to complete the canine psychology course I require information for my special study - owning a dog or bitch.
do you prefer a dog or a bitch? if so why?
have you any experiences or behaviour problems you think is gender related?
did spaying/neutering solve any problems?
do you think dog/bitch temperments differ? if so how?
what would you choose, or recommend? why?

Basically any information that is gender related I would be interested in.
I look forward to hearing from anyone, especially as the information I have already gathered from neighbours and friends has been surprising.

THANKYOU.

Hi

Don't know if this will help, but when I started out withdogs I always wanted a dog, and myearly experiences (taking neighbour's dog out for a walk!) were all withthe male.

We then took on a Lab x Whippet bitch, Trina, who was a real sweetie, but as I moved away from home I wanted my own dog (she had become a real family dog, due mainy I think to my mother feeding her titbits.<G> Trina had a real cupboard love for her).

Anyway after loads of research and longing I settled fo r theBelgian Tervueren, and was keen to have amale, with the glorius coat, and strong personality. I wanted a dog that would protect me on out long and lonely country walks too, as much as a companion.

Well to cut a long story short I ended up with a bitch as she was theonly puppy left from a nearby litter. (In the 80's Tervs were not well known and I was lucky to get a litter nearby).

She turned out the bes tdog I have ever had, my dog in a milion. We just "gelled" and she turned out to have a strong personality too. The experience of owning her completely turned around all my prevous longing for a male and now I have just bought a bitch puppy.

I have also owned a male Terv and he was wonderful, if anything a bit more protective and also very soppy with me. He is also of course irreplaceable, but he was pts 4 years before my bitch so I have more recent memories of my bitch.

I sometimes feel that it canbe a case of you "love the one you're with". Dog or bitch, I know would b ehappy witheither, but because my girl Tasha was so special I will probablystick to bitches.

However, if I got another dog to keep with my present one I would go for a male as my previous expereince has been that theyget on so well together.

My bitch tended to be theboss in most situations and ultimately would always have thelast word.

She was also more territorial arund the house.

She was spayed at the age of 10 and a half, due to a pyo, and just became a llittle quieter with a thicke rcoat. But it didn't change her personality as such.

I seem to have waffled a lot so sorry abou tthat!! i'd be ntereseted to learn the curretnresults of your research, and what yourfriends andneighbours have said.

Just to finish, I feel pretty certan that there are breed differences too when it comesto choosing a dog or bitch, which may influence prosective owners.