Male Or Female Dogs – Which One Should You Choose

When deciding between male or female dogs, my personal preference has always been biased towards female dogs. Perhaps it has something to do with not having a daughter and wanting a little girl – I don’t know . I think that’s why I almost always refer to dogs as “her” and “she”. Please just indulge me when that happens – no offense to all the male dogs out there.

In the end, though, it shouldn’t matter really. After all if you care more about a dog’s personality, character, and how the dog will fit into your lifestyle, then gender should be irrelevant. If you are buying a new puppy or getting a grown dog your decision will be mostly based on how the puppy or dog behaves and acts towards you, your family, and other people.

However, there are definite differences, and you can choose whether male or female dogs will suit you best.

Female Dogs

In general…

• female dogs are smaller in size
• they are often believed to be more intelligent – this is debatable, but in a household with both male and female dogs, the females tend to run the show
• they tend to be more independent
• they tend to be more mature as well
• a bit more aloof

Male Dogs

Generally speaking…

• males dogs are very affectionate
• they can be less complicated than female dogs
• can have problems if not neutered
• can be territorial over property
• tend to display territorial urination

Male or Female Dogs – The Truth

The truth is that these short lists are really just generalizations, and for every bullet point there is probably a male and a female dog that can be described that way. There are however, some additional observations that can be addressed.

For example, intact males can develop behaviors based on sexual interest. Stories of dogs jumping or climbing over a fence just to get to a neighborhood female who is in heat is not unheard of. Also, intact males are more likely to mark the house with their urine. Having your dog neutered can help in alleviating these behaviors.

As with male dogs, females can also be distracted and exhibit certain behaviors associated with sexual interest if they are not spayed. However, it tends to be less of a problem since females only come into a heat cycle once or twice a year. Again, spaying can help with some of these issues.

We will discuss the benefits and criticisms of spaying and neutering later on.

As another example, many female dogs seem to take to training more easily than their male friends. They can be very focused and intent at getting it right. In classes with both male and female dogs, the females seem to learn faster in the beginning. The males usually catch up, and some will even excel, but the girls usually get ahead to start.

In the end, both male or female dogs make excellent pets. Every dog is different no matter what their gender. There is nothing wrong with having a preference for one over the other, but if you are not sure which one would be better for your family, here is a bit of advice – go with your heart. Do your research so you can make an informed decision about what type of dog would be best suited to you and your family and then forget about what sex the dog is.

As I wrote this article, I couldn’t help but think that many of these things are what my wife says makes women better than men, more intelligence, more mature, you get the picture . I said, “those are just generalizations based on some observations”. But seriously, what do you think? Do you have a preference for male or female dogs?

Choosing a Family Dog is a series of articles discussing several things you need to know when deciding to bring a new dog or puppy into your family. Move on to the next article, Large Family Dogs, or go back to the previous article, Choosing Puppies.