Differences between Boy & Girl Puppies – What’s Right for You?

Mini Aussdoodle Girl Puppy

Speaking very generally about male dogs…

Males tend to be more stable in mood than females and less prone to emotional swings. An elderly gentleman said of his big male dog, “He’s as reliable as rain in Seattle; he is. Summer or winter, morning or night, Ringo is as dependable as ever.”

Some may also say, “male dogs are bolder and more aggressive than females,” and use the fact that most police and military dogs are males… However, these dogs are generally more aggressive and assertive dog breeds.

Breed matters a lot!

This statement has more to do with the breed of male dog and less to do with the gender of the dog.

In some breeds, it’s the female who tends to be a bit “sharper” and more aggressive, while the males are described as “affectionate goofballs” or “big ol’ softies.”

And that’s precisely how Dreamydoodles would describe our Labradoodles boys! Big ole sweeties who are more go-with-the-flow and less likely to become upset by trivial changes in their routines etc. I never had an aggressive Doodle. Period.

Advice on the pros and cons of neutering a male dog.

Speaking very generally about female dogs…

Female dogs are more prone to mood swings. They can be sweet and loving when they’re happy but a bit on the sulky side when they don’t like something.

Now mind you, I’m a proud member of the fairer sex myself. But I must admit that female dogs are experts at giving you That Dirty Look when something isn’t to their liking.

Females are often less “in your face” than male dogs. Females are affectionate but usually on their terms. They may request petting, then assert their independence by walking away when they’ve had enough of you.

Female dogs are opinionated and intelligent, and sometimes manipulative. If they don’t want to do something, they may work their charming wiles with you. If that doesn’t work, they may become passively resistant or slink around with their tail down and ears back. Or give you one of those patented “looks.” Some owners find this exasperating, while others find it very amusing.

Advice on the pros and cons of spaying a female dog.

When Deciding On Sex – Consider your Size Preferences.

If you’re looking for a medium, large, or giant breed with a medium or high risk of aggression toward people and other dogs, then a male tends to be larger, and a female is more likely to be smaller and may be easier to travel with, etc.

Prince Standard Poodle Male

Consider the other dogs in your household.

First, if your current dog has a high risk of aggression toward other dogs, I recommend you stop immediately.

A Dog owner brings home a female Rottweiler when they already have a female Akita, Alaskan Malamute, or American Bulldog, and then six months later, those two females are at each other’s throats, and the household is in chaos.

Are you surprised I said females rather than males? Yes, males have more of a reputation for fighting with each other, yet many male-on-male fights are more about posturing, shoving, skirmishing, and a few bites at each other. Whereas for their sheer ferocity, female-on-female battles are the worst of all. They tear viciously at each other, can be difficult to separate (without getting bitten yourself), and they never forgive or forget.

It isn’t fair to your current high-aggression dog to their her world by bringing home an “invader.” More importantly, it isn’t fair to the new dog to their her into a situation where fear, stress, or injury may occur. The best thing to do is to keep high-aggression dogs as single dogs.

If your current dog isn’t aggressive but is a bit jealous or pushy, make sure your new dog is the opposite sex AND a breed with a LOW risk of aggression (like a Lab or Golden Retriever).

If your current dog is good with other dogs, make sure the new dog is a breed with a LOW (or maybe MEDIUM) risk of aggression. If it’s MEDIUM, go with the opposite sex to be safe. If it’s LOW, either sex should work.

Remember that when you mix the sexes, you either need to neuter one of both dogs or else you need to be very careful to keep the dogs apart when the female is in heat, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who owns both sexes, kept them intact, and that hasn’t had an oopsy litter. Keeping dogs apart from each other in most homes… is honestly next to impossible!

Consider the dogs in your neighborhood.

If your next-door neighbor has an aggressive dog, you may want to get the opposite sex to avoid fence-fighting.

Suppose an aggressive dog roams loose in your area, and you can’t get its irresponsible owner (or Animal Control) to stop it again. In that case, you might be wise to get a dog of the opposite sex, or your daily walks may become stressful.

Michele Weston originally wrote this article, and then I’ve added some o my thoughts to this page as well.