Greenleaf--I have to disagree.
Field bred spaniels are bred to WORK. They have to be more intelligent than your average conformation springer. Most conformation springer breeders only breed for looks-color and markings, right size, etc., etc. When you only breed for looks you also start to breed intelligence out of the dog.
"You have to see first hand what a REAL (and I do mean "real") Border Collie can do compared to a Barbie Collie.
I've had Border Collies for ten years now, going on eleven (more then half my lifetime). They have been a big part of my growth and development. I use to be one that thought conformation dogs were amazing, beautiful, and just the best because they were named Champions. Just like millions around the world think because of Kennel Clubs and people placing so much on two litters, "CH."
Then I started herding with my dog. She was amazing. Her first time out to see sheep was like magic. She swept out in a perfect naturally wide out run and came directly behind her sheep like any good breed Border Collie should. I still get the same rush that I got then every time I see a correctly breed dog on sheep. It is nothing short of amazing.
A few lessons in, I started watching other dogs, just like you watch other dogs run agility. I made not of the dogs looks, their breeds, and even asked owners what breeding they were from. It wasn't hard, even from the start, to pick which dogs were conformation breed.
Border Collies are suppose to sweep around their sheep without disturbing them from sheer instinct. But watching people bring in their conformation dogs I could tell from right off before then even walked into the pen what they were breed for. The Barbie Collies would walk in, look their owners, walk around eating sheep poop, check all the fence lines, and just do anything to keep from coming in contact with the sheep. The trainer (one of the top in the United States) would beg the dogs to come on, to show just the slightest interest in sheep. Some Barbie's would just about out right attack the sheep but the others preferred to stay back and let the handler move them.
Then they'd bring in the young pups (like 6 mo. - some younger) REAL Border Collies and they'd go right to work. Nice outruns, good balance, and just really nice put pups, doing nothing more then what they were breed to do.
Now, this is just working ability.
Us, as a working dog community, breed for nothing but soundness (correct build for moving which the dog must when working livestock, which is nothing like conformation dogs), health, temperament, and working ability. All of these factors are equally important to all working dog breeders for a all around should dog is the dog that is going to make the best working and trial dog. We do NOT breed unstable or unhealthy dogs because the dogs would be unfit to do the job we breed them for.
But when you breed for the show ring, anything goes. Because they don't care about the dogs body's ability to withstand life, its ability to work, temperament, or how intelligent it is in the show ring. They want the color, stack, correct shaped eyes, and ear set that will make their dogs a champion and bring them in millions of dollars for pups and stud fees.
A Working Dog's Best Friend"
This person explained it much better than I ever could have.
This link will also help to explain to you:
http://bordercollie.heatherweb.com/c...=008891#000000