THIS MAY SEEM A SILLY QUESTION BUT WHEN BUYING TINY PUPS, HOW DO YOU TELL WHAT SEX THEY ARE . WEVE BOUGHT A WESTIE BABY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BITCH BUT MY FRIEND SAYS SHE IS A DOG .SHE HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DOGS ----- BUT I THINK ITS HER BELLY BUTTON PLEASE HELP

.......and the breeder is unable to decipher too?

Nope not a silly question at all.

If it is a male there will be a little penis half way between the belly button
and back legs.
Pictures can be seen on here
http://www.ask.co.uk/ix.asp?q=sexing+puppies&ac=LIFE&xx=0&qid=188D5DDB87C4B342B143A0683DBE1F0A&p=0&s=2&sp=ix&fn=t&b=0&fo=2&r=10&io=3&fp=3&fr=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epeteducation%2Ecom%2Fcategory%5Fsummary%2Ecfm%3Fcls%3D0%26cat%3D1760&adurl=

Well done Carolyn!  Couldn't find any.

Hi Guest,

I assume you've checked with your breeder that you haven't simply been given the wrong pup?  It happens! :D

Not sure how to answer your actual question without sounding as if I think you're daft, which is not my intention :D - puppies are not normally an issue to sex, unlike kittens - a dog has a penis further down the body (between back legs) and hopefully also two apparent testicles and a bitch doesn't.  Can't find any pictures to link you to.

If there is a protrusion that you think is a belly button and are getting confused about, I wonder if perhaps you have a bitch with an umbilical hernia?

M.

I've heard about this happening a couple of times. The breeder gives the new owner the "wrong" pup. Funny, they always seem to get a dog when they wanted a bitch! Perhaps just a coincidence that bitches are often much easier to sell in some breeds! The new owner has usually got too attached to the pup, by the time they work out whats happened and keep it anyway.

Perhaps I'm just too cynical!? ;-)

Guest...no question is silly if you don't know the answer (I ask enough of them)....concerns lie not with yourself but the breeder who should really be listening to your requests/preferences. Go back to them with as many questions as you can think of, if they are reputable, they won't mind at all and will be glad that you are taking such an interest in the possible future welfare of their puppy. The least they can do it to identify the sex for you  ;)

The gender is usually evident at birth. A bitch's vulva is between her hind legs and a dog's penis is nearer his tummy button.

Did the guest see this pup in the nest at a few days old? If so it may have been the remnants of the cord that was seen. If the pup is 8 weeks + and is a bitch it sounds like an extensive hyena down the line between the navel and the vulva where the muscles from either side join and requires veterinary attention now.

Lol Jackie! I think you mean a hernia!! :D :D (I hope so anyway! :) )

Now JG, have never seen a hyena on a puppy before, and there was I think you were experienced :D

ROFL! :D

Hi Guest,

would suggest when you take pup for it's first jab you get the vet to confirm the sex for you. (if the hyena lets the vet near it anyway!)

What does it say on your registration papers if you have them yet, or on your contract from the breeder?

Hope your pup is OK!

Now I dont want to offend anyone, but I know when I got my goldie boy you could not possibly have doubted that he was a boy!  Surely it is obvious , or am i missing something?

If this is a genuine post, I do hope the above answers have helped, however, just to remind everyone else, some school sbreak up very early for the summer - my niece and nephew break up tomorrow, and at least 1 local school finished today!  We do get a rash of rather "naive" queries at holiday times!
bye
Gwenm

ps still chuckling at the thought of the hyena at the vets!

Didn't the people in the BBC Scotland prog on puppy farms come home with a Westie of the wrong sex - been sold a bitch and received a dog?

Actually guest, you can tell by seeing where your dog is weeing out of too!

Just wanted to let you all know I am now a member and not a guest . Thanks for all your answers about sexing puppies went to vets yesterday and she is a girl !!! So now we can call her Martha