Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Why would someone choose a dog rather than a bitch or vice versa?

25 replies

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 13:48

We are planning to get a labrador next year. Is there any reason why people prefer one sex over the other?
Thanks for your help.

OP posts:

LeBOOOf · 15/10/2011 13:55

I prefer not to have to watch dogs licking their bollocks, personally.

Rhinestone · 15/10/2011 13:56

Well I chose a bitch because I wanted my dog to be like me!

Generally speaking, bitches smell less and are more affectionate. But that is a sweeping statement. My girl is very very affectionate though!

DogsBeastFiend · 15/10/2011 13:58

There's only room for one bitch in this house... and that's me! :o

Ok, seriously... I have 3 boys. It's just worked out like that, I chose three rescue dogs which suited my family and who I could help, they just happened to be boys, as have most of my dogs in the past. All I can say is my boys are loyal, dependable and affectionate and, just as is the case with breed, the difference really lies in the personality of the animal rather than the sex.

RCToday · 15/10/2011 14:03

I have one of each

Boydog is very lazy

Girldog is hyper

but I think its just their personalities

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 14:03

Someone told me that a bitch discolours the grass whilst a dog does not. Is that really true?? I read Marley and me a few years ago and the author stated something along the lines of dogs being harder work. True?

OP posts:

Crosshair · 15/10/2011 14:22

I have always had a dog. Dp has always had bitches untill now. :o

I would say it depends on the dogs personality rather then the sex. Most of the male vs female stuff is bullpoop.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 14:24

Is it easy to tell what their personality like or is it more the case of just looking at the Mum?

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 15/10/2011 14:32

My dogs generally choose me. I have ended up with one dog and two bitches:

Dog: Very energetic, grumpy, growly, has endless energy for games even when you don't.

Bitch1: Very cuddly, timid, doesn't play at all even when you want her to.

Bitch2: Lazy, sleepy, cuddly, will engage in a game of tug occassionally.

My Dad has it the other way round. His bitch is one that causes the problems and has limitless energy. His two dogs are lazy and lovely.

It's very hard to gauge what a pup will be like, the temprement of the mother and breed traits can give indicators, but there are so many outside influences that you really cannot tell until the pup is into adulthood.

If it's important for you to have a dog with a specific personality type you realy would be best going to a reputable rescue and getting an adult dog whose personality has already formed.

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 14:40

I'm not sure what we'll do. DH has his heart set on a lab puppy. He had dogs when he was a child. He wants a dog to go running with but it also needs to be a good family dog with our 16 month old, 3 year old and 5 year old kids!

OP posts:

peggyblackett · 15/10/2011 14:56

We have two boys at present. They are very loyal and affectionate, and tbh, less neurotic than the bitches I have had in the past.

clam · 15/10/2011 15:11

I don't think you can generalise, as with children. Some males are bouncy and lively, and females placid; others report the opposite.

We chose a male because we "took" to him more in the mixed litter. Also, we didn't have any girl's names up our sleeve! [hblush]

Interestingly, we didn't have any brown patches on the lawn from him until we had him neutered. Now they're everywhere. I'm now trying out those rocks that you can put in their drinking water - excpet he keeps carting them out and depositing them round the kitchen.

daisydotandgertie · 15/10/2011 15:11

We have lab bitches - just because I like them. All our dogs have chosen us rather then us choosing them.

All the lab dogs I know are dependable, biddable and loyal - and so are our bitches! It's more about which pup suits you most IMO and a good breeder will have sized up the litter by the time you get there and should only be too happy to help you.

The breed choice sounds appropriate for your family - and I'm sure your DH knows that he shouldn't take your new dog running until it's about 18 months old and fully grown to minimise the chance of damaging it's joints.

Labs are heavenly dogs - hard to beat IMO

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 15:19

Good to know about the running. Pretty sure DH said something along those lines. I am really torn as to when we get the dog. My sensible side says wait till the littlest is potty trained. My dominant side says life is already chaotic, go, enjoy!

OP posts:

RunforFun · 15/10/2011 15:27

I only wanted a bitch.

I'm not sure exactly why... but i grew up only ever having bitches. Maybe it was ingrained.

