Hi just wondering what peoples experiences are of owning dogs and bitches? Personally I have generally found dogs to be more calm, placid, affectionate although of course there's the exception to every rule! And of course I wouldn't swap my bitch for the world but she's definately more independent and highly strung than males I've owned growing up or friends/families males. What's your experience on them?

Having owned both dogs and bitches I've found bitches to be very much easier - calmer, gentler, less prone to selective deafness etc - and although my boys are lovely I'll never have a male again!

i agree with JG i find dogs more highly strung, active etc i find bitches loads more placid and not so head strong, my partner finds this aswell, he gets on with bitches loads better and if he had the choice he wouldnt own a dog but guess hes out of luck as i recently got a dog pup so haha

wow what a different experiece you've had to me. My sister in law has said she will never have a bitch again and after knowing some of her dogs I can see why! Maybe it differs from breed to breed?

Also in my experience bitches will choose to go the the male of the house and dogs to the female. Maybe thats why my sister in law likes dogs best - perharps she feels more loved!

Brought up with a constant mixture of both - always had at least one dog & one bitch in the household at the same time - & really think it depends on the personality of the dog!  Had some feisty bitches & vice versa!  At the mo' - my parents have a male & female Springer, he is adorable with a huge personality, she is very timid & to be honest - totally non-descript but just waggy! ..... In the past they've had a female who was just awful & even bit me dad in her temper, along with a male who caused untold problems with howling & barking & being generally way too over the top behaviour-wise.

Guess people are all different so same goes for dogs!

>in my experience bitches will choose to go the the male of the house and dogs to the female.

I haven't come across that. One of the boys is definitely 'mine' and the other adores my husband and has taken 8 years to acknowledge my existence in the family! One of the bitches is most definitely my shadow.

Boys for me are goofy and fun filled fools.....generally.

Don't have trouble like that as no males in the home other than my son.

Much prefer bitches, can understand them much better, none of that male posturing, and leg cocking and definitely smarter than the boys who can be all Braun an no Brain

Am very fond of most of the males I have used at stud, and of course love the boy I own in partnership and enjoy his stays, but wouldn't want one full time.

I think it depends more on the individual than the sex, but if I had to generalise, I'd says dogs are far more faithful, much easier to train, a LOT easier to housetrain, and much softer -and that's across a variety of breeds I've had. But I've also had (and still have) some wonderful bitches.

Have to say I much prefer bitches - I have two and one on the way :-) I find them easier to handle than the dogs. I do love both though but I wouldn't have a dog. This might sound a bit strange but I don't like them leg cocking and all the territorial marking etc, I think its horrid! With our two, the Cavalier is more 'my' dog and is like my little shadow, but our Mal is very much a daddy's girl and sulked all week last week when he was away.

ive found that, my two younger bitches were brought up by me me partner put no time into them as they are my dogs yet theyre so keen on him and when he tells them to do something they do it right away but when i tell them to do something they try to pretend like they didnt hear me so i agree with you there PB

i agree with you on the house training MarianneB both my bitches as pups would mess in their crates yet my dog pup who ive had for 4 weeks hasnt messed in his crate once

Personally i prefer dogs to bitches. Dont know why, just find dogs have a bit more personality than bitches which is why they are my preference. I cant decide whether my dogs a mans dog or prefers his mummy.
Actually...he'll go with anyone who'll give him some attention and who will play with him. And obviously if someone has treats he's not fussy!!!! All comes down to breed and personal preference i think.  :-)

I've had dogs of both sex, different breeds, neutered and entire.  I adore every dog that I own, but have to say my very bestest, closest pals have been the boys.  More faithful and loving, cleaner, and more eager to please.  And most definitely the boys who respond to recall whatever they're doing, or whoever they're playing with. 

Always had both s#xes, usually at the same time but more recently and (hopefully only temporarily) down to two girls only.  Of the girls one is rather more of a tom-boy in attitude which in part has taken the edge off the craving to have another male immediately (but that's not long term LOL) - that one aside my other bitches have definitely had a calmer and sweeter side to them than the boys.

That said, I find the boys quicker to train both house training and basic manners/obedience etc but the girls when they pick up on what's required seem to be more consistent so it's a little of the "swings and round-abouts" scenario :)

I certainly wouldn't descibe males in my breed to be particularly calm or placid - the breed's appeal (to me at any rate) as a whole is much to do with their wicked sense of humour!)

I think to have at least one of each or 2 bitches and one male is my ideal, providing there is a reasonable age gap between them but I like the challenges each s#x brings which are fairly unique in their own right (or so far as I've experienced over several examples and around 20 years with this particular breed :) )

Regards, Teri

In Response to AliceC > I don't like them leg cocking and all the territorial marking etc, I think its horrid!

Snap :D  Also their wee smells more , and some pee down their legs.

