis, on other characteristics such as senting, flusing & retriving abilities. Less was thought about in so far as construction, and hence a cocker spaniel from working lines would not meet the English or NZKC breed standard on appreance in this day and age.
If you're interested in seeing the working cocker in the feild take a look the Engliash Kennel Jackalantern Working Cockers they have some lovely photos on their website.
Below are photo's of Working Cockers, you'll see the visual differences such as flatter skulls, shallower bodies, longer legs, very little coat and higher set ears.
In the 1920’s and 30’s, Cocker Spaniels went through a period of huge popularity in England which resulted in two distinct looking types of cocker spaniel being breed: the Show Cocker and the Working Cocker Spaniel.
In essence the Show Cocker Breeders were basing their bred progammes on improving the constuction of the cocker while those who were breeding cockers as working gundogs placed more emphasis, on other characteristics such as senting, flusing & retriving abilities. Less was thought about in so far as construction, and hence a cocker spaniel from working lines would not meet the English or NZKC breed standard on appreance in this day and age.
If you're interested in seeing the working cocker in the feild take a look the Engliash Kennel Jackalantern Working Cockers they have some lovely photos on their website.
Below are photo's of Working Cockers, you'll see the visual differences such as flatter skulls, shallower bodies, longer legs, very little coat and higher set ears.
