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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

Dog or bitch?

60 replies

zippyswife · 10/03/2022 15:02

First time dog owner… I’ve narrowed down my breed and now to the question of dog or bitch?

I’m ideally looking for a dog that is calm, good with children, doesn’t require too much stimulation but is happy to chill but also likes playing too.

Am I describing a dog or bitch or is every dog individual and character traits have little to do with sex?

OP posts:

PollyRoulllson · 10/03/2022 15:11

Sex will make no difference to temperament (whatever peope say!)

Dogs may be slightly bigger than bitches, bitches you have to spay dogs you may leave entire.

If you have a good breeder let them choose the right dog for your family if going for a rescue dog you will have more idea of the "finished" product so go by temperament

Isgooglebroken · 10/03/2022 15:12

I would never have a dog but that’s because a friend had a dog and the family thought it oh so hilarious when it jumped up and grabbed you and started humping your leg. Horrible.

My family have always only had bitches but they all have their own personalities. A lot of what you are looking for is down to breed, temperament and training tbh.

PollyRoulllson · 10/03/2022 15:13

Bitches will hump too....

userxx · 10/03/2022 15:16

Male's will destroy plants by pissing on them, I know from bitter experience.

bunnygeek · 10/03/2022 15:55

You may well only have that "calm" dog that gets on well with children after maybe 2 years of adolescent nightmare, chewed furniture, nipped humans and intensive training, regardless of whether it's a dog or bitch.

AwkwardPaws27 · 10/03/2022 15:59

What breed have you chosen? This will have a far greater impact on temperament (although there are always exceptions!).

Spaying bitches is recommended (although when to do it depends, you may be encouraged to wait a little longer for larger breeds) due to the pyometra risk as they get older. Castration depends on the dog - we haven't had our 16 month old cocker done yet, in part because of a health issue but also due to him being v submissive. Once he is better we will reassess but I want him to be more confident before we decide to castrate. He doesn't hump much now (& only his bed - never legs or other dogs, thankfully!) but does has to pee on absolutely everything.

I'm assuming you are getting a puppy, a good breeder should be able to match you to a puppy. We ended up with the biggest of the litter, if I was choosing I'd have almost certainly avoided the biggest and smallest, but he was actually the most chilled out, cuddly pup.

Giggorata · 10/03/2022 16:39

I've had both, but we've had bitches for the past few years.
I don't miss the smell of dog pee all over the yard and on my van wheels. Even using Jeyes fluid didn't completely eradicate it, plus then you had the overlay of 1950s school lavatory smell. And we had two dogs, so they had a pee fest to prove that they owned everything.
I haven't had my bitches spayed, instead I manage them when they are on heat. It is slightly more inconvenient, but not much.
It hasn't been my experience that bitches are any calmer than dogs. It seems to be largely dependent of breed and upbringing.

Giggorata · 10/03/2022 16:40

Dependent on, I meant (sigh)

ABitBesotted · 10/03/2022 16:42

Bitches are cleaner. That's the only difference IMO.

InkySquid · 10/03/2022 16:44

I chose to get a bitch so I didn't have to check whether photos i took needed to be censored

BiteyShark · 10/03/2022 16:49

I really don't think it matters but you have to decide what things you would find more difficult.

I didn't want to manage seasons so picked a dog.

But I don't recognise any of the downsides that people mention of having a dog rather than a bitch. He has never humped anything in his life but ironically he does pee like a bitch so my lawn suffers lots from pee burn. But equally he has never marked anything inside.

As for calmness, good with children etc I don't think that is dependent on sex at all.

Gowithme · 10/03/2022 16:56

I've had both and also dog walk/sit and I would choose a bitch every time. I can't even really tell you why I just prefer them.

Whatdramain2022 · 10/03/2022 17:28

I've had both too and I'd definitely have a bitch if I had another dog. I find them more placid and easier to manage than males.

biggreenhouse · 10/03/2022 17:31

in my breed the males are calmer and easier. my bitch is the humper!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 10/03/2022 17:50

I have a dog and I'm also a dog walker and generally prefer dogs.

The main reason for picking a dog was because I didn't want to deal with seasons. My dog has also never humped and his wee hasn't damaged our lawn either.

3ormoredogs · 10/03/2022 19:22

All of my dogs have been calmer and easier than the bitches once out of adolescence. I find the bitches much more sensitive.

The bitches are more loyal though IMO.

3ormoredogs · 10/03/2022 19:23

Oh none of my boys hump as I don’t allow it One entire and one castrated.

Bitches ruin the grass more if I am being picky!

Floralnomad · 10/03/2022 19:27

I have a dog , and up until 2 weeks ago I would have highly recommended a dog over a bitch every time as all the nicest dogs I know , including my own are boys . However 2 weeks ago my dog got a paraphimosis , chewed his penis all night and ripped 2 lumps out of it and since then I’ve spent 2 weeks stretching foreskins and applying creams to his his penis and frankly I never want to see another dog penis in my life . Get a bitch .

userxx · 10/03/2022 19:45

@InkySquid

I chose to get a bitch so I didn't have to check whether photos i took needed to be censored

🤣🤣 yep, sent a few of those in my time, only after I've realised it was a bit too explicit for my poor mum.

userxx · 10/03/2022 19:50

@Floralnomad

Woah!!! I did not know that could happen to dogs.

WhiteXmas21 · 10/03/2022 19:57

I have one of each. (Labradors) . Dog is gorgeous, cuddly, not a humper, but a bit stubborn; was a very very lively teenager.
Bitch is also lovely, but more independent , humps male dog like her life depends on it.
Both are very friendly, good with children; both detest cats.
I think the bitch is more biddable, but she’s a rescue, so it could be down to the fact that I was not responsible for her upbringing.

XelaM · 10/03/2022 21:47

Dog. Dealing with seasons and spaying is a pain. Our dog is extremely loving 🥰

GuyFawkesDay · 10/03/2022 21:52

I've got an entire 9 month old dog. He's a gem. Soft as putty, loyal as. Humps his bed but that's ok, all pups doing make or female.

Girlintheframe · 11/03/2022 07:22

We always seems to end up with dogs.
Tbh we haven't had any of the problems mentioned here. Neither of them humped or marked inside. Both very loving and cuddly.

Original poster

zippyswife · 11/03/2022 10:46

@GuyFawkesDay @Girlintheframe can I ask what breed you have?

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