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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Male or female

16 replies

amatuermummy · 27/01/2014 20:46

We will shortly be getting a puppy and we are in the middle of a big 'dispute' about male v female dogs. DP thinks females are the best with children and will be easier for our family. I think that all dogs are individual and females are not necessarily better with children than males. The puppy in the litter that stood out to me and kept coming over to me and my DD turned out to be a boy and I'm leaning towards him because he seemed to choose us. DP says that the statistics show that females are better with people than males and that we should just choose a female.
Does anyone have an opinion on this? If you've owned males and females, were there any differences or is it just down to the individual? DP has only owned females, I have only owned males so we are both a bit biased!
Thank you.

OP posts:

Original poster

amatuermummy · 27/01/2014 20:51

Also, how troublesome are seasons? DP maintains that he barely knew his previous dogs were in season. I've heard that they can bleed for up to 2 weeks and can have mood swings throughout the season which may make them liable to snap at people. I'm just looking for a few different opinions to help make an educated decision. Thanks

OP posts:

MolotovCocktail · 27/01/2014 21:01

I've had 2 dogs in my life: one male (deceased) and one female (our beloved 9.6yo).

The boy dog was mainly raised by my parents as he was my childhood pet. Consequently, some things were done in a manner that I probably wouldn't have done - he was food aggressive and prone to running off - but overall, he was awesome and a wonderful boy.

Our girl dog has been wonderful from day 1. We didn't spay her as we thought we might breed from her (hasn't transpired) and I do regret this. It's messy - she doesn't just bleed but her vagina becomes engorged prior to the season starting, which makes her uncomfortable, and she's irritable ... even sad Its messy as even when shes stopped bleeding, there is this gunky stuff which she produces that is sticky.

We use dog pants for the time she's in season.

Our dog is wonderful with our 2 dds, who have arrived since we had her

(will be back)

fanoftheinvisibleman · 27/01/2014 21:11

I had females growing up and they were patient, loving and loyal. One was also an escape artist and did have a tenency to be aggressive with strangers in her attempts to 'protect' us. She was a lovely dog though (though she tried to hump anyone she knew!)

I have a male now. He is also patient, loving and loyal. His recall is poor but only in an I want to have fun way, not a leg it for the sake of it way. He is great with kids and I don't think he has an agressive bone in his body with people or dogs. He is a cuddler

fanoftheinvisibleman · 27/01/2014 21:12

I should point out recall wise he is a 'teenager' too so not quite there yet.

MolotovCocktail · 27/01/2014 21:32

Sorry, lots to do tonight

Our girl dog is a good girl because of how we've raiswd her and her innate temperament. Breed has a lot to do with it and it's worth considering if you go for a cross-breed, too. I don't think that dog's behaviour is purely to do with gender, though I would agree that our girl is extremely protective of us, and 'mothers' our dds (might be more to do with her breed).

In sum, I'd have the dog I was drawn to, irrespective of gender. I would definitely spay or neuter if I wasn't going to breed from the dog. HTH

MolotovCocktail · 27/01/2014 21:38

Forgot to say that her seasons do not make her aggressive in any way. It makes her mope about; she scares more easily and becomes less tolerant of noise. She will hide from our almost 5yo and 21mo because they become too much for her. I don't think she'd snap at them but certainly wouldn't leave them unaccompanied (don't anyway) because her behaviour is less predictable when she ia in this vulnerable state (poor old girl).

It is becoming more of an issue the older she's getting, and thr older/noisier our dds are getting.

needastrongone · 27/01/2014 22:14

I have two dogs. Well a dog and a puppy. Both are soft, gentle and have lovely temperaments. The puppy is more loving, ddog1 slightly more aloof, but does love a cuddle on his terms. Both of the litters that they came from looked to have curious, healthy, playful pups, both sexes.

Both are spaniels so their breed traits are really what we have, perhaps consider what characteristics you want from a dog rather than sex?

elastamum · 27/01/2014 22:19

I have 2 girls, two have been speyed, one has not. All are loving family dogs, who are sociable but never wander. They have very different personalities, one is confident, one a bit timid and one completely mad!

I would pick the dog that you like.

SconeForAStroll · 27/01/2014 22:36

I am a good control for this experiment having as I do a dog and bitch from the same litter!

(both 11yr old black labs btw both neutered)

The dog is more patient and loyal, the bitch more playful and a little bit naughtier. In lots of ways it is like trying to choose between your children - for our family having both fits.

I would go with the puppy that feels right to you. If, as I suspect, you will be looking after the puppy the majority of the time - doing house training etc - it will be your dog and you need to want it.

basildonbond · 28/01/2014 07:53

We had this quandary a few months back but in our case it was going for the boy puppy who'd actually been born or staying on the waiting list for a potential future girl puppy (rare breed so the wait could have been several more months)

I'd had it in my head that I wanted a girl as our first two dogs when I was growing up were girls, however dpup (boy) is an absolute delight. He's happy-go-lucky, enthusiastic about everything, easy to train and always up for a game/walk/cuddle - but a lot of that is down to his inherited characteristics (has come from a long line of playful, obedient dogs) so although we still have to out the work in we've got slightly easier raw material as it were than with some other breeds so I would echo what pp have said and research breeds carefully

basildonbond · 28/01/2014 07:53

Put the work in ...

NCISaddict · 28/01/2014 07:58

I grew up with a male dog who was the gentlest thing ever, have had two female dogs myself who were lovely and now have a male who is curled up on my feet atm and is as soppy as can be.
WRT seasons I've always neutered before the first season so have no idea about them. Would always have any dog I have neutered.

cathpip · 28/01/2014 08:09

Having only ever owned male dogs but worked for families with female dogs I would quite happily say that every dog is different it all depends on how you rear your dog. I have met aggressive female dogs and aggressive male dogs and also super obedient, loving protective male and females. Whichever puppy you choose needs to be right for your family dynamic irrelevant of the sex.

Grennie · 28/01/2014 08:23

Would you neuter any male dog? If you would, I don't think there is an issue.

Original poster

amatuermummy · 30/01/2014 09:05

Hi all, thanks for the replies. I think the consensus is that it is down to the individual dog, not whether it's male or female. I just have to convince DP of that and hope he will look at the puppies with an open mind. To answer your questions, we won't be neutering or spaying the puppy for a long while as I will be showing the puppy. We're going to have another look at the litter on Saturday and will hopefully choose one then. Thanks for your help

OP posts:

Aquelven · 30/01/2014 21:13

If you're considering showing then you need to take an extra thing into consideration.
I've shown for years & years & own both dogs & bitches.

Showing a bitch in season is not actually forbidden but you will become very,very unpopular in the extreme amongst other exhibitors if you do enter a show with your bitch in season. So that's twice a year when shows will be out, for several weeks, even longer when you take into consideration that in most breeds bitches shed a lot after their season & a coat that is not in top top condition will never get you placed. You could end up missing a lot of important shows.
A dog can be shown twelve months of the year.
I do show my bitches,but only the really exceptional ones.

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