They can be smaller too.

notmeagain · 15/10/2011 16:45

Please please please do not be persuaded that a certain sex will determine the temperament of the dog you choose. If you will excuse the pun is it bollocks!

Sex does not in a way or form determine the personality of dogs. Some bitches are calm some dogs are calm, some bitches will be feisty as will dogs etc etc. Dogs and bitches will both make burn marks on your lawn, dogs and bitches will both smell if fed a rubbish diet

However if you want to see how you dog will turn out definitely get a rescue you have a ready made dog that will show you all of the characteristics in advance and you can literally try before you buy. With a puppy you can study the parents and can look at previous litter from the same breeding if there are any but that does not quarantee how your pup will develop.

Responsible owners will neuter whichever sex so licking bollocks need not be a problem (well licking the dogs bollocks will not be a problem )

Crosshair · 15/10/2011 16:51

"Responsible owners will neuter"

Making an informed choice makes me irresponsible. Male or female they still lick their bits.

notmeagain · 15/10/2011 16:58

Working with rescue organisations I would say "responsible owners will neuter"
however that is not what this thread is primarily about

Also the dogs would really smell if they did not clean their bits to be honest.

LeBOOOf · 15/10/2011 17:11

Yes, yes. But dogs also have those weird lipstick willies

Elibean · 15/10/2011 17:12

I had a very affectionate male (neutered) lab cross. No bollocks to lick.

I now have another very affectionate male (neutered) lab cross, ditto

LtAllHallowsEve · 15/10/2011 17:18

MuttDog is a bitch, our next dog will most likely be a dog. I say most likely just because we will only go for a Rescue, so it will be whichever one gets on with Mutt and DD best.

Given the choice it would be a dog, simply because neutering is cheaper than spaying. Getting Mutty done cost us the best part of £200, getting a dog done will be half that. Saying that though, if we go for a grown up rather than a pup this time then the rescue will have done it for us.

As for grass burning, MuttDogs vet gave me a great tip that has worked, a spoon of Ketchup in her dinner. It's true, it's stopped the burn (we had dog rocks, she just fished them out and buried them!)

Original poster

shoutymcshoutsmum · 15/10/2011 23:45

Having not received any overwhelming shouting from you guys saying one sex or the other, I think I will just wait and see which pup/adult looks right.

I suggested getting an adult to DH over dinner tonight. He responded with the following: "would you have preferred not to have our kids as babies and watch them grow up? Would you have preferred just to pick them as adults just so you could see what they were like?" I reminded him that choosing a dog was not the same as having a kid.....

OP posts:

Joolyjoolyjoo · 15/10/2011 23:51

I have a dog and a bitch. my dog is my dog. My bitch looks down her nose at me as she flutters her eyelashes at DH. I think she secretly wishes I were gone and it was just her and him. He didn't particularly want her- we were just dating when I got her, she was meant to be my dog. But she disagreed She has been far far harder work than my dog, but that is possibly because she won't do anything for me (grr!) but behaves like an angel with DH.

I am therefore biased into preferring dogs!

EggyAllenPoe · 15/10/2011 23:53

boys and girls...not that different. neutered boys make loving and affectionate family pets without the hassle of ever having seasons...

more important: breeder/ rescue

a good rescue will find the right dog (of either gender) to home with you

a good breeder should pick the right one from the litter for you (even little puppies show their characters!)

misdee · 16/10/2011 07:45

i had two dogs

one had a permanant slack willy. was very errrr interesting when we had visitors. he was hyper, but very easy to train.

ralph, is just a lazy bugger. he wont play unless its something he wants to do. he wont chase a ball, or a stick, or a frisbee. he is very smart but obstinate. he doesnt smell.

growing up, we had a bitch. she was lovely. very playful, but my parents never got her spayed. her seasons were messy. but she used to clean herself a lot. so she didnt lick bollcoks obviously but she did lick herself a lot.

Ephiny · 18/10/2011 10:55

I am slightly biased towards preferring dogs, as in my personal experience the ones I've known seem more affectionate and interactive with people than the bitches. I'm sure lots of people will have experienced the opposite though, so I'm not sure if it's a real trend or just coincidence!

Don't think it's that important really though, especially if they're neutered. Breed and individual personality count for a lot more.

Flip