I also prefer bitches - I now have five - all related.  They all get on extremely well together and have all been easy to train.  My daughter prefers males - she has an 18month old boy and I must admit he is rather gorgeous.  He has been easy to train and is very gentle with her children.  I think it's probably more about what you're used to as much as anything.

We've always had a mixture of both dogs and bitches but I have to say I prefer the males any day.  I do think however it is to do with the dogs personality more than anything else though.

Brainless....it made me giggle when you said you prefer bitches as you don't get any of the leg cocking, posturing etc...I think my Akita bitch must be confused, she always cocks her leg on walks (pretty high aswell) lol!

Love them all the same but if someone said you can only have one dog or one bitch I would go for a dog.

I have only had dogs - but apparently if you were talking about Pulis - the bitches are much less smelly - now they tell me!  :)

My limited experience tells me that male dogs are more loving, loyal, wanting to please and straight forwards.  None of the seasonal moody hormonal sh*t with them!  :-D  My bitch is more flighty and independent and when she wakes up I always wonder which side of the bed she will have got out of today!  (Slight exaggeration, but you get my drift.)

LOL - I'm with you Gunner, pretty much sums them up :-D

To AliceC and Brainless, my bitches are far worse for scent marking than my males ever were - perhaps because with males I started as I meant to go on and didn't allow it to happen whereas the ladies caught me totally off guard and now they drive me nuts (see, another green rolleyes opportunity lost :-D )

In Response to Staff

Yes I have to admit my Alpha girl cocks her leg and now her Granddaughter who has become her second in command over the last year does to, but it is only over each others wees on walks.

Much prefer the boys (I love my girls to bits), we find the boys more loving and as a bonus generally much easier to show. 

I've never had a male that stunk!   Or cocked his leg indoors/against people etc.

In fact in my breed, the males are the sensitive ones, the bitches far more independant & cocksure.   If you want an affectionate pet Munster, I always say pick a male they rely on you more and just love being wusses.  If I get angry about something or raise , it's Curtis that shoots off (Even if it isn't aimed at him) and crawl under my bed!

Snap - that's exactly what my male dog does!!!  Sensitive little soul.  The girl just looks on in disgust. Although we do wonder sometimes if he is maybe a little on the 'camp' side :-o

I know Curtis isn't camp - in fact the opposite, just he's more sensitve than the 'hard nut' Mia!

No, I think George is definitely 'camp' LOL.
I like the name Curtis for a dog :-)

my breeder told me it was the otherway round but my two boys get on great.
i cound'nt cope with the bitches seasons etc but that's just me.

I love my two bitches, but want a dobie dog, think I will wait until my children are much older just incase its alot more work than the girls.
Mary

Personally I think dogs are a lot more time consuming than bitches, I've found the dogs to be much more clingy than the bitches and have to say that is in quite a few different breeds, the dogs all seem to pysically get up and move from room to room with me whereas the bitches will sit and watch me and keep me in eyesight, but not feel the need to have to follow me around.

Just from the dogs and bitches in my immediate life now:

My mum's male dog is like my shadow and so are my brothers GSD's they just follow me everywhere, have to sit at my feet and if I go in the kitchen I have a troop of male dogs behind me. :-D Whereas all the bitches including my girl give me space, which I guess is my own personal preference.

With dogs you can get the testosterone problems through adolescents, (though I've been lucky with all breeds I've trained and cared for not to have been caught up in any fighting or aggressive behaviour but it is a point with male dogs) bitches are much more laid back and get into much less trouble whilst growing up IME.

My first personally owned dog was a male, loved him more than anything in the world and he too was my shadow.

I think when you add it all up I prefer bitches now though, enjoy being loved and giving love back but like us both to have our own space and independance too and with a busy life a bitch fits in much better for me. :-)

> Personally I think dogs are a lot more time consuming than bitches, I've found the dogs to be much more clingy than the bitches

thats true, especially with our current boy.

i've always found dogs easier to bond with than bitches, but then i've always made male friends (human) easier than female ones- their relationship needs are more simple in a way (?), dogs are not as touchy (our bitches are known to throw huffs), and neither in my experience are blokes...

equally hard to train i think, bitches out of stubbornness (teenage strops etc), dogs out of being really dopey till there a good bit older (in my breed certainly, v slow to mature), however bitches are much easier to handle when mature.

>Personally I think dogs are a lot more time consuming than bitches,

Yep, I'd agree with that! It's taken 8 years to get my boys as amenable as bitches would at be 8 months.

I've only had one girl & three boys in  the past. She is much much calmer. She's matured much faster whilst the boys were silly & clownish. She managed learning easier - finds training a doddle & was house trained by six months.

Though she is clingier than the boys. I suspect that whilst they are playing the clown she just wants comfort.

