| Males Vs. Females |
| There is always the big question when buying a puppy.... girl or boy? The biggest thing to look for is the puppy's personality and your family lifestyle. I have had the wonderful experience in having and raising both and have found that it really depends on your activity, training, and time. Girls can be just as great as boys, but when left unaltered, they will be the hierarchy of the household. Girls love attention, but when they've had enough...they've had ENOUGH. With all of my years experience with girls and boys, I have only had to break up fights between females. They are the ones to establish the pecking orders and maintain them. They will also "hump" and "mark" just like the boys. There is a reason that the word "bitch" is also used in a derogatory manner. Males are the ones that will never grow up. You will find that a male will always want attention like they are starved of it and will act like a puppy in many ways until they are grey and blind. Most males will always want to play and will stand by for any willing hand to pet them, while females still love attention but will grow regal and dignified with age. It is kinda like the witty grandpa playing with the grand kids while grandma sits on the porch swing and watches. Males can be very defensive of their "girls" and of their families. It is very important to teach manners and obedience to your dogs. Also, if they are allowed to mature with their "manhood" they can also learn to mark, lift their legs, and wander. If you are not planning to breed, it is best to have your male puppy (or female) neutered or spayed when they reach 6 months of age. Then you don't ever have to worry about them wandering to the neighbors yard or ever developing prostate cancers or tumors. Females, when allowed to mature unaltered, will have "heats" which is similar to the human period. They can have mood swings and can be stand-offish. They will also seem to pout when they don't get what they want when they want it. You will also have to deal with the bloody messes secreted when they are in their heat cycle. This can be a BIG mess when you are not watching for it! |
| There can be very little difference between a male and female when they are fixed at a young age. I have heard many stories about our puppies that have went to fabulous homes where they were protective of their families, comforted the kids when they were learning to sleep in their own beds, and were happy companions in the car. It can be very important when you don't know which one to get to see the whole litter. Although, with the Internet, selection may be a lot harder when people are buying puppies at an early age. The best time to see a puppy's personality is in between 4-6 weeks of age. This time is really important as you can see their personalities budding and they are learning to play. When wanting to know about the specific behaviors of each and every puppy, talk to the breeder. I know that each and every puppy has been nurtured at our home. I spend HOURS every day with every puppy playing, grooming, holding, walking, and taking pictures. When you have a question about a puppy's personality, tendencies, color, and background, all you have to do is ask! Some people have always grown up with female dogs and have said when buying a puppy always get a girl. With personal experience, I have found that girls are not always the pick of the litter. They can also have a tendency to be harder to potty-train or "leak". With the proper training, this can be fixed before it becomes a problem. We have had people with their heart set on a specific puppy and leave with a different selection. Color and personality can change your mind when you least expect it. Males can also be a handful. They have their tendencies as well. As long as you introduce them properly to things they will come in contact with, any dog should be great. I have had a lot of questions like, "what is better with kids?" Really, males and females are great with families. It can make a difference when you introduce them to kids, other animals, crowds, and different surroundings. This can be done by taking them to parks, picnics, parades, baseball games and even your local Petsmart. So when wondering...do I want a girl or a boy? Check the quality of the puppy (markings, conformation, breeding, and personality). A good puppy with never act scared and whimper with timidity. Check how they interact with your family and have the personality that you WANT. Also, if looking for a show prospect, check the registry and breed standards for the competitions that you wish to compete. Some classes and registries only allow certain colors and have marking standards (sables cannot compete in AKC conformation shows but can compete in agility, etc). If looking for a potential breeding dog, check for conformation, size, and colors in their backgrounds (if you do not like a certain color, you have to check to see how prevalent that color is in that particular dogs' background before you breed). |
 |  |  |