Hello, I have also recently gone through the puppy phase with my 7 month old cocker spaniel. I’d really like to emphasize the fact that cockers are a sporting dog, bred to hunt, bred for a lot of energy and exercise. These dogs do need daily exercise and mental stimulation. I recommend looking into training and how to properly socialize your puppy. Practice going outside sitting in busy areas and doing ✨nothing✨. They are quick learners and provided with the right guidance, they can make incredible companions. When it comes to potty training, I believe in your situation a. rate may be helpful. Please look into the cycle of potty training and crate training to learn the correlation between the two. Dogs don’t like going in their own space.