Boy or Bitch/

[hils]

Hello,

I am getting a cocker puppy and am given the choice of boy or bitch. I have always had boy dogs not for any specific reason.

I was wondering if there was really much difference between them (except for the obvious seasons for a girl and the hormones for a boy), I am only wanting a pet no plans on showing and certainly no plans on breeding!!

Thanks very much

Hils

[sportsmonki]

We have only ever had bitches (until now...we have an 8 week old boy  ) so I'm not really in a position to help.

Bitches can be a bit moody!  My friends in obedience say the strongest bitches are stronger than the strongest dogs, and the wimpiest dogs are more wimpy than the wimpiest bitches...but then each dog is an individual, so they could come anywhere on the scale!

I'm assuming from what you've said that you already have been in touch with someone who has a litter about having one of the pups?  Do you need to say now whether you want a dog or a bitch?  Or can you wait till they are a bit older and see which puppies character you prefer?

[clairep4]

We have one of each. Bella is very bright but not quite as soppy as Zorro. Zorro is a bit of a noodle noddle (not too much up top) but the most loyal, loving, affectionate little man in the world.

Both of them are lovely - couldn't really say one is better than the other as they have such different qualities. 

[JenSam]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but cocker bitches are smaller than the males.

[Colin]

I don't think there's a lot of difference really - I think individual personalities and the lines they come from have more of an effect than what sex they are. I opted for a boy first time round as I remembered how messy my childhood dog ( a bitch) was during her seasons. I've since added two Cocker girls and found their seasons a doddle to cope with - neither are messy, mind missing out on long walks or go through personality changes when in season, both are permanently happy and never ever the remotest bit bossy or grumpy.  Their seasons have definitely been more easy to deal with than Jimmy's male posturing adolescence was - but then again, not every boy goes through that either. If you don't really have a strong preference one way or the other then I'd wait until you see the litter and then make your decision - often a pup will stand out as being the one that takes your fancy, regardless of it's sex.

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but cocker bitches are small than the males.

In theory... but there are lots of exceptions!

I have had two cocker dogs and now have a weimaraner bitch too... I love my dogs as they seem to be straight forward and easy to read, I love my bitch too she's intelligent and more of a challenge but very affectionate.. BUT I'm not sure how much of that is down to their breed differences...

Sorry don't think that's much help at all is it!!!?!?

Hannah x

[*Theresa*]

I have one of each and they are very different to each other but I think this is a personality rather than a sex thing.

Sally is a very clingy dog who loves nothing more than to sit on her daddies knee for however long she can get away with it. She has her mad moments too and when on a walk is totally focussed on chasing/finding the ball. She was quite nervous when we got her but can hold her own now in her own enviroment. She is still not the most sociable with other dogs but we have seen huge improvements there in the last year. She has impecable recall and can walk to heel and on a lead well.

Glen is a very confident in your face dog. He lacks manners and we are struggling to break his habit of approaching every and any dog. On the lead he pulls like a train and although he loves chasing balls he does not always retrieve them and will quite often get distracted midway and start doing something else. He has to see everything and anything that is going on so is rarely sat still for any length of time. He trains better and easier than Sally when it come to giving paw etc as he is very food orientated.

Both dogs are very loving and need to be around their humans as much as possible. They have alot of love to give and both are good round children (though Glen can get over excitable so needs to be watched) and other animals.

Can't honestly say I have a preference for either male/female as I love both my doglets to pieces.

Helpful huh 

[Colin]

Can't honestly say I have a preference for either male/female as I love both my doglets to pieces.

Same here - each has their own little quirks and individual personality attributes ( and defects  ). If I was to add a 4th I'd go for another girl, just because Jimmy prefers girls to boys ( Misty and Stevie aren't so fussy) but if it was my first Cocker, my priority would be in finding a reputable breeder who does all the necessary health checks and whose dogs have a repution for having nice temperaments and then choose an individual without caring about which sex they were. Keeping your options open re which sex gives you more to choose from as well. 

[kirklou]

I don't think there's a lot of difference really - I think individual personalities and the lines they come from have more of an effect than what sex they are. I opted for a boy first time round as I remembered how messy my childhood dog ( a bitch) was during her seasons. I've since added two Cocker girls and found their seasons a doddle to cope with - neither are messy, mind missing out on long walks or go through personality changes when in season, both are permanently happy and never ever the remotest bit bossy or grumpy.  Their seasons have definitely been more easy to deal with than Jimmy's male posturing adolescence was - but then again, not every boy goes through that either. If you don't really have a strong preference one way or the other then I'd wait until you see the litter and then make your decision - often a pup will stand out as being the one that takes your fancy, regardless of it's sex.

i quite agree - when we viewed the pups on offer Jester came to us and chose my daughter!! we would not have had it any other way - we looked at all the others but he was the one regardless of his sex

[tracyd]

having always had bitches before, i was looking for a bitch when getting bailey, however ended up with a dog and have to say im glad i did.  Personally i think dogs are simpler and not as deep as bitches, and dont tend to have mood swings, though lots of bitches are like that too.  I think it depends on each dogs individual personality, and doesnt really matter what sex they are. 

[dmulally]

Perhaps let one of them choose you!

[Chellejm]

When I went to choose our puppy I had it in my head that I wanted a boy, mostly due to knowing what my parents bitch was like when she was in season (although I know all vary!)
When we saw the litter there was one puppy that was so intrested in us and was giving us lots of licks and we decided that that was the puppy for us, it just so happened it was a boy but even if it was a girl we would have still chosen the same puppy

Good luck

[Helen]

Perhaps let one of them choose you!

yup. that's how we ended up with a liver boy when we went to choose a liver and white girl 

[JoanneM]

having always had bitches before, i was looking for a bitch when getting bailey, however ended up with a dog and have to say im glad i did. 

Same here, I was adamant I wanted a bitch, I even almost chose one, then this little quiet boy the fastest heart beat stole my heart 

[Joelf]

Our first dog was a bitch & thereafter we've always had male dogs all of whom have been very easy-going & laid-back.

Our next pup will probably be a male ( I think a choc. lab as I have a friend who breeds very good quality puppies from a really super bitch! )

The puppy after that will probably be a male cocker!!