2nd Cocker ?? Boy or Girl

[c19unn]

Hi fellow Col's 

Me and the OH (although he does not know it yet) are thinking about getting a 2nd cocker next year when Diesel is older and more mature.

Diesel is a Male and still has his bits (not very technical i know) He will be 1 yr old next year.
He is extremely great around other dogs.

However i am not sure if it would be best to get another male or a female? Also what would i need to do if i did get a female?
are same sexes better together Or would it not matter?

Thanks Guys

[black taz]

think it depends on the dogs personalities as much as anything.  I have one of each, but know others who had two girls or two boys without problems.  One thing you would need to consider is whether you would get one of them neutered.

[Poppsie]

Charlene I've always had 2 girls together, but in my opinion it's up to you. There are many of us on here who have 2 of the same sex or even a mixture of both sexes, so it's what you will feel happy with  x x x

[c19unn]

Yeah i did think that i would need to get one of them 'done'
I would never usually base buying a dog on what sex or colour it is, However i know that you cannot put two male rabbits together as they fight and just wondered if there was anything i had to consider when buying a second dog.

[Carolynleah]

I have had two girls together (not cockers) and a male and female (still not cockers!) and now have a male staffie with my female cocker.  All these combinations have worked well, I haven't had two boys together as for the last 11 years I have had a male (castrated) staffie and I don't feel two male staffies would be a good mix (though I know other people will disagree, it depends on personal experience).
The one thing I have found that is even though Will is castrated, when Nerys the cocker came into season he was very, very distressed and confused - obviously he knew something was going on and just couldn't work it out.  Nerys has now been spayed, so all is well again with my two  
Are you thinking of having one or the other neutered - or both?  If you have a bitch in season while your male isn't castrated, there are obvious problems - my son keeps his gundogs in kennels but had great difficulty in keeping his male dog away from his female dog when she was in season, it was very stressful for all concerned!  

[c19unn]

Well i wouldnt be very sure of what i would do - as i dont know if it would be for the best - is it fair to neuter both or would it be fairer just to get 2 males 

[ShellyJeff]

We are looking for a 2nd Cocker at the moment and my male Cocker Benson is so laid back it's ridiculous  

We were told by everyone that we shouldn't get another male as they would fight!

He really doesn't mind dogs of any sex, we recently looked after our friends 3 year old female Cocker while they were on holiday and she was such a bossy little madam and was constantly telling him off. She guarded food, toys, people and anything she wanted as hers! I was alittle bit upset when she told him off at first because it was often because he happened to just innocently walk past her   but Benson just calmly walked away and went for a snooze on the sofa or in the kitchen.

We have been to rescue centres and had friends male dogs visit he is exactly the same with male dogs, he is just so easy going. So I do think it depends on the dog and their personality.

So we've decided to get an older puppy around 6 months old now Benson is 2 years old, but I we're not looking for a particular sex which has made it less challenging.

Hoping to go and see a 6 month old little girl puppy tonight fingers crossed!!

[ShellyJeff]

Oh and Benson is neutered so that makes it a little easier too....

[Maria n Dennis]

I have two entire males , 8 months between them in age. Dennis will be 3 in December , Douglas was 2 in august . I have never had any problems but as others have said i think it depends on the dogs personality. We will be adding a 3rd dog in a few months (different breed) and we will be getting a bitch. The bitch will be spayed when old enough as I feel that it's better for her health wise than it is for the boys, however that is just my personal opinion.

[elaine.e]

My first 2 Cockers, Josh and Sam, were both entire males with a 22 month age gap between them. Josh was the older one and was always very laid back with other dogs and very confident. Sam was quite reserved with people he didn't know and a bit anxious generally. I think that was simply because he was unwell when a puppy and missed out on a lot of socialisation. The two of them got on well, although they were never best buddies.

I now have 7 year old William, castrated at 15 months because of an undescended testicle and 2 year old Louis, who is entire. William is very confident, not very interested in other dogs and generally accepts anything new that happens in his life. However, after 5 years of being an only he really didn't want to share me with Louis and spent lots of time upstairs on his own at first just to keep out of the way. Broke my heart to see my lovely boy so unhappy and I regretted getting Louis, especially as he turned out to be a very needy and difficult puppy.

2 years on and they get on reasonably well. Louis would like William to play with him and snuggle up, but William won't. When I sit on the sofa I have a Cocker either side of me and they're both relaxed that way. They've both learned to adapt to each other and quarrels are rare and so far have been a bit of grumbling and handbags. However, I reckon that it's a precarious relationship sometimes and I observe them quite a lot and give them both time apart sometimes.

So I think it really depends on the personalities of both dogs and although it works out in most cases there are no guarantees.

[supergirl]

I have one boy (entire) and 3 girls spayed.  Roly gets on with all the girls, unfortunately the same can't be said for the girls who regularly squabble amongst each other.  I wish that I'd gone for another boy to even up the nos.  A girl and a boy is usually a good combination, though you will have to get her spayed.

[c19unn]

Excellent advice thanks everyone - I have been very norty and been looking at lots of puppy photos and decided ill defo get a 2nd one next year once Diesel is a bit older and see how he progresses.

[Laura]

I too think it's down to the personality of each dog.  Brogan and Bailey were both males with a 9 month age difference between then. I took precautions when they were both young adolescents to prevent fights i.e. I crated them separately if we went out; especially if I'd left them with stuffed Kongs.  I also did a lot of individual training.     They got on famously.   Both were neutered at 11 months old.  

I now have Ziggy and Blossom male/female littermates, nearly 15 months.  Their relationship is so good it's magical.   Ziggy was neutered at 10 months, Blossom will be spayed after her first season - although we are still waiting  .

[Jonnydog]

When I've had two dogs I've always gone for a girl and a boy but I don't really know why except that it seemed the right thing at the time. I think, like the others, that the personality of the dogs makes a difference.

Although it's definitely twice the work, having two dogs can be joyous as you're able to watch them interact with each other as well as with you and OH. I've found Jonny invaluable in helping Penny through puppyhood. He shows her how things are done around here (including the bad stuff like barking madly in anticipation of a walk and bounding crazily at the beginning of said walk   ) and babysits her when I'm not available so we have no separation problems to speak of.

I bet Diesel will love getting a wee brother or sister when he's a big doggy himself.

[henryjack1dogs]

Hi,

I currently have 2 boy cockers 6 mths and 19mths of age.  Very different but so far get on fantastically, my older boy is very lively/laid back boy and youngster is so calm/quiet funny little thing.  So far so good!!!!!!

In the past I have had 2 boy cockers who weren't always the best of friends, but it was down to one's personality he really he didn't like other dogs invading his space, took a dislike to my bitch terrier as well.  He was special though!!  :luv:So all down to personality and whether it can work.