In September I will be picking up my first cocker spaniel puppy from a well known breeder. I was positive that I wanted to get a female, given the more positive reputation of female dogs. However, lately I have been hearing that male cockers have more calm dispositions and do not need to urinate as much as females. In fact, someone stated that female cockers tend to go in the house more often. The breeder has good things to say about both genders - so this is not proving to be helpful. If anyone has any advice on what gender of cockers is more desirable, I would appreciate it.

It really depends on your preference and, remember, every dog is an individual. I personally have always had male cockers - some have been calm, some mad as hatters (in the nicest possible way). My parents' bitch varies from calm to mad! With regard to urinating, in my experience, bitches tend to wee less than males. My parents' cocker bitch only seems to wee a couple of times a day, my boys (including those who are neutered) wee all the time when out for a walk. None of them wee in the house once they are fully house trained.

Sure you are not going to choose your puppy by the amount of urine it will produce and where. When it is trained it will not matter, which sex do you prefer the look of and if you are keeping your pup intact are you more prepared to cope with the sex drive or the season. Even if you intend to neuter, you will not hopefully do it till they are about 18 month, so you will have to go through the dogs teenage stage and 2 or 3 seasons for the bitch.

Going back to urine the bitch will be inclined to soil her back legs and knickers and the dog, till he starts to cock, his front legs and feathers. So you take your choice.