Just wanted some feed back on peoples preferences to getting a male or female puppy.

We are hopefully getting a Golden Cocker Spaniel puppy in September and are not to sure what sex to get.

If we got a female we would want to get her neutered but apparently this ruins the appearance of the coat which I am not keen on. If we got a male we would not have to get him neutered and so he would have a beautiful silky coat. My partner has reservations about males as he doesn't like them cocking there legs at everything! We have told the breeder that we will have a boy as I want to keep a lovely healthy looking coat etc as this means alot when you are paying such a large amount of money. I myself am not bothered about the little male ways and have told my partner that he has lots of ways I don't like but I gave him a home!!

Please can you give me some advise or experiences that might help me.

Thanks very much

Nicky xx

Hi nicky.
Males do not go fluffy but will still need proper grooming, stripping and trimming. Speyed females do go fluffy, but if you were going to have the dog clipped it wouldn't matter anyway, same goes for males. Dogs cock their legs, but not everywhere !! I have 3 entire males and we go to stay in strange houses, they never wee anywhere they shouldn't. It's down to personal choice really, for me male every time.
Dawn.

I prefer males and if you need to (de-sex) please have a Vasectomy not castration. You can't get a disifectant to kill the scent of the urine in the garden if it is a problem but none of my males would cock a leg in the house unless a strange male had done so before them. Jackie H

Hi Nicky

I have Three Entire Male Cocker Spaniels and they are absolutely wonderful, but I am a bit bias :D :D

I don't have a problem with them cocking their legs inside, and one has been used at Stud.

They are very affectionate, eager to please, will grow slightly larger than a bitch and will be slightly heavier.

Spayed/Neutered Cockers in my experience have a total change of coat and a tendancy to put on weight.

HTH

Dessie & The Boys :D :D

>>My partner has reservations about males as he doesn't like them cocking there legs at everything!

Then train it not to unless you say ;-)

Hi Nicky

I prefer females, but you will get a lot of different answers, some people prefer males and some females., I have two female cockers one nearly 3 and the other 11 months. They have the odd spat but apart from that are fine.

Natasha :D

Have you had your females spayed? If so has their coats changed? If not, how do handle them when they are on heat?

Regards

Nicky

Hi Nicky

I have both male & female Cockers & also groom pet Cockers on a daily basis for other people. I can definitely say that if you neuter a Cocker, whether male or female, then the coat will eventually grow much fluffier & softer & additionally with goldens & orange roans, the colour fades so you would lose the very feature which probably attracts you to a gold Cocker in the first place - it's beautiful coat :-) There is nothing nicer than a properly hand-stripped golden Cocker, so if this is what you want, then don't rush into neutering (though there are obviously good health arguments for doing this in later life, particularly for bitches)

I have both spayed & entire bitches - the spayed ones are clipped but still look smart & tidy & the entire ones are hand stripped. If you have a Cocker bitch & don't spay her, then for a period of 3 weeks or so (twice a year usually) then you will have to take extra care when exercising your bitch, particularly at the peak time (between 10 days - 16 days generally). This means road walking only (on the lead), no free running in the park (out of consideration to owners of male dogs & to protect your bitch from "amorous advances"). I don't find this a problem but many owners do which is why they opt for spaying.

No one can tell you whether a dog or bitch is better - everyone has their own preferences. I love the dogs & if we didn't breed/show & I was looking for a pet Cocker, then I would go for a dog. They are just as loving & affectionate as the bitches & leg cocking is not a problem with training (& all Cockers need training whether dogs or bitches :-) )

HTH

Jane

Thanks very much Jane,

I think we have decided on a male due to a number of points.

I don't want to have an unspayed bitch with the worry that a little accident might happen and the next thing you have is puppies!

I also want a beautiful coat on my dog, one reason is because as you pointed out, its one of the reasons that we are attracted to golden cockers. The other reason is that this is my first dog and I have been looking forward to the day I have one all my life and would possibly like to do go to shows/obedience (nothing to serious) as a hobby.

