Dogs v bitches

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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And drive.

I took Ffee to see her brother yeaterday, he is gorgeous and they are very alike. He is bigger than her of course, and his feet are like soup plates! They are nearly 9 months old. We did a bit of training together with them and it was interesting to see their styles of hunting. As he is bigger he looks slower but he is also super laid back. When he finds the dummy he waves his tail at it, carefully picks it up and canters back. Ffee grabs it and belts back, often needing to stop and rearrange it as she hasn't got it properly the first time.
I was talking to my OH last night, who has hunted hounds and worked terriers, and he said a bitch always has mnore drive than a dog. It is why dog hounds are easier to hunt as they take correction more readily and are just more relaxed about the whole thing.
When you look at high level competition though, it is mainly dogs. Is that because entire bitches miss out through seasons? Or does drive come solely down to the individual?
Pic, just because...ffeeffrank.jpg
 
I think it comes down to the individual with drive levels. We have a working collie dog here who is fantastic at his job but everything is done at full speed, we have a birch who would run herself into the ground if allowed to, the older dog is accurate, steady but gets everyone out of a muddle and if he can hear you he will do as asked it does not matter how far away he is and he has apparently always been the dependable one.
My young bitch is currently fast and furious but steadying already but remaining very keen.
I do feel bitches can be 'sharper' and I think that's down to having to have the urge to protect and raise puppies whereas dogs only have themselves to worry about, I think the 'sharpness' can come in many forms though and it can make thwm less accurate.
 
I've never had a dog, although when we walked hound puppies we always had dogs, the one time we had bitches it was noticeable how much more on the ball (and therefore difficult) they were.

Tawny is like your bitch, and completely wears herself out both mentally and physically on a day's shooting. She is great, but tbh if you want a slow hunt in thick cover she's not the best, she can go too fast to think.
Interesting about the sharpness, and I see your point as to why.
 
I have had both and find the sharper mind of a bitch more biddable and directionable (if that is a word) My dogs have always been more distracted by other things than the girls, they have to sniff more and mark more so I found them to be slower and a bit more cautious which of course could be a good thing. Getting their attention though makes them a lot brighter than you think they are at first show
 
Our Lab pups are now 16 weeks old, both bitches, one is very laid back and the other is never still. They are destined to be pets, rather than show dogs, or workers but the smaller, black one is like your Tawny, OP, rushes in and grabs then re-adjusts if necessary. Her yellow sister takes her time and therefore can adjust as she picks something up. When they play together, their different styles are very obvious, the yellow uses her weight to get what she wants, the black uses guile and speed.

We have had dogs in the past but always with bitches and I seem to remember that the dogs would always give way to the bitches - but that could just have been because our bitches happened to be bossy!
 
I was firmly in the dog camp until I had my first bitch, my first dog was sharp, smart and very loyal but he spent all day everday with me for years, he was not castrated.
The next 2 dogs were castrated (early, I would not castrate a dog again through choice, one was very loyal and loving and so easy, one was a distant pain in the arse but great fun and my kids loved him.
My first bitch was so loyal a true one person dog(entire)hard work and a huge responsibility, second one I did not get till she was 2 she is gregarious but under that very few people mean much to her, she loves all dogs and is a huge clown, not a nasty bone in her and like a big puppy(speyed very early), my collie bitch is the smartest live wolire I have ever met, she does not think anything bad cn happen, she lives in the happiest 'Reeva bubble', the only time she stops is if you fuss her and then everything stops nd it's likes she melts into you, as soon as the fuss stops she is off.
The collie bitch has made me believe that you can have more than just that one 'special' dog in your life. They are all different and all have something about them but 'special' dogs don't cone along very often.
My next pup will be a dog and should (hopefully) be with me by the end of January but I am lucky enough I will be responsible for the litter when mum starts to get a bit fed up.
I want a dog to even out my numbers and he will not be related to my bitch so if they both are healthy good workers they will produce my next worker in years to come.
 
I think a lot comes down to breed as well, the lines, what they were bred for etc etc. The majority of the dogs I have had in recent time have been other peoples rejects/discards. Personally, if buying a pup, I prefer a male. A very good friend, who is in a similar position to myself, prefers bitches.....he himself is male! I am female.

On the moors, both of us can match each other dog for dog! :)

PS Demeanour/body language of the handler can count for a lot too...in training sessions I have made people swap dogs and it is amazing how a shy, introverted dog can become an (almost) rampaging hunting machine with a soft, off the ball handler. Also, how a bog-off can become an (almost) crufts obedience champion with an ex-sergeant major.
 
I should have said that all our dogs and bitches have been entire for their whole lives unless spay was medically indicated.

@twiggy2, I have had numerous lovely dogs but 3 of them have been particularly special; a yellow lab, a 'chocolate' lab and the Rotter that we pts recently.
 
In my own breed/sport seasons are a PITA. Only one female has won the (breed) worlds and she was in season lol. Not sure about other/all breeds. Couple of nice bitches on the circuit but it's generally dominated by males. There is a dearth of good breeding females in some countries.
Neutering is not a thing, it's a breed selection exercise, or should be, and the hormones/natural behaviours are important and no one wants to alter that.

I'm sorely tempted by a nice drivey bitch but as a rule they aren't so forgiving/aren't as strong mentally. Just my opinion/experience. One day, maybe, be interesting to see if a female would suit me better as I have seen similar behaviours in my last two males of different breeding and who are like chalk and cheese personality wise.
In my old dog's litter, there were two males and two females. The males were completely OTT, drive through the roof, females were incredibly soft, one died young and the other failed the entry level exam about three times. Was not an even litter at all. And of the two males, the brother was huge and mine is tiny.
 
