Hello

I am getting my 2nd Standard Schnauzer pup in the middle of July, I already have a 1yr old male. For my 2nd pup I have been advised to get a little girl, but I would like some advice regarding females. As this would be my 2nd ever dog and 1st female dog.

I am a bit nervous about getting a little girl after having a boy, as he has not really been any trouble at all. But I have been on other chat forums where people have said that girls "aren't called bitches for nothing!".

Please can I have any info regarding female dogs and also any advise regarding introducing the two together would be good! ( I know that we have to do it on neural ground, but what about when I bring her home!).

Also if anyone can give me any name ideas that would help, as I have a huge list at the mo and can't seem to stick with just 1!!!!

Hi Guest
why dont you join the Forum so its easier to chat :)
I too have just introduced a bitch into our family. I have an older male and like you I am also more experienced with males than females.
Although Libby is too young yet to assess what major differences there are between males and females at this stage, as shes only 10 weeks old - but a real live wire already :)
There is a very good book I was recommended called Book of the Bitch ( makes for very good reading) and will be useful to have around when pup is older.
There are different ways of introducing dogs and it really depends on your dogs nature etc as no two will be the same.
I held pup and let Gus have a good sniff of her when we arrived home. He sniffed for ages and then they had a supervised play etc. By day two all curiosity had worn off on Gus's part and it was as if Libby had always been here. :)
As I mentioned, It will depend upon the individual dogs - how your male generally reacts with other dogs, how pup is in regard to her nature too and what sort of journey pup has had
Hope all goes well and look forward to speaking to you :).

Had dogs for years until about 30 years ago when I got my first bitch. I've never had a dog since! It seems to be a rule that women prefer dogs and men prefer bitches or at least that seems to be the way dogs come into my dog club.

Best wishes, John

I am strange I prefer bitches too :D

I had bitches for years, and also have two dogs now, and I will always keep bitches in the future! The dogs are much harder work!

<<The dogs are much harder work>>

:)

In what way do you find JG?

It's hard to put into words. They're just as affectionate but less 'bonded', more independent ... and silly things, like more of the garden is wrecked because of leg-cocking rather than squatting. I just prefer bitches!

I've grown up with male dogs...have 'aquired' my first bitch 3 months ago(shes now 12 months old).I would have to admit that although I love her to bits she will be my first and LAST  bitch.I find her much more 'tempermental' than any of my males have ever been and less affectionate.
Archer

i have two girls & one dog, they are all really loving pets,but for the competitve obedience i do i actually prefer working the boy as hes abit more straightforward,wheras the girls are much more there own "selves". which is fine.

as pets i think the girls are easier & less demanding.

I have one of each. The older dog is very loving and clingy - but this could be due to him being a stray and also part GSD :) Younger bitch definitely tries to be the boss and can be a bit 'bitchy' to the older one sometimes - although he is learning to have a go back :) She is also very loving, but is more independent.

Daisy

i have 2 bitches and 1 dog, and if it was up to me i would have 3 dogs, i think i agree with John as i rather the dog and the HO likes the bitches.

this is my Second dog of my own and i think that they are a lot easier, the listen better and tend to need you more where the bitches would rather do there own thing.

..well, as nobody else has dared to said it, dogs are like men :-) they are harder to train, don't listen and 'p' all over the place lol :-D :-D

Have to agree there about the boys.  They pee up everything.  Today someone peed in the (empty) washing basket. 

...lol could be worse..could have been a full basket !! :-D

It was slightly worse because I only noticed as I was dropping my white cardi into it.  Too late to stop it. :(

There could also be some weight put into what breed it is. When I was reading everything I could get my hands on about Dobermans, there was something written indicating that what they were saying was noticeable in this breed, that it may not be the same with other breeds.

The boys, for instance were said to be good ole boy slobs, in your face affectionate, very bonded to their people. The girls, they thought tended to be affectionate too, but on their terms. They'd come for a pat and walk away, just maybe not as cuddly. They thought the girls were more stubborn to train but the boys were more distractable. There were all kinds of things written in these people's opinion. When I talked to several breeders I got several different responses. LOL. They mostly said the boys tend to be more pushy, more ready to dominate if given the chance or the window of opportunity. The girls were more moody. The boys were more even, steady as she goes kind of temperament.

But I really don't know about the various breeds or if there's really that much to it. I've had both all my life and loved them both. It seemed my boys were always "ma ma's boys" more clingy. And the girls a little more independent. But that could be the breed differences and more importantly the individual personalities. I never had a problem with dogs peeing in the house or marking my prized things. (with the exception of puppy accidents before they were trained) The only one who has has been my girl Chihuahua a few times. I think she jsut couldn't hold it while I was gone...no big deal. It's the size of a nickle. LOL. But for the most part, she's housebroken.

So, my advice would be to have the opposite sex. Two males can often (not always) have problems together, even if they are neutered. And read up as much as you can about it. Talk to some breeders of Schnauzers and see what they say. Good luck!

Carrie

If I use a different brand of washing powder I have to make sure the clean washing on the line is pegged up high - anything that smells different is peed on 'to welcome it into the family'!

I'd like to add to this, I have a bitch now and wouldn't be without her I have had bitches in the past and obviously choose a bitch this time.

But and it is a big BUT if I could guarantee to have a "dog" like my Sam (Staffie) then I would have one like a shot. He was golden a joy to be around and bomb proof. But sometimes when I see people out with Stafford dogs I wonder if they would be a bit "much" for me. They are gorgeous but a bit "much" maybe for me - at leat thats what I keep chanting ;)

Karen 

In defense of dogs :) I must say that the only time that mine has EVER pee'd in the house was when he had drunk too much water from the hose and he has never pee'd on anything outside, other than the grass etc, either - so there are some little treasures around :D

Daisy

I have no trouble with my boy peeing on anything..except.. he thinks it's a good game to try to pee on me as I climb over styles etc when we are out walking. Just his idea of a laugh though!

my dog has never pee'd in the house, well since he was a pup,

ive always had bitches because i prefer them, i find that they are easier to train as has already bn stated and i personally think that they are are more of a companion, however they have always prefered females (humans) to males, do not know why, as they have always been socialised with both.

In my Spanish I've always had bitches until I kept my Ickle Man.  Have to say that Ickle Man is more affectionate, more loyal, more excitable, more mad, more, more, more everthing.  He makes me laugh every day.  My girls are very affectionat too, but they've never made me laugh as much as he does.  I have to say though, that he's now 15 months and nowhere near as mature as my girls were at that age, he's still like a 12 week old pup and his obedience is not his strong point.

I must say that after having Anton I would love to have another male, well actually I'm getting one but he'll be an adult when I get him so I might have a differing view in 3 months time :d