So you’re thinking of welcoming a new dog into your home. But before adopting a pup, you want to make sure that you do some research so that you’ll get the best possible companion for your situation.
During your research, you’ll be confronted with a debate as old as time—which is better, male or female?
For many prospective dog owners, that is a loaded question. Just look at how complex the concept of gender has become in human society nowadays. It’s no wonder you may be left scratching your head.
Don’t worry; this blog post will dig into the differences between the two to see if we can understand dog gender better.
Is there really a difference between male and female dogs?
The short answer is: Yes, there are definite differences between the sexes. Just like there are undeniable differences between human males and females, especially on a physical level.
However, other factors like the breed are much more relevant. For instance, some dogs have energy levels that might be too much for an older owner. Others might be unable to keep up with you if you’re an adventurer always hiking and camping.
Another thing to note: The type of training your dog gets is the single most important factor for how they’ll behave. So whether you end up with a boy or a girl, good training is crucial.
The role of human perception and gender stereotypes
We humans love to see human traits in non-human things. A fancy word for this concept is “anthropomorphism.” It’s why we call ships “she” and name our cars. Does it make sense? Not really, but we do it anyway!
People subconsciously apply similar gender stereotypes to dogs. We expect female dogs to be sweet little angels and males to be tough guys. You can see this in the girly names people give female pups, like Princess, Muffin, or Daisy. Male dogs often get more “macho” names like Rocky or Rex.
In reality, dogs don’t choose names or gender identities for themselves. And if they could, it is doubtful that it would match our gender ideals.
As you’ll see in this post, many of the so-called “differences” between male and female dogs come down to perception. Bias might make dog owners see their male or female dogs a certain way only because of this anthropomorphism. As such, take anything that isn’t scientifically backed with a grain of salt.
Spaying and neutering
Snip snip! When you spay or neuter a dog, you remove their primary source of sex hormones. That dramatically reduces gendered behaviors and health risks in male and female dogs. The older the dog is when neutered, the less obvious any changes will be. So, while male and female dogs can be different, fixing your pup tends to make them even more similar in temperament.
7 Differences between male and female dogs
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, let’s explore seven differences between the boys and girls of the canine world! Remember, these are broad generalizations—individual dogs can vary wildly.
Size and weight
One scientifically proven difference is that male dogs are usually bigger and heavier than females. Especially in breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs, where males can outweigh females by up to 20+ pounds!
So, does this make one better than the other? Well, if you’re dreaming of a lap dog but have brittle hips, you might want to consider a smaller female. The same goes if you live in a tiny apartment – a smaller dog might be better.
Age of maturity
Ladies first! Another difference is that female dogs reach maturity faster than males. So, if you plan on breeding them (which is a whole other can of worms), keep that in mind. In terms of training, this can also make females more sensible and less goofy at a younger age, compared to their male counterparts. Otherwise, it likely won’t impact your decision between a male or female pup too much.
Emotional reactivity
If you’ve ever been a parent, you know what it’s like to have an angsty teenager at home who isn’t in control of their emotions. We could compare that to when your dog suddenly ‘forgets’ a previously trained behaviour, gets overwhelmed by new situations or pushes a new barrier in the house rules.
It’s called emotional reactivity—when a dog has a big emotional response like fear, excitement, frustration, or anger.
One study found that “aggressiveness and boldness, described as a behavioral syndrome, were reported as being higher in males than females. Females also seemed more inclined to interspecific social interactions with humans in tasks that require cooperative skills, whereas males appeared more inclined to social play, thus implying different levels of social engagement between the sexes, depending on the context.” So, while there are reported behavioural differences between genders, your dog’s socialisation, training, breed and individual personality play a much more significant role.
Independence
Overall, female dogs tend to be more independent than attention-seeking male pups. That’s not to say female dogs aren’t cuddly, but they might seek it out less than males. Once again, the difference isn’t very noticeable, but if you need some alone time, a female might give you more space. Just don’t expect either to leave you alone when you go to the bathroom!
Playfulness
If males are generally more cuddly and playful, females make up for it by often being more engaged with you during training and cooperative tasks. Don’t worry – males still love working with their humans too! They’re dogs, after all, they love to please! You’ll probably want to stop engaging with them long before they do, regardless of the sex.
And if you want to really tire out your playful pup both mentally and physically, check out our Agility Training Foundations course. It’s a great way to bond with your dog and burn off some of that endless energy while doing something fun together!
Ease of Training
Here’s an interesting one. Female dogs are often easier to train than their male counterparts. Perhaps it’s that quick maturity or drive to engage with us paying off. But females do seem to grasp training concepts earlier and faster on average.
That said, any dog can become well-trained with dedication and positive reinforcement. Male dogs certainly excel at many essential jobs like police K9s and detector dog work. It’s just a slight training advantage that leans toward the female side. For example in dog agility, female dogs are sometimes preferred as they are more coordinated and agile at an earlier age, compared to their goofy, exuberant male counterparts. However, male dogs tend to be more powerful which may be an advantage on the agility course in the long run.
Intact Dogs
Say you decide not to spay or neuter your dog. Then, you will see more substantial differences emerge as your dog matures:
- Entire girl dogs usually go through estrus (heat) twice a year, which can be stressful for both the dog and the owner if it’s something you’re not used to. We’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say the word “discharge” is involved and some dogs can get withdrawn and emotionally sensitive.
- Unneutered males may roam fartherand become harder to contain when they smell a female in heat and are more likely to mark territory by peeing on everything.
Always remember though, good training can make a world of difference! The point is that intact male and female adult dogs can differ a bit more than their fixed counterparts.
If you don’t plan to neuter or spay, pick the sex best suited to you and handle their hormones gracefully.
The bottom line: every dog is unique
At the end of the day, just like humans, every dog is unique. You may have a super independent boy or a girl who loves cuddling and is late to mature. It all depends on their genetics, personality and upbringing.
The most important thing is to focus on your individual dog’s needs and not generalize based on gender stereotypes. Each dog deserves proper training, love, and care regardless of whether they’re a boy or a girl, fixed or not.
Every dog also has potential
The ultimate lesson to take away from this article is that every dog has potential to be your perfect partner. With the proper training and care, any dog can become a fantastic companion.
That’s where the OneMind Dogs method comes in. We can help you create that all-important connection with your dog, whether you just want a well-behaved family pet or you’re dreaming of your perfect dog sports partner.
What’s your preference?
Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. A dog will love you to the moon and back. Hopefully, you will reciprocate the feeling. We’d love to hear your feelings on this topic, join the conversation in our online forum!
