Should You Get A Male Or Female Dog?

Once you choose the breed of your new dog, another decision you must make is whether you want a male or a female dog.  This could be an important issue or not, depending on what you are looking for in a dog.  For example, if you are looking for the most healthy, friendly and playful puppy in the litter, then gender might not be a deciding factor for you.  Your choice will be derived from how that particular puppy responds to you and others in comparison to the rest of the litter.

But if you are trying to determine if a male dog or a female dog would make an all around better pet, then you will have to weigh other aspects, like the dog’s size, personality, and care requirements.

Female Dogs

Female dogs are typically smaller than males and have a more affectionate disposition -although there are certainly affectionate male dogs too.  Many dog experts will suggest a female dog if you have children in your home.  It is believed that the female dog’s inherent maternal instinct makes them more suitable to be around small children.

And if you are concerned about her “female matters” like her heat cycles, bleeding, and the resulting personality changes during those times, then consider having her spayed.  Once sterilized, she will most likely be a better pet without the hormonal changes every six to nine months.  This may not eliminate all behavioral issues, as female dogs can be just as difficult as male dogs, possibly even more.

Male Dogs

A male dog can be harder to control at times than a female dog, especially when there is a female dog nearby in her heat cycle.  If this is the case, your male dog will do his best to escape your home or yard so he can find her.  As a result, many male dogs have been hurt or worse as they crossed busy roads, got into fights with competing male dogs, trespassed on property, or were confronted by the female dog’s owner.  The best solution for this problem is to have your male dog neutered.  Research has shown that dogs neutered before puberty can have physical development problems due to the surgery’s affect on the hormones that guide proper growth, so it is best to wait until after puberty.  Meanwhile, know where your dog is at all times.

Male dogs are more energetic and have more stamina than female dogs.  This is most likely the reason they are favored for law enforcement and military purposes.

Both sexes are protective of their “territory” and will bark or even become aggressive if another dog encroaches on their property.  Another form of territorial behavior is urine-marking, of which leg lifting and spraying -primarily on vertical surfaces- are the most common.  Spaying or neutering will usually halt these behaviors.