Dog or Bitch .. Does it really matter?

[Scotsbadboy]

Following the exciting thread by poiuytrewq I just want to pick your brains on a subject regarding adding a puppy to an existing older dogs home.

Do you think it makes a difference if you add a dog or a bitch puppy to a household with the same sex older dog?

We have a seven year old collie and we are now pretty sure we want to add a second dog to the house. We want a puppy and have been advised to go for a boy rather than a girl. I have heard a lot of negative stories (and from experience) about having two bitches together, with them often being worse than boys when it comes to getting along and i know i wouldnt add an older bitch to the party but in my head i have two princesses at home and I joke with Bella that we dont like smelly boys!

We had a friends puppy over yesterday, 16 weeks old and just an absolute joy and they played together all day, Bella is exceptional with puppies and teaches them what they can and cant do etc. We also dog sit friends working cocker spaniel on occasion and they get along great as well.

So any thoughts on adding a dog or a bitch puppy to a household with an existing adult bitch please? Thanks

 

[DabDab]

*Caveat - completely unqualified opinion*

I have two bitches together, and despite one of them being on the spikier side temperament-wise, they both get on great. A friend also has 4 bitches together, and I've had them all over to stay for a couple of weeks at a time with no issues either. I did have a dog for approx 3 years, but the spikey one in particular really wasn't keen on him, though probably more because he was too bouncy for them (kelpie) than because of his sex.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Thanks DabDab that is helpful. I'm just not convinced she'd want a smelly boy jumping all over her to be honest, she is a very confident wonderful dog but she is a bit of a princess if im honest, lol!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Interested to see replies as I'd like to eventually add a second.

Having seen my female pup with both sexes she doesn't seem to have a preference but she's still only 1 so maybe that would change as she got older. From the people I know though most seem to go for one of each.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Depends on the breed, some are more prone to same-sex aggression than others.

 

[deb_l222]

I've had 4 boys together, 2 girls and a boy, 2 girls, 2 boys and may different combinations of boy/girl. All have rattled along nicely without any incidents, despite some of the boys being known to have aggression issues.

Willow is now on her own now and when the time is right, she will get a pal but I will only be looking for boys. Two reasons, I prefer boy dogs personally but I think the boy/girl combination just works better. I have no scientific or logical reasoning for this theory

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Depends on the breed, some are more prone to same-sex aggression than others.

I think you might be on to something there. Neighbours have two collies and it used to be a rather miserable household and they are always trying to take a pop at each other! Mostly its reaction aggression to the sharpest bitch as they aggressor is on edge all the time.
I stepped in, in the end as they kept telling off the wrong dog so i explained what i could see and they started to handle them both differently and it certainly brought the escalations down to minimal 'kick off's' once they realised the mistake they were making!

 

[Mynstrel]

We had 2 and 2 and had issues briefly with the young bitch (3) getting very grumbly, almost aggressive towards the old one (15) after being together since the young one arrived at 6 weeks old. We never left them alone after that just in case but put it down to the older one getting more frail and the young one looking to defend what had become her pack. It didn't last long and the younger one became the old girl's protector for then on but I'm not sure I'd bring another bitch in with her now, she's quite opinionated.

We now have her and 3 boys and they're as happy to do as they're told as she is to tell them ?

Overall it depends on lots of things including breed, character of both dogs and pack dynamics as to how a second bitch would fit in, and how your girl treats a visitor may not be the same as she would a new pack mate.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We have always had bitches together (up to 7 at a time) and never had a problem, with Labs, Rottweilers, Border Collie and JRTs but did take in a stray spaniel type that had to go because she just wouldn't get on with the others.

 

[Bellasophia]

Your Scenario...Older collie girl plus....?

The outcome will differ depending on..
Your existing dogs personality,breed type......if she’s a social butterfly type..you can add either.

Your own preference.. eg I’m in a mixed sex dynamic here..but am determined to return to an all female pack next time...I find the females get along provided you choose the personality match for the group,when selecting the new pup.
Eg my little schnauzer is xxx alpha female..I would choose a lower key temperament to gel with her.
Note.
Certain breeds really do merit a mixed sex combo...ive had terriers,rotweiller,a mastiff who all ,most certainly ,would gel better with the opposite sex.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I generally only keep bitches and have never had any issues with them getting along.

 

[splashgirl45]

i was under the impression that it was best to get the opposite sex but when i went to see a litter of collie/cross puppies of 5 boys and 1 girl, i chose a boy as my lurcher was a bitch. however i couldnt get the bitch out of my mind and ended up with her..both bitches got along fine. when i lost my lurcher i got a male terrier cross and the collie cross got on fine with him... fast forward a few years when my collie cross is nearing 15 and i decided to get a bitch puppy as i thought a dog may bully my existing terrier cross as he is a real wimp.. she jumps all over him and they all get on well... so ive tried both and all have been ok but none of my dogs have ever been dog aggressive or nervous so i think temperament makes a big difference...

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Your Scenario...Older collie girl plus....?

The outcome will differ depending on..
Your existing dogs personality,breed type......if she’s a social butterfly type..you can add either.

Your own preference.. eg I’m in a mixed sex dynamic here..but am determined to return to an all female pack next time...I find the females get along provided you choose the personality match for the group,when selecting the new pup.
Eg my little schnauzer is xxx alpha female..I would choose a lower key temperament to gel with her.
Note.
Certain breeds really do merit a mixed sex combo...ive had terriers,rotweiller,a mastiff who all ,most certainly ,would gel better with the opposite sex.

Collie is seven and two cats (14 and 10 i think, off the top of my head) Very laid back, kind personality, not sharp in anyway (0 on the collie type scale) She's the kind of dog, if she was a horse would be priceless, she is pretty perfect in every way and tends to bring out the best in everything and everyone she meets (and i know just how lucky and privileged i am to have her) I think she'd find a boy too much and the more i read here the more im going with my gut instinct, its going to be a bitch we add

 

[Moobli]

I currently have a dog and a bitch (both GSDs), but have had two boys together as well as combos of dogs and bitches. The best friendships have been when it’s a male/female two dog only scenario, so I’d always go for that combination in future. My hubby has mostly male dogs but has a couple of females too (working sheepdogs) and all get along fine (they are all kennelled separately though - too big a risk kennelling dogs together imo).
Oftentimes all is well and good unless two females have a severe falling out or dislike of one another, as bitches will hold a grudge and their fights are much more serious with intentional injuries than the boys who seem to just have scuffles. That’s my experience anyway, but of course that’s not to say it always happens as it clearly doesn’t - but if it does, you might have to rehome one bitch or keep them separate for life.

 

[Chiffy]

I have heard so much over the years about if you have a bitch, get a dog and vice versa, what rubbish! At least in my experience although I do have friendly breeds.
I prefer bitches, so everyone of mine have been bitches, at the moment two retrievers and a rescue. No one is dominant over anyone, it’s nipped in the bud early if anyone grumbles and doesn’t share nicely right from puppy hood.

 

[scats]

I’ve got 3 bitches, all introduced at different times. They get on brilliantly.