Dog vs bitch

[Welshy]

So you all very helpful in recommended some breeds for my situation and helped me to clarify in my mind that what I would really love is a Border Terrier.

I'm now dithering over the the male v female question - or just meet the puppies and see which 'speaks' to me then?

I've always had female animals - mares and bitches. I love their strong opinions and have always found once you've won them round they make the most fabulous friends.

But I'm edging towards a dog this time - probably as part of the desperation to have something completely different to my wonderful old girl so I don't get caught comparing all of the time.

Breeding is no concern for me. A bitch would be spayed as soon as is safe with regards to growth, urine continence etc be that before or after 1st season (I've seen too many nasty pyos to be convinced otherwise)
A dog I'm happy to leave longer but ultimately would also be neutered so I don't have to worry about any wanders or socialising with the ladies.

So anyone have strong opinions either way?

I have a few few friends with dogs who, which appear house trained, still.mark occasionally away from their home. Namely when coming to my house and obviously still being able to smell where my girl had been. So that worries me a bit but presuming it's largely a training issue?

One of the main reasons for getting a pup is so I can try and do the socialisation thing right from the word go - we will do puppy classes and adolescent classes at the very least. My terrier bitch came to me at a few months old and was terrible with other dogs. I know this was a socialisation issue but does worry me as was hard work at times. Do dogs tend to be more easy going? Or is that just down to good socialisation from the start (and perhaps a little luck)

Ideas and opinions please?

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve always had bitches but now have a dog pup.
He’s lovely. Very soft and affectionate. Easier than girls (but only 6 months).
I will not have visiting dogs in the house as even those whose owners say they never mark… do. Imo!
Border dogs are quite a bit bigger than the bitches. OH had both, BITD. Exciting!

 

[P3LH]

I think it really depends on the breed as to what gender typical traits/behaviour is like…

 

[twiggy2]

I never had marking issues with any of my dogs indoors, that's both neutered and not, they came everywhere the first one even came into clubs when I was young.
Dogs tend to be less intense and a bit more happy go lucky as long as they are socialised well.

 

[AmyMay]

I chose a bitch, because they’re smaller and prettier in Bichon’s (shallow I know). Boys, ime, tend to be easier and softer.

 

[Moobli]

I’ve had dogs and bitches (GSDs and collies rather than BTs though) and have found females mature more quickly, are slightly more spirited and switched on and are more independent while males are (generally - there are always exceptions) more affectionate, loving and straightforward.
My dogs have always been very quick to housetrain but my sister’s and other friends Border Terriers seem to take an age in comparison. Not sure if that’s a common issue with the breed but I’ve heard it a few times.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I find this thread interesting because I've only had bitches, and all have been Labs. I've always found them to be easy, affectionate, and happy golucky. Now I'm wondering what it'd be like to have a dog ?

 

[Moobli]

I find this thread interesting because I've only had bitches, and all have been Labs. I've always found them to be easy, affectionate, and happy golucky. Now I'm wondering what it'd be like to have a dog ?

You should try a dog in future. Some people stick to one sex or the other but I like the different experiences with owning both. Look at Clodagh, it was females all the way until Scout, and now secretly I think she’s a bit smitten ? ?

 

[meleeka]

I’d always choose a bitch, but only because the constant peeing annoys me. I’ve had dogs in the past and walking a bitch is much more pleasant.

 

[TPO]

Growing up we only had mares and bitches so had nothing to compare it too. My nana kept a couple of stud dogs (chihuahuas!) who were a lot friendlier than the bitches.

When I was finally able to get my own dog I got a male. Not sure why I was leaning that way but partly not having to deal with seasons I guess. He's been fantastic, so much so that mum has said her next dog will be male.

Incidentally also switched to geldings. My first gelding was a nightmare and I had mares alongside him. I went 100% gelding in 2010 and mum followed suit in 2013. I don't think I'd have a mare again having been 100% team mare for the majority of my life.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I find this thread interesting because I've only had bitches, and all have been Labs. I've always found them to be easy, affectionate, and happy golucky. Now I'm wondering what it'd be like to have a dog ?

Pretty much the same! We have had both at the same time and apart from their individual characters, which could be very different, I wouldn't say one gender was easier than the other. We currently have bitches who are quite different from each other.

