As a rule for a first time owner would you reccomend a bitch or dog lab.   Which is the easiest to teach in the home and train especially for a novice.
I have spoken to a few people now and read in a book and it seems overall I am hearing Males are much more stubborn and dominant so harder to get on top of.
Out of interest what is everyones views on here?

No hard and fast rules I'm afraid. It's a matter of matching the personality of the owner with the personality of the pup. You get quiet, steady males as well as boisterous, stroppy females. You shouldn't need to 'get on top of' any lab, male or female - they are usually more than willing to please, as long as they know what's wanted of them!

As a teen i had a female she was a fab dog will never forget her, I now have a male black lab and he is as good as the female was, dont think it really matters they are wonderful dogs that love to please and only want lots of love in return,
but very greedy :D
Plus they may find a few things chewed at like-walls, doors, tables, chairs etc etc :D :D :D
Heidi

In the past I've trained three male labs for my own purposes (gundog & family dog) and currently have four lab bitches ranging from 6 months to 7 and half years. I've both watched and helped a number of other lab trainers.

I wouldn't say that most male labs are any more dominant or stubborn than most bitches, however, they are usually bigger, stronger and more bouncy. I also find that they mature slightly later than bitches and are more inclined to want to interact with strange people and dogs. These traits could be interpreted as dominant and stubborn but are really just extra exuberance. For this reason I would say that as a rule, bitches are easier for the novice particularly for basic manners & obedience.

With advanced training I think differences are more down to the individuals aptitude and intelligence rather than its sex.

The occasional male lab can have a fairly strong sexual drive which can make training them around bitches a bit more difficult.

Edited to say: These are general observations and some bitches can be little sods. My "best" bitch would have been a real handful for a novice owner.

My old Mandy was born an adult! She was always the quietest, calmest and easiest dog to train that I have ever had. Big Bad Bethany on the other hand was not!

As others have said there is easy and hard in either sex.

Regards, John

i have one of each my bitch Tess as a pup was an angel, and her son Bruce is an absolute devil, I trained Tess' mum for Basic gun work as i dont shoot my boss at the time took her out to work, Chloe was a lovely dog to work with, but then so is Bruces dad Baloo a lovely dog to work with, when working/training he is very focused and as soon as his cape or harness comes off he is a nightmare but then thats part of a lab
as others had said it depends on the dog if you want a calmer lab then ask the breeder if you can spend some time watching the puppies play

tanya

Hiya

Like the others have said, pick the pup whose character and temperament suits you..... i find dogs suit me better, but there again i have a bitch who i wouldnt be parted from for teh world, and although ive had her only 7 months out of her 9 1/2 years, she is very  much MY dog!

One thing though, before you get your pup, whatever gender it is.

Dominance..... no no no no no. No.

Dogs do NOT wish to become dominant, and you do not need to prevent it by 'getting on top of them'.

Dogs can be allowed to 'rule the roost' if you are silly and feckless and bow to their every whim, yes indeed.

But they do not plan it, and they do not seek it.

What you DO need to do, is set rules and boundarys. Your dog should respect you, and in order for him to do that YOU must earn it! You wont do that by assuming that anything and everything he does is pre-meditated in his secret plot to take over your house, and then rule the universe!

Good luck

Em