Gundog Training Forum

We have a 3 year old neutered working cocker who is great but can be dominant. We lost our old male show dog last year and we are looking at a new cocker pup this year. I know it will have been debated before but we are looking for advice on whether to go for another male or a bitch?

We don't work our dog but I have trained him to a basic level at a local gundog training club. We would be looking at doing the same with the new pup.

Any opinions welcome.

I would choose a bitch, I have a dominant dog, he never tries to boss the girls.

I have always found bitches easier but I think it is down to your personality and training style

Never really found a difference. I've known some really stubborn bitches and really bolshy dogs. One the other hand I've had both dogs and bitches that are a dream to own and train.

LJR wrote:I would choose a bitch, I have a dominant dog, he never tries to boss the girls.

me too, but if you don't intend to have pups, I would get her spayed. Historically we always had boys and our first bitches first season was a bit of an eye opener

However, if you prefer dogs, IMO the pup will need to mature fully before it contemplates challenging an established dominant dog.. I don't know how long that takes with cockers but it can be as late as five for labs and the gwps we have had were even older, when/if they could be bothered (terriers seem to push it much younger ). Your neutered dog may be old enough not to bother putting up much of a struggle, or the young dog may not be naturally overtly dominant.. so I guess what Im saying is go for what you would prefer to work with and the dog pack will sort itself out on its own. BTW my experience is based on dogs in communal kennels rather then the house.

Happy puppy shopping!

Thanks for the replies so far. Forgot to say we keep the dog in the house and he is definitely a pet first. We are fairly soft with him so wouldn't want a hot hunter out of a new one.

Personally I don't believe in getting bitches spayed or dogs neutered unless the is a medical reason.

It should not be done for convenience or in the hope of altering behaviours.

skyliner wrote:Thanks for the replies so far. Forgot to say we keep the dog in the house and he is definitely a pet first. We are fairly soft with him so wouldn't want a hot hunter out of a new one.

Mine are all in the house, the reason I said choose a bitch is because whereas the dogs might grumble at each other, if the bitches tell them no then it means no, so there isn't any squabbling.

beechessam wrote:Personally I don't believe in getting bitches spayed or dogs neutered unless the is a medical reason.

It should not be done for convenience or in the hope of altering behaviours.

Of course it is a matter of personal choice.

But for me, our dogs are kenneled so the inconvenience of the mess is negligable, but we don't work a bitch when she is coming in, is in, or just out of season due to the effect it has on everyone elses dogs. We have to seperate her completely from the rest of the pack at home otherwise the dogs fight evertime they get wind of her. Most importantly it removes the possibility of pyometra and reduces the chances of mammory cancer. Having lost a relatively young dog to pyometra, we ALWAYS spay our bitches as soon as we determine that we will not be taking/having any more pups from her.

Well went to see a local litter of chocolate cockers this week and the decision was made in minutes even though pups only a couple of weeks old. Superb looking mum and dad, just the size I had my eye on - small and active (our other one is a large powerful cocker). Setup was great and the breeder very informative and friendly. Good looking pedigrees on both sides as well.

In answer to my original question we have decided on a bitch!

We will be choosing her towards the end of the month from a choice of 2 and they are ready at the beginning of July - just in time for the wife's birthday so result all round!

Many thanks for the above replies