 

[sportsmansB]

I have always had spayed collie bitches but I saw a large pup on a rescue who looked very like my current bitch so i took him, had no idea what to expect. the rescue neutered him before I got him (possibly too early in some peoples opinions but not my choice). He was approx 6.5 months. He doesn't even lift his leg to pee, pees no more than the bitch, never lifts his leg or thinks about marking. He's sweet and goofy and not at all like my super smart and extremely affectionate but rather anxious girl. Not sure if he'll stay that way as he's just over a year now so still a little bit puppy like. She is stuck to me like glue whereas he won't go away but equally doesn't need to be within 6 feet of me at all times the way she does (will lie down to snooze in another room, for example - she'll be in the same room as me at all times if she can). Hes more protective over the house / garden than she would be. Not sure if part of it is because she was neglected before she ended up in the rescue and sees me as her saviour, whereas I think he was just too much for a family and surrendered - so loved and looked after but not trained.

 

[Chiffy]

Another ’bitch’ person here, but unlike you Welshy, always female dogs and male (gelding) horses!
I have never found my bitches not affectionate , they are soft, gentle and loving. I mostly don’t like the marking and leg lifting of a dog. In the breed I have had the most of, Flatcoated retrievers, the dogs are quite a lot bigger, stronger and are into humping! I am sure there must be ones about who don’t.
If you have a bitch, please don’t spay too soon, she should e mature although small dogs mature before big ones.
I only know personally one Border Terrier and funnily enough it’s a male and a great companion.

 

[wren123]

We've had one boy Labrador, lovely boy but very strong willed, always had to be firm with him, give him am inch and he'd take a mile. whereas my bitches have always been very easy.

Because of him I've always had bitches however in hindsight reading the above I wonder if it was because he was a rescue? Lovely home but had to move for work but he had been allowed to do as he liked, very little discipline, although fully house trained. I wonder whether not having firm guidelines as to what was acceptable from as puppy made the difference?

 

[Parrotperson]

always had bitches up til now. Rocky's litter was one bit one girl but the girl sadly died so I have a boy!

And I have to say much easier than all my bitches! Easy, outgoing and (for a JRT) quite easy to train. The one thing I would say is that he's has matured very slowly up to a bitch. But I just take things slower.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I mostly go for males in both dogs and horses! I have had two bitches though and both were lovely dogs-probably neither as affectionate as my male GR but then, very little is. I wouldnt rule out another bitch at some point (I also get to ride some epic mares, they just aren't mine).

 

[asmp]

I’d always choose a bitch, but only because the constant peeing annoys me. I’ve had dogs in the past and walking a bitch is much more pleasant.

I asked a friend why she had bitches and she said this the reason why. She didn’t want a dog cocking it’s leg over everything in the yard or at home. I did post a thread a while back complaining about people letting their dogs wee on my car when I was fence judging and it appears I’m not the only one who gets upset by it.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ogs-cock-their-legs-over-everything-?.809845/

 

[Clodagh]

You should try a dog in future. Some people stick to one sex or the other but I like the different experiences with owning both. Look at Clodagh, it was females all the way until Scout, and now secretly I think she’s a bit smitten ? ?

I like him a lot. I like my girls better! I just think males are unattractive (sorry OH ???). Girl tummies much prettier ?.
I bought a dog in part because this one (S) is there to work. If he can’t or won’t work for any reason I will sell or rehome him. The girls are all primarily pets who work. He will be a worker who gets petted. I see no reason why he won’t work and am setting him up to succeed in every way I can but I am definitely more cold blooded about him than the others.
Don’t tell him!
I like the fact he won’t have seasons and I don’t have to make a neutering decision. If my kennels are ever built he will sleep out.
I do have another pup, possibly 2, on order if all goes well. They will be boys too so he will have a pal.

Not intending this thread to turn into an all about me, sorry OP!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Dunno, always had boys, horses and dogs, bar one mare on loan for a while. I don’t think I’d cope with seasons and the inherent restrictions. It’s probably more me than the dog, but mine have always been very cuddly-possibly the breed. I’m forever draped in dogs. I’m biased, the horse was very attached to me, I always thoughts it was a gelding thing.

My adult dog doesn’t cock/mark. So far, the puppies are following suit.

