Editing English Cocker Spaniel (section)

== Working Cockers ==
[[File:Kerygma Cockers Echo & Pheasant.JPG|thumb|alt=A black and white dog sits in a field of yellow corn or maize, next to a brightly coloured dead pheasant.|A field-bred English Cocker Spaniel with its quarry, a [[Common pheasant]]]]

This breed, like many others with origins as [[working dog]]s, has some genetic lines that focus on [[working dog|working-dog]] skills and other lines that focus on ensuring that the dog's appearance conforms to a breed standard; these are referred to as the "working" (or "field-bred") and "conformation" strains, respectively. After World War II, Cocker Spaniels bred for [[pet]]s and for the [[List of dog sports|sport]] of [[Dog show|conformation showing]] increased enormously in popular appeal, and, for a while, was the most numerous [[Kennel club|Kennel Club]] registered breed. This popularity increased the view that all Cockers were useless as working dogs.<ref name="svw" /> However, for most dogs this is untrue, as even some show-bred Cockers have retained their working instinct.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moxon |first=P.R. |date=1960s |publisher=Felsteadgundogs.com |url=http://felsteadgundogs.com/gundogs.html |title=The Cocker Spaniel as a Gundog |access-date=5 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609112540/http://felsteadgundogs.com/gundogs.html |archive-date=9 June 2009}}</ref>

Today, this breed is experiencing a resurgence in usage as a working and hunting dog. Dogs from working lines are noticeably distinct in appearance. As is the case with the English Springer Spaniel, the working type has been bred exclusively to perform in the field as a hunting companion. Their coat is shorter and ears less pendulous than the show-bred type. Although registered as the same breed, the two strains have diverged significantly enough that they are rarely crossed.<ref name="svw">{{cite web|publisher=Petwave.com|url=http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/English-Cocker-Spaniel/Show-vs-Working.aspx|title=Show Bred vs Working Cockers|access-date=5 September 2009|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412224419/http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/English-Cocker-Spaniel/Show-vs-Working.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> The dogs that have dominated the [[hunt test]], [[field trial]] and [[hunting]] scene in the United States are field-bred dogs from recently imported English lines.<ref name="Thoms">{{cite journal | author=Thoms, Jerry | title=Pocket Rockets | journal=Gun Dog Magazine |date=December 2002 | url=http://www.roettgerridge.com/8873_eprint.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071203190639/http://www.roettgerridge.com/8873_eprint.pdf | archive-date = 3 December 2007}}</ref> Working-dog lines often have physical characteristics that would prevent them from winning in the show ring. This is a result of selecting different traits than those selected by show breeders. The longer coat and ears, selected for the show ring, are an impediment in the field.<ref name="akc" /> Cuban authorities train and use English Cocker Spaniels as sniffer dogs to check for drugs or food products in passengers' baggage at Cuban airports.<ref name="darshama">{{cite web |publisher=Darshama.net |url=http://www.darshama.net/frostieblog/travel/cuba |title=Travel research, planning and reports: Cuba |access-date=5 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530030941/http://www.darshama.net/frostieblog/travel/cuba |archive-date=30 May 2011}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=blog|date=April 2025}}