Reg: 01-12-2008
Posts: 372
Loc: High Desert, California
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As I have stated before I have many questions. I want to get everyone's advice about the pros or cons to getting a male or female GSD, if any. This will not be a working dog but a family pet. Are males more dominant? How much of a pain is it in dealing with a female in heat? There are no children in my family but we don't have much experience in training and this will be our first "indoor" dog. Thanks everyone!
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
Posts: 2784
Loc: Toronto, ON
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When a female is in heat, go to PetSmart and buy disposable doggy diapers. She will wear this for 21 days twice a year. Change diapers every time you let her out to pee, since they have to come off anyway. Don't allow any in-tact males near her, and keep her in a place where stray males can't get at her during these 21 days.
My female is in-tact and its not a big deal, 3 weeks fly by, and I have 3 in-tact males, 1 who lives in the house. The males drive me crazier than she does.
Melissa Thom Webboard User Reg: 12-04-2007
Posts: 2781
Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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Entirely based upon opinion but I find the boys easier to train. Really there is no right answer to this. Everyone has a preference. Some say males are more aggressive, females are softer, males mark all over, females are moody and shy. All are true for both sexes. My advice is to not look for sex but rather look for personality.
Since this is a first dog I'd select one as close to the middle of the pack as you can. Nothing too shy, nothing too dominate but rather curious and go from there.
I recommend getting your pet neutered or spayed at the appropriate age since it will be just a family pet.
If it is female, spaying will remove the chance of an unwanted pregnancy (we don't need more pet dogs in this world!). (It also takes care of the whole mess of dealing with a bitch in heat.)
If it is male, it will reduce his interest in going off to find females in heat.
(BTW, if you go through a rescue or shelter, and some breeders, you will have to have it neutered/spayed anyway.)
william g harris Webboard User Reg: 01-24-2006
Posts: 123
Loc: Southeast USA, MS
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For an indoor female that will be a family pet, i'd spay her. Also if you keep her in tact and have her outside you have to be real careful. Males searching for dogs in heat will do a lot to get at a female. Climb a fence, jump a fence, dig under one, breed through a fence, etc. If you go to a shelter the fee is almost always added to the purchase or discounted at a vet they have an agreement with.
Reg: 01-12-2008
Posts: 372
Loc: High Desert, California
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My family had two dogs and they were both female. This dog will be our first indoor dog. We have just discovered Ed's wonderful training skills and now know we made several mistakes with our past dogs. We've never had a male dog and wondered if they're more aggressive or dominant or does it simply not matter. We will eventually get the dog spayed or neutered but we want to wait until the dog is fully grown. These are just some of the thoughts my family and I have.
My "Headline" opinion is that odds are, when adding a second dog to your house, you are probably better off with a male and a female (1 of each) than 2 of either, in terms of the dogs getting along.
Yes, you can and will have some issues with any of those combinations. But knowing what I know now, if I was setting up a 2 dogs household, I'd have 1 male and 1 female.
If you have a mixed (M/F) group, then of course you need to deal with reproductive issues if M's and F's are in tact. The reason I am posting to this thread, is because I personally think that the odds are better when setting up a 2-dog home, if one is F and one is M - whether they are reproductively active (now doesn't that sound PC???) or not. Whatever you decide about neuter/spay (IMO) is on the next level of the decision tree. (with responsibility, please)
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Male vs. Female: pick one
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