After having a crazy, self-willed and stubborn male terrier I said I would never have the another male dog.

When I decided I wanted another Miniature Schnauzer I could not find a female but fell for Leo when I took Daisy to be trimmed. Apart from being slightlier mre active on a walk and having a love of horse poo, he is almost as easy to look ater as Daisy is!!There are quite a few MS round here - and the temperaments of both sexes are similar, so I think the  breed and breeding must play an important part too.

>in my experience bitches will choose to go the the male of the house and dogs to the female.

>I haven't come across that. One of the boys is definitely 'mine' and the other adores my husband and has taken 8 years to acknowledge my >existence in the family! One of the bitches is most definitely my shadow.

Me neither.  I have one dog and three bitches, and all are definitely my dogs.  Granted I live alone at the moment, but the middle two - one of which is the dog - grew up with me, my dad and my brother, and are still both very much my dogs, to the point that Opi (who was always supposed to be dad's dog) will completely ignore other people if I leave the room or even if they try to give her cues.

Apart from individuals being different I think there are breed differences too. For example I much prefer borzoi boys as they tend to be more loving/softer than the girls, and not quite so 'keen' outside.

In collies I much prefer bitches as I find the dogs too doggy - I can't be bothered with all that marking their territory and swaggering around!

In GSDs I've found the dogs much sweeter than the girls, I'd love another shepherd one day and it will definitely be a boy :-)

I have a male and a female, i find the male more loving and always acting the fool and my constant shadow!  , but our female is more quieter in the house,sometimes moody,but fiesty shes more of a one person dog, this could be down to their breed/personalities but i prefer males,

Hayley

i think it also depends on what you want a dog for, if you want a german shepherd for work dogs are generally better to go for as they are bigger than bitches the same as if you wanted a collie for the same type of work as the shepherd, dogs are bigger, in most cases lurcher dogs are better at their work than bitches (before the ban came in) also with working terriers dogs rather than bitches but when you get a good bitch you get a really good one

Can I ask if comments on this post are general for the gender or does it change if they are neutered?  I think entire dogs of both sexes, from what I've read here, are more common in the U.K. than here in Canada, at least where I am.

i have a bitch and a dog with only a year in difference. everyone told me bitches are better but i found they both have there good points. the bitch is more cuddly but my dog is more placid (and i mean alot, my bitch is hyper) my dog is much better behaved and had been a lot easier to train but sometimes the dog can be a bit stubborn. i really could not pick between them and i think if i was to get another would just go for which i liked best out of the litter. however i do like the fact my bitch is a lot smaller, making it alot easier to handle her.

are yes and just read someone elses my dog is definitly more faithful. the dog is mine were as my bitch is anyones (Del will only cuddle me, were as mags will cuddle anyone)

I have two males and would definately go for a male again.  HAve in the past had another male and a bitch.  The bitch was a horror, put me off and yet I know plenty of people with adorable bitches.

Oh lordie i have 2 of each and i cant chose!! :-D the 2 bitches are very independant as others have said, if i want a cuddle its tough they come to me not the other way around lol, yet my 2 boys i could lavish hugs and such and they would grab whatever i could give and more, but yet my bitches are more sensible and much more reliable, the boys are as sensitive as a house brick and i'm being nice to them!

They both have their own adoring qualities i cant seperate sorry :-)

> Can I ask if comments on this post are general for the gender or does it change if they are neutered?  I think entire dogs of both sexes, from what I've read here, are more common in the U.K. than here in Canada, at least where I am.

I think most people will mostly be refering to entire animals of both sexes.

Sorry i have 1 entire dog and bitch and one neutured dog and bitch..

In Response to AliceC > I don't like them leg cocking and all the territorial marking etc, I think its horrid!

Snap :D  Also their wee smells more , and some pee down their legs

I have always had dogs and my current two both squat like girlies and have never peed down their legs even though one is long haired. Neither seem to mark very much only over each others pee :)

Both dogs are very loving but not clingy, they like to be with the family but are perfectly happy to be by themselves as well. Harley will often take himself off to bed if he fancies some quiet time to himself. Harley was very easy to housetrain and soaks up any form of training, Cooper is much slower to learn but very enthusiastic but that could all be down to their different breeds.

I have a friend who only ever has bitches and they were all much slower to housetrain but other than that show the same traits as my dogs. I think personality of individual dog/bitch plays a large part and if your first dog of either sex was easier/harder it tends to give you a bias towards/away from that particular sex.

> my current two both squat like girlies

Are they entire?

Brianless both my males squat if the need arises one is entire other isnt i find sime larger breeds find it easier to balance  in a squat :-D nothing worse than over balancing on 3 long legs and peeing on oneself..

Could imagine.  Pups in my breed can do lovely low curtsies, but of course it means they do get their front legs because of the angle and short body length.