Hiya all! Just joined you here. Typed in Working cocker spaniel, and got directed here, can't for the life of me find the info it was pointing me to though! Think it was from 2002 tho!!
My name is Eleri, I'm from North Wales. Married, two kids and have got a gorgeous 5 month old working cocker spaniel, Max. Liver & White.
When we bought him, without papers, hadn't even realised there were two different types of cocker. Had a black and white cocker (not working) when I was a girl, and adored him, was always the type if dog I wanted to get for my kids. The vet mentioned he was a working cocker when I went in for jabs, didn't really register though, that he was telling me that basically I hadn't got what I was expecting!
Have had many a discussion with other dog owners whilst out walking him, all believe he's a springer, and my arguments are becoming increaingly futile as he gets bigger (and bigger). I can see now that there is no way he is going to be a stockier, smaller type than a springer as I had expected and told my hubby. Makes no difference as we all love him to bits of course now, BUT I would love to learn more about him, and talk to other people about theirs, and also to other dog owners in general about this and that.
Thanks, in anticipation of your help.
Love 'Leri xx

Sorry, is this just for unregistered guests? If I've made a mistake I apologise, need to get to know my way around the forum. Am a member of Aled Jones' forum, but it isn't nearly as complicated as this one!!

No...its not for just registered guests.Welcome to CD...I'm not a cocker owner but sure someone will be able to help you soon.If you click on the 'search' button on the top right hand side of the page and type in working cocker it will take you to loads of threads which might be of help
Archer

the working types ive seen have been smaller,finer & longer then a show cocker.

I've only seen one working cocker - at Discover Dogs a couple years back - and she was about the same size as a show/pet type cocker, but as michelled said, finer and longer.  I prefer the look of the workers, actually

If your boy is getting very big, I'd be concerned that he's either dodgily bred - not unlikely if you didn't get papers with him, honestly - or that he really is a springer.  People will lie about their dogs to get rid of them - my rott X was sold to me as a pure rott, and the crossbred sire was taken away for the day so we couldn't see him.  She also doesn't have papers, obviously, and it wasn't apparent that she had GSD in her till she was about 6 months old.  I do hope your boy is just a big cocker though, it sucks being duped like that - tho I wouldn't swap Opi for the world, she's fab!

Working Cockers can vary tremendously in size & type (as do their show cousins). I've seen small, fine boned Working Cockers & bigger, heavy boned Workers so the fact your puppy is on the big side does not necessarily mean he is a Springer. He could just be a big Working Cocker or perhaps a Sprocker (Working Cocker/Springer cross). I don't think you will ever know exactly what he is - you don't have any paperwork so it's not going to be possible to trace his ancestry. I would just enjoy him for the lovely pet it sounds like he is

Jane