CorvusCorax said:
In my own breed/sport seasons are a PITA. Only one female has won the (breed) worlds and she was in season lol. Not sure about other/all breeds. Couple of nice bitches on the circuit but it's generally dominated by males. There is a dearth of good breeding females in some countries.
Neutering is not a thing, it's a breed selection exercise, or should be, and the hormones/natural behaviours are important and no one wants to alter that.

I'm sorely tempted by a nice drivey bitch but as a rule they aren't so forgiving/aren't as strong mentally. Just my opinion/experience. One day, maybe, be interesting to see if a female would suit me better as I have seen similar behaviours in my last two males of different breeding and who are like chalk and cheese personality wise.
In my old dog's litter, there were two males and two females. The males were completely OTT, drive through the roof, females were incredibly soft, one died young and the other failed the entry level exam about three times. Was not an even litter at all. And of the two males, the brother was huge and mine is tiny.
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Interesting. Did you see them as young pups? Were they different even then?
 
Interesting post as we own a bitch and a dog. Well... bitch is a lab, dog is a spaniel. Our bitch is so laid back and the dog is wired, so highly driven.

I know its hard to compare a lab and spaniel, both polar opposites breed wise.. but I do think drive comes down to the individual dog, their personalty at the end of the day no matter the breed. My cockers brother from the same litter is so laid back, you wouldn't even think they were related! The keeper actually sold him as he was 'to' laid back to work for him. We have friends who kept 2 dogs back from a litter and they're both opposites too, really interesting as both bought up exact the same.

I do like how strong my dog is, he forgets and gets on with the next task if he gets told off.. our lab really sulks for a few hours and makes it clear shes in a grump. Mind he is a hard natured chap but he tends to listen more, our bitch is more 'yep whatever I know what I'm doing go away!'
 
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Our Labrador dog has been laid back all his life, he still worked hard but if he reached a fence he could not get over he would find a way around. He's a real thinker. Our old Labrador bitch was also a good worker but she'd barge through an obstacle rather than find a way around. She wasn't very bright wasn't our Spot but she was THE most amazing girl. Our Young Labrador bitch is a machine, she has so much energy and is now beginning to think before she jumps. Her Dad was a field trials dog and she is cut from the same cloth. She also has an on/off switch. Energetic like we have never experienced, then gets home and just becomes a hearth dog. I have never known a dog learn as quickly as she does. 🐾😍❤️
 
Clodagh said:
And drive.

I took Ffee to see her brother yeaterday, he is gorgeous and they are very alike. He is bigger than her of course, and his feet are like soup plates! They are nearly 9 months old. We did a bit of training together with them and it was interesting to see their styles of hunting. As he is bigger he looks slower but he is also super laid back. When he finds the dummy he waves his tail at it, carefully picks it up and canters back. Ffee grabs it and belts back, often needing to stop and rearrange it as she hasn't got it properly the first time.
I was talking to my OH last night, who has hunted hounds and worked terriers, and he said a bitch always has mnore drive than a dog. It is why dog hounds are easier to hunt as they take correction more readily and are just more relaxed about the whole thing.
When you look at high level competition though, it is mainly dogs. Is that because entire bitches miss out through seasons? Or does drive come solely down to the individual?
Pic, just because...View attachment 37344
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😍❤️
 
Dobby has much more drive than his big sister. Fizz is a smart cookie but everything is done at her speed on her terms. Even at flyball which she loves, she will only drive back if she's head to head with the other dog. If they're slower than her she tootles along at her own pace. Granted as a whippet she is faster by nature but she can be a 3/4 of a second faster when she wants.

Dobby generally has a real joy for life but he has this drive to get things right which means he really tries and thinks. It took 10 minutes to teach him to vault off my hip and 5 minutes to teach him to vault off my chest or leg. His joy at getting things right does mean he sometimes also shows off but that's a young sighthound. As he gets older he is calming in that respect and becoming a fast, hard working and willing to please dog.
 
It seems to me that females of every species are quicker, smarter, sharper than their male counterparts 😂. Seriously though I’m sure it comes down to individuals, breed, genetics. In my experience though in general the females do seem more switched on earlier than the males but that’s not to say they turn out to be the better of the two genders when mature. It just seems to take males longer to get going and are slower to mature.
 
Oenoke said:
In agility there are more bitch Agility Champions than dogs. I prefer bitches as they have more drive.
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Can they compete if they are neutered? Mind you, a bit d'oh but I suppose you could compete in tirlas with an unneutered dog or bitch, but as they tend to be 'advertising' as much as anything (that isn't well put) you would then be unable to use those successful dogs to breed from. Out shooting we are unusual in that our bitches are spayed.
 
Clodagh said:
Can they compete if they are neutered? Mind you, a bit d'oh but I suppose you could compete in tirlas with an unneutered dog or bitch, but as they tend to be 'advertising' as much as anything (that isn't well put) you would then be unable to use those successful dogs to breed from. Out shooting we are unusual in that our bitches are spayed.
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Yes, you can compete with neutered or unneutered dogs and bitches, bitches can't compete when in season though.
 
Ok don't shoot me but I dont "do" bitches lol. I have 5 entire boys.
2 Great Danes
2 American Cockers
1 Japanese Chin.

I think it all depends on the breed and individual dog. My Danes are like chalk and cheese, as are my Yanks. Bitch Danes tend to be a bit mentally brighter from what I've heard but none of my boys are stupid to be fair.
I don't think bitches have the same "presence " that dogs have, I find them a bit meh. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
 
I have a dog and a bitch, one is a cocker spaniel and one is a spring spaniel x terrier, both are neutered

My bitch has so much drive and always wants to please. It is a pleasure to train her (we do agility) and I get so much