 

[windand rain]

I have had both but much prefer bitches they are easier by miles to housetrain rarely get the urge to run off have never had one that humped things although I am told a small number of girls do. Always had them entire unless medically needed to neuter. Every boy dog we had especially 60 odd years ago suffered from wonderlust could be gone for hours or even days given half a chance to get his nose through a door. Most were much harder to train and were far less biddable. Might be breeding or the kind of dogs but all have been exactly the same We have only had Golden retrievers Cavalier and Newfoundland males so perhaps other breeds are different Our GSD and mixed breeds were female. The best dog of many has been the one sitting on my feet right now a yellow labrador bitch spayed at 8 as already under GA for a different problem so seemed like a good idea at the time (my biggest regret) She is wonderful never a minutes bother quiet unless people come to the door, the least greedy of all dogs, never chewed or stolen anything and absolutely a saint with cats and children. Mind you every male pet we have had has been a nightmare down to the cock canary who killed every other bird in the aviary he lived on his own for close to 9 years

 

[AmyMay]

My bitch is a ‘humper’ @windand rain . Mainly of me! ??

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I've never hd any problems housetraining my male dogs, I've two entire here and they've never marked in the house-not once. And they dont hump. One is a GR.

I dont really get the 'all females/males are good/bad thing' in dogs or horses tbh although I think many people forget mares are entire whereas geldings are not.

The mongrel we had when I was a kid (entire, it was the 70s) was an escapologist and had severe wonder lust and would often be gone for a couple of days.

 

[Moobli]

It’s probably more me than the dog, but mine have always been very cuddly-possibly the breed. I’m forever draped in dogs.

I’ve no doubt breed also makes a difference.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I’ve no doubt breed also makes a difference.

Springers are known as ‘velcro dogs’. ?

 

[scats]

Bitches for me. We have 3 currently. I prefer mares too.

 

[twiggy2]

I have always had spayed collie bitches but I saw a large pup on a rescue who looked very like my current bitch so i took him, had no idea what to expect. the rescue neutered him before I got him (possibly too early in some peoples opinions but not my choice). He was approx 6.5 months. He doesn't even lift his leg to pee, pees no more than the bitch, never lifts his leg or thinks about marking. He's sweet and goofy and not at all like my super smart and extremely affectionate but rather anxious girl. Not sure if he'll stay that way as he's just over a year now so still a little bit puppy like. She is stuck to me like glue whereas he won't go away but equally doesn't need to be within 6 feet of me at all times the way she does (will lie down to snooze in another room, for example - she'll be in the same room as me at all times if she can). Hes more protective over the house / garden than she would be. Not sure if part of it is because she was neglected before she ended up in the rescue and sees me as her saviour, whereas I think he was just too much for a family and surrendered - so loved and looked after but not trained.

My lurcher bitch was spayed early and to be fair is still like a puppy at 8, I believe that early neutering robs them of their adult hormones and they never really become male or female in a hormonal way and never truly mature so stay lie puppies.
There are some many negatives to early neutering with regards to health and a strong physique that I would not recommend it, my lurcher is one in a million though, I can take her anywhere, she never has had a cross word with another dog in 6 yrs and is very affectionate.

 

[some show]

I'm on my first dog so haven't got any comparison, but just to join in! He was neutered at 3'ish, walks are a constant stop-start-stop-start of sniffing and weeing on things, but I don't mind too much - we still have long walks. He will try to mark in a strange house (e.g. holiday cottage) when he first goes in, but after settling in that urge seems to go away - but it's a bit of a pain. He's daft as a brush which is generally the case in big boy greyhounds I hear!

 

[planete]

I heard that border Terrier bitches are much more aloof than dogs but that was a long time ago and the breed may have changed since. I have had one male Border Terrier who needed a lot of exercise and stimulation, easily trained, good with all animals and people but very demanding. On the whole I think I prefer a more independent minded kind of dog who is not forever looking to me for entertainment, ie. a bitch like the two I have now. They are definitely less work than the two boys.

 

[Fools Motto]

Bitches for me. Constant cocking, marking and generally bigger heavier dogs put me off the boys. (Lab, whippet, springer, collie lover). Also, not saying that girls don't, but humping is also off putting!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Boys allllllll day long
I've got 4 dogs...a 3 year old Great Dane, a 7 year old (blind) American Cocker and 2 Japanese Chin. All boys. Boys are just more loving (and invariably a bit more dim lol) than the girls imo. But then I also gravitate towards geldings, all my parrots are rabbits are Boys too ?‍