i voted working type, but then i can only talk for springers and cockers, the show types just don't do it for me, they always seem a bit hairy and a bit slow compared to their working cousins, i love the cheek and the temperament of the working springers and the fact that they never sit still

I agree fully with the above. I too have no interest whatsoever in showing. I love GWP's but to see them trotting round a ring bores me silly but show me them working and i'm in awe. I do agree however with show type BC's, they are beautiful creatures compared to many from working lines.

It's something I noticed myself through watching Crufts etc and then I read an article in a doggy magazine which hit the nail on the head for me. It basically said that show dogs obviously conform largely to breed standard and yet too many are in poor physical fitness i.e they are a bit podgy and lack muscle definition and this is one thing judges seem to ignore.

I like beauty but I also like a dog which looks like it's fully capable of doing some real work.

I voted for working
From the breeds I have seen both of
Labs, Show labs far to stocky for me with giant heads and tend to get v fat, working dogs (I have seen) darker coat, leaner build with lots of muscle

Spanials - most types - Show ones have far to much coat - the standard is supposed to preserve the ability to work but these dogs have a coat that would need to much work - and the ear set makes them look a bit dim

Collies - The show ones tend to look like they fell out of the same mould, I dislike how they tend to be too heavy boned and are looking more like aussies, their heads are too domed and eyes too rounded making them look like puppies. Their coats are too full and difficult to keep
Working ones - Love love love the mixtured you can get - colour, coat, earset. In my mind the only think that the standard should say about a collie is the intensity and focus in the eye - every working dog I have seen has it - I havent seen a single dog in a show ring demonstrait it

Opps - sorry I will stop now

On a v quick search - THATS what I mean

Well it wouldnt really in the ring would it?

With English setters I do prefer the show type(laveracks)... I like the bold heads, the coat and the fact they are a tad calmer than than their working (llewellin) counterparts... I know some ES kennels do combine show and workers, but I prefer the show... though would take a working ES rescue quite happily as they would keep me fit
As for the Pointer, mine is from show and work backgrounds and she could work quite easily as her dad and grandparents do....

They all should conform to the breed standard. IMO the working ones in many breeds do not.

But then why does the breed standard differ in some major ways in breeds to how they are bred to be able to do what they were designed too? I believe it should be more of the opposite way in many cases, espcailly in breeds like the cocker, I mean can you imagine many show bred cockers being able to do a days work?

I voted dual purpose - but then I keep flat coated retrievers who are truly dual purpose without any distinction in type (so far anyway). It is also good to give a dog something to do akin to what it was originally bred for, even if he/she is basically a companion dog. Most dogs enjoy exercising their brains and ability even in a small way. Keeps them out of mischief.

Sorry - posted twice - didn't think first post worked.