If you are in the UK, select your breeder carefully as there are quite a lot of highly neurotic Cockers over here from indiscriminate breeders in it for the money only.

The working cocker takes four or five walks a day when she’s not on the farm, and she is a trained gun dog and rabbit hunter. She is very very smart and beautiful and friendly, but she hates it in a town and hates being alone so I really wouldn’t recommend getting one if you can’t spend enough time with it.

The show cocker is floppy and sweet, she’s the most loving dog ever and is quite happy to just sit next to you all day. She’s not much for exercise so she’d be great in a town, in fact, this girl shows no interest in rabbits or guns or anything!

These are just my two, obviously yours would be different, but from my experiance I wouldn’t get a working one if you don’t have some work for it to do – she’d be too bored and end up being naughty.

(edit – I must agree with the ones above, our working cocker is so annoying when she’s inside, she’s so hyper that trying to hoover or get dressed is a nightmare around her!)

Show cockers, while probably a bit lazier, are more likely to be highly strung, will require much more grooming and can be snappy (I think its called spaniel RAGE syndrome- look it up)

Working strains are usually a bit leggier, carry less coat, usually friendlier, but can be real livewires, and if they are not getting the exercise and stimulation they need could make your home life a living hell.

Working lines have less hair, because too much hair hinders their ability to work. That means less grooming, though you’ll still have to brush them at least 2-3 times a week. Daily brushing is even better especially if your dog is running around outside and picking up stuff in his feathers. Working lines have more energy, because they were bred for their ability to work. They are very clever and need constant physical and mental stimulation. If you can’t deliver, then they will become destructive in the home as they find other ways to keep themselves occupied. A walk around the neighborhood isn’t going to be enough for these dogs. I have a Field Spaniel who MUST go for at least a 2 hour run through open fields every day. I also use him for hunting. If you’re getting a dog from the working line can you at least say that you can provide that much time and effort to keep him in shape physically and mentally?

Show lines are bred more in keeping to the physical characteristics of the breed standard than anything else. They will have considerable more hair than the work line variety so you’ll have to dedicate a lot of time keeping them neat in appearance. Do you have the time to keep their coats neat or do you have the money to bring them to the groomers regularly? Show lines don’t require as much activity as the working line, though you still must provide 30 minutes – 1 hr of activity for your dog daily to keep it healthy. Show lines tend to be more temperamental than working lines. Again, I think because they are bred more for their looks than their brains and heart. However, if you find a puppy from a reputable breeder and raise her in a loving yet disciplined environment, you’ll have a wonderful pet that the whole family can enjoy.