Puppy Selection: Should I Choose a Male or Female Puppy? What are the differences?
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.
How to Choose A 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. |
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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Male or Female - Which is best for me?
Many people actually believe that female dogs make better pets. The fallacy seems to be true of most folks that call or write me wanting a new pet. Many calls seeking puppies are from people wanting a "sweet girl". They don't think females display alpha behaviors like "marking" and/or "humping". They believe that females are more docile and attentive and do not participate in fighting over dominance. This is simply not true. They are called "bitches" for a reason!!!
In the dog pack framework, females usually rule the roost, determine pecking order and compete to maintain and/or alter that order. The females are, as a result, more independent, stubborn, and territorial than their male counterparts. Females are much more intent upon exercising their dominance by participating in alpha behaviors such as "humping" and in fighting. There IS a reason people utilize the technical dog term of 'bitch" in a negative way; and it refers directly to the behaviors exhibited by the females of the canine world. Most fights will usually break out between two females. It is not a pleasant task to have “break up” such contest of wills.
Males, on the other hand, are usually more affectionate, exuberant, attentive and seek your attention. They are very attached to their people. They also tend to be more steadfast, reliable, and less moody. They are more outgoing, more accepting of other pets, and take quicker to children. Most boys are easily motivated by praise, and are very eager to please making training all the easier.
However, males can be easily distracted during training, as they just want to get to playtime! No matter what age, the male is more likely to act silly and more puppy-like. Males are fun-loving until the day they die.
Females tend to be more aloof or dignified as they age. Witness the human equivalent of the twinkling eyed Grandpa still playing catch at age 70, while Grandma quietly observes from the porch.
Neutered males rarely exhibit secondary sexual behavior such as 'humping", or "marking" or lifting their leg. Once the testosterone levels recede after neutering, so do these behaviors (if they ever existed). Boys who were neutered early (by 5 months of age) usually don't ever raise their leg to urinate. Believe it or not, I have several females that lift their leg to urinate….they are showing their dominance. Just as males will urinate on top of where another animal has, so as to mark, the female will follow this same pattern.
Males also tend to be less hyper than their female counterparts. I cannot explain this tendency but I have noticed it time and time again.
That little girl may be less likely to wage a dominance battle with YOU, but she can be cunning and resourceful in getting her own way. She is much more prone to mood swings. One day she may be sweet and affectionate the next day reserved and withdrawn or even grumpy. Most females will usually come to you for attention. But as soon as she has had enough, she will move away. Boys are always waiting for your attention and near at hand.
Then to top it all off, males are less expensive. I suppose this is partly due to the fact that most people want a female and the tendency for more males in a given litter. These are all things you should take into consideration when determining which sex best suits your personality and lifestyle.