Just out of interest, do bitches bleed during their seasons?

Kind Regards

Nicky

Hi Nicky

I support everything Jane has said - why get a nicely coated dog just to change it. I have entire Cocker boys and unless it was really necessary wouldn't have them done. They are in a very secure garden though and can't get out and we have no bitches near us in any case.

The only problem I have had with dogs cocking their legs on the house is when my friends boy cocker came to visit and he thought he should re-scent my boys bed!!! other than that if mine have ever shown the slightest inclination to lifting their legs - they're out. Mine are big girlies though and have only just strarted to realise they need to cock their legs anyway - hopeless;)

As for the bleeding - it depends on the bitch. Some are very clean and you wouldn't know they were in season at all, others you may need to put a nappy on them - :D or follow them with a mop. From my youth - my parents always had un-speyed bitches and I don't ever remember seeing pools of blood - but my friend who has a cocker bitch used to find little spots but that's all. I have heard other folk who have needed to put pants on the bitch. Most though seem to keep themselves clean.

hth

Pam n the boys

Hi Nicky

Both my girls are entire, and I have not had any problems (touch wood) with them being in season...although they do loose a bit of coat...good luck with your decision.

Natasha :D

Hi All

Just wanted to say that I have found this thread very interesting, even although I made my decision weeks ago. I am going to pick up my pup in 10 days :-) and just can't wait! He is a gold cocker (male) and the only reason I had for choosing a male was that both my partner and I owned males when we were growing up and just had no experience of bitches.

I decided on Boys as I like to do Agility and of course with a Girls you would miss out on training due to their seasons. I know it is only twice a year but always when you don't want them to :D

Also if you are interested in Showing Nicky you will not loose the coat like the Girls do. Some Boys do though but not as bad as the Girls.

Best wishes

Derryn :D

I have told my breeder that we are going to choose a boy and we are being given first pick of the litter!

Thank you to everyone who has replied, you have been a really great help in my decision.

Shirl - Please let me know how you get on with your puppy as it is the same as we are getting in September. I think my partner is the opposite to you, he has always had bitches and so isn't experienced in males which is probably why is was a little reluctant. I on the otherhand am an open canvas as I am a new dog owner!

September seems so far away! I will be about to erupt by the time we pick him up!

I am getting my 'The Perfect Puppy' book today and so am looking forward to learning all about bringing up my puppy.

Does anyone who owns a Cocker Spaniel advise me to get a book all about the breed or is the above enough?

This site has been so informative and I am sure I will learn alot just by reading all the different posts, I know where to come if I have a question.

Kindest Regards

Nicky

Hi Nicky

Well done on getting "The Perfect Puppy" before you get your pup - it's an excellent starting point for learning about puppy behaviour & training. I would recommend you get a book on Cockers too - there are many on the market (I think I must have them all :-) ) but a good budget buy is Frank Kane's "A Pet Owner's Guide to The Cocker Spaniel" which is particularly helpful for grooming info & another good one is Haja van Wessem's "Cocker Spaniel". There are many more but these are good introductions to the breed

Jane

Hi Nicky

Of course I'll let you know how I get on, just try and stop me:-) I have read "The Perfect Puppy" back to front and front to back. We are going to try crate training which is mentioned in Gwen Bailey's book. Books that go into it in a little more depth are "Before You get your Puppy" and "After you get Your Puppy" both by Ian Dunbar. These books were easy to read, if a little repetative - all information could easily have been put in one book (it's less profitable that way, though;-)). I've read both the Cocker books that Jane suggested and thought they were excellent. Another is published by Collins "Cocker Spaniel - An Owner's Guide" by Lesley Scott-Ordish, which seems to give sound advice but of course I've still to try putting any of it into practice:-). Only 8 days to go!!

Shirley