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Puppy Selection: Should I Choose a Male or Female Puppy? What are the differences?

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Summary: We provide several comparisons and differences between owning a female puppy vs. owning a male puppy. Our comparisons assume that you are going to neuter or spay your new puppy.

When all is said and done, choosing a male or female puppy is definitely a personal choice. Here are just a few things that you may wish to consider. The number one question you need to ask yourself is "Are you planning to have you pet spayed or neutered?" Females that are not spayed are usually moodier. They come into season (“heat”) generally twice a year for a couple of weeks each time.
During their heat cycles there will be a discharge of blood and fluid the amount will vary with the female. Occasionally you'll need to watch out for those floor coverings depending on the dog!

Females are generally smaller than the males of the same breed. Female dogs usually squat to urinate, which can kill the grass. Females most often are more expensive to purchase and it is more expensive and intrusive to have a female spayed than to have a male neutered.

If you choose not to have your male neutered you will notice he will “mark” his territory by lifting his leg and frequently urinating. Urinating on bushes and shrubs can kill them or partially destroy the plant. Males will most definitely be more interested in a female in heat than in your commands.

Unaltered males have a tendency to get into dog fights and in general are more aggressive. Males are usually bigger than females of the same breed. If you choose to have your pet spayed or neutered at an early age, your male puppy may squat to urinate. He will be less likely to roam and be less aggressive towards other dogs. The messy female heat cycle will be eliminated along with some of the moodiness.

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