Dog or Bitch?

[paul spaniel]

its just personal preference, i think they are both the same to train, only difference is one has a willy and the other doesnt

[Yorkshirelass]

Lol Thanks for the reassurance. My gut tells me to go for the dog I've seen, but I was worried after hearing a lot of people saying a bitch is easier to train.
The pups are ready in about 3 weeks, so I'll be back with pics then

[Cass]

My first gun dog (a cocker) is male and I wouldn't have it any other way. I have had a fair number of dogs in general and always prefer the males (though have owned more females). In my experience they are always more friendly and affectionate and just easier to deal with. I also have a dachshund bitch and if I could give her a sex change I would. Dogs are just easier to get along with... Bitches can be moody and independent (in a spaniel not something you want). And my guy is 7 months old and has been a dream to train. Very smart and picks up on stuff very easily. Not dominant or anything like that. Go with the pup that steals your heart, regardless of what's between its legs

[WGD]

I have dogs and a bitch and they have all been different to train! I think individual personality is more important than gender. I think spaying the bitch is sensible if you aren't going to breed. That done you can pick a pup of either sex!

Agreed, the hardest headed, most stubborn, dishonest, self employed dog in my kennel is a bitch. The dogs are a piece of cake but differently bred.

[Nellie]

Funny how that works. I think it does boil down to personality. My lab bitch is the cuddliest, neediest creature in the house, but she can be a huffy, stroppy cow when the mood takes her. (Obviously takes after me). The springer dog seems a lot harder headed, in terms of stubborness but is much more laid back. You know you will get full on happy nutter come rain or shine.

[kent]

Just as nobody else has said it I will. Dogs are bigger and stronger, this can be a plus point for many like wildfowlers, deerstalkers etc.
I always had bitches in the main but prefer dogs now as they don't come into season and like I say they are slightly more capable of my sort of work.
Always found Bitches more fussy about were they might choose to sit but that might just be the ones I had

[Bryn]

Just as nobody else has said it I will. Dogs are bigger and stronger, this can be a plus point for many like wildfowlers, deerstalkers etc.
I always had bitches in the main but prefer dogs now as they don't come into season and like I say they are slightly more capable of my sort of work.
Always found Bitches more fussy about were they might choose to sit but that might just be the ones I had

Although I haven't had had enough gun-dogs to make a comment on them that is generally what I found with collies, dogs it was mainly a case of reining them in, sometimes you had to push bitches on at times. Had a few bitches but my best working collies were all dogs, probably down to what I wanted them to do though.

[Penwithian]

Hi. I have always worked bitches, but my Husband has an old cocker dog, who is quite sensitive in temperment and was lovely to train and bold to work. I have a litter of cockers..just boys! I will be keeping one...so will be training my first dog pup! Have been advised by a very experienced trainer not to pick the most independant character and to choose a more loving sensitive chap! If I were choosing a bitch i would go for a bold one

[Gundogguy]

The fact the one has a bias toward or against one sex over the other creates problems subconsciously from the get go. In the end we all get the dog we deserve.
Regardless of the dogs sex. As a course of action we always alternate sex of the next pup. Our current pup is a bitch our next project pup will be a dog!

[alpha]

Lol Thanks for the reassurance. My gut tells me to go for the dog I've seen, but I was worried after hearing a lot of people saying a bitch is easier to train.
The pups are ready in about 3 weeks, so I'll be back with pics then

I would look more at the breeding than the sex as some lines are notoriously hard hunting hard headed and wilful where as others are absolutely soft as butter and a pleasure to train and work.

My dogs both cockers and springers are complete sweeties but they are well bred and bred to be worked nearly all are FTCH x FTCH so pretty much guaranteed that they have a brain and a willing temperament and make a day out a pleasure

However, the spring bitch is a blooming nightmare both in her temperament (food aggression), stubborn, thick (or pretends to be) self employed and cant work her as she is so contrary she isnt worth the risk of ruining a drive....but i put that down to the fact her pedigree has little red in it.

But I have my name down for a bitch puppy next and that is solely because of her breeding, and worse case scenario and only dogs are available in the litter then I will have one of them rather than hunt out a bitch from stuff I am unsure of or even worse dont like the look of.

My OH best buddy has the full sister to Tearsol Flash and she is lovely and has 9 puppies. I could get a bitch pup at a fraction of the cost but I am not a fan of the stud they have used so I have decided to let it go by me.....shame really cos she is a star and her brother is rocking the trialling world