Male vs. Female
When you make the decision to add a puppy to your family, it’s natural for the first thought to be whether you want a boy or a girl. In many ways, you can simply choose which you prefer. However, there are some personality differences between males and females I’d like to share with you in case it helps your decision. It is important to take these characteristics into consideration when thinking about how they fit in with your family and your family’s needs.
The following characteristics often apply to females:
INDEPENDENT - Females tend to want to be in control of the situation. They’ll come seeking you when they’d like affection, but you’ll find that females are much more clear about when they’ve had enough love and attention as they’re not subtle in their getting up and walking away. Just know they love you!
STUBBORN - In many packs, the female takes charge. This goes back to the control thing. This can make them a little tougher to train, as they’ll get a kick out of challenging your leadership.
TERRITORIAL - You may think of males lifting their legs as the primary sign of territorial, but females can do the same thing. Depending on how dominant she is, she may mark for her entire life, regardless of when she is spayed.
RESERVED - Females tend to be less affectionate and friendly. Now, I’m not saying this to make you think your girl will hide in the corner and snarl at you all day. She’ll still be a little love bug. But she’s got her limits and is less likely to give you nonstop kisses.
CHANGES IN MOOD OR BEHAVIOR - It is also important to know that a female’s personality is impacted by whether or not she is spayed. When a female comes into heat, there will be bleeding and a change in temperament.
The following characteristics often apply to males:
AFFECTIONATE - Male dogs are typically more love bugs. They tend to crave attention from their owners more than females and are much more likely to pin you down for a bath of kisses.
EXUBERANT - A male is also more likely to be fun-loving and outgoing throughout his lifetime. If you want that puppy-like behavior for life, males are how to get it.
FOOD MOTIVATED - Males are eager to please when there’s food involved. This makes them a little easier to train.
ATTENTIVE - While females tend to be more independent, males tend to be more focused on their humans. They always want to be close and involved in the action.
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS - As with females, if you don’t have males fixed, you’ll notice a difference on behaviors. Intact males tend to mark their territory and display aggressive behaviors towards other males.
Regardless of whether you take home a male or female, know that your new pup will love you unconditionally and bring you a lifetime of smiles and happiness!