Hi, I should have really posted this before I bought my male staffy, Pepper, but I didn't know this existed until recently!  I have been on here for a few days now reading and reading and more reading!! I find it so interesting and am really finding out a lot about dog behaviour so thanks everyone!!

Anyway, when I went to see the puppies, Pepper and his sister were the last ones available out of their litter. I was going to choose the girl as I am the only female living with two males (my husband and his younger brother) and I wanted an alie, but when we got there the breeder told me that the girl had been promised out already so we bought Pepper. I love him to bits obviously and really didn't mind.

In your humble opinons, what do you think is a more trainable sex? I grew up with a Westie male but my mum has looked after a Cairn female and she was so much more docile and loveable than Wesley the Westie!  Saying that, Pepper is a very loving dog and he always wants to be with us, whatever room we're in he follows us and wants to be with us, whereas Wesley really didn't bother where we were. I guess what I'm trying to get at is.... is it just down to personal preference and dogs individual character and how you train them? Or is it a scientific thing?

Thanks in advance for your views

ali x x

My experiences of both sexes - danes:

Training:
Phoebe complies with the routine and doesn't get into trouble. Picks up whats required fast.
Willis learns what he needs to do in order to get something himself - he doesn't do training unless it benefits him directly :D

Affection:
Phoebe craves it
Willis offers it but if its not reciprocated - there's trouble.

Walks:
Phoebe behaves perfectly
Willis misbehaves, marks everything and treats the whole thing as a brand new territory marking exercise

Food:
Phoebe lives for it. Will eat anything.
Willis has specific tastes. He rejects anything he is not keen on and will eat in his own time.

Loyalty:
Phoebe is yours for a biscuit
Willis would be offended if you offered him one - he is very family loyal and is only interested in us.

Sounds exactly like my Trinity and Dylan!!  :-)

I had my first dog two years ago and quite honestly I wish I had just had dogs but as we live with 3 girls as well I think more than one might cause trouble. I must admit due to the fact he was jumped going round the show ring he is a pest in the ring but as someone to live with he is wonderful.  The girls permanatly seem to have hormones they are either in season, in phantom coming into season and it is like living with a bunch of women with PMT :) Boys are stronger but he seems to do as he is told more easily. He is also brilliant with the kids they dress him up and he seems to join in with all their games including trampolining.  Yes I know it isnt good for a dog to do trampolining but he loves it and I stop him after a while.

But my husband totally disagrees and says all his girls are wonderful :)

Bitches aren't called bitches by accident you know :d
Archer

I've had bitches and dogs, and the two dogs I've got now will definitely be the last! Although they're lovely, they're much harder work and more independent than the bitches. It'll be girls all the way after they've gone!
:)

Hi.
I have bitches now and did so through choice. However I have owned dogs and find them more wilful more independent, much harder work - however saying that they are also, more loyal, more loving, more predictable.
My Sam was a dog in a billion-trillion and he was great all round - but my bitches have all been my girls - I find though bitches seem to pick training/things up and learn them forever, dogs learn things quicker but only remember them when they want too. :)

Either sex is the best sex it just depends on which you choose.

I have noticed people who have always owned dogs seem to change to a bitch easily. Where as bitch owners rarely seem to change to a dog.

Karen

I know what you mean about dogs, our dog is a real quick learner but will only remember if there is something in it for him, he will sit without out command if people have food, but  other times he will make a fool of us and play deaf. Compared to a bitch i have found him a lot more tactile, he likes to sit on your knee and have a real big cuddle, but when he's had enough thats it he lets you know.

I currently have both male and female staffys and both are great :)
I truly couldNT put one sex above the other :)

We have one of each and they are both quite different!
He is probably the more loving one of the two but most of the time he jumps over her to get a cuddle if she's having one!
He was relatively easy to train with sits etc. Whereas she blatently refused point blank to "give paw" until she was 4 years old and saw him doing it and getting a biscuit. Even though she had been trained the same way!

I think it all comes down to personal choice in the end. I would never have a bitch - don't get on with them, find them to have a nasty, unforgiving streak. I have three boys and no problems.

I don't think when it comes to intelligence there is a difference, but trainability is a different matter. I find bitches to be slightly more stubborn. Mary Ray once said, "With dogs, you can tell them to do something, with bitches, you need to ask!" I have to say, I think she's right!

If you love Pepper and have a good relationship with him, there is no reason why you should have any trouble training him. Good luck.

With horses the phrase is that you can tell a gelding, you have to ask a mare, and you negotiate with a stallion :D I'd agree with that. And Willis does NOTHING he's told to do LOL

LOL Chloe ;)

I reckon I have an ickle hairy Willis wannabee here too :P

Teri

IMHO, I used to be a bitch devotee ;) but since I have had my boy I am stuck on boys. Yes, he's more willful, independent, but he has a great sense of humour and he is so loyal to me, in other breeds when I've had boys they've never been as loyal and have been total rascals :P

I also have 2 bitches, the latest one is already cunning and a complete turncoat depending on what she can get, not fussy who offers it :D If I hadn't been worried about future infighting I would definitely have gone for another boy.

All my bitches have been easier to train but for devotion, my monsterman beats them all paws down :) As it was said, they don't call them bitches for nothing ;)

I agree entirely with Claire.  I have no desire to ever own a bitch.  I have 4 boys, and they are wonderful.  I have owned and been around my share of girls, and boys are much better in my opinion.  Again, I think girls are called bitches for a reason!  :-)

i dont know wich sex is best,i just recon it depends on the dogs personality. im sure each sex has its pros and cons! x

I have a male Staffie and a female, the female is very calm and gentle and the male is a complete nutter, we though he would be a nightmare to train but infact he is easier to train than her.

Our bitch is very independant and does her own thing smost of the time and doesnt pay one ounce of attention to us whereas our dog follows us everywhere and does as we say.

Have to say I love the boys, more character, you know where you stand with them, always had boys ok yes they can have their moments, but they are just as loving and faithful, as any bitch...and yet I help with a rescue and the number of people that would rather have a bitch because they think they are more faithful etc etc....

Hubby says one female in the house is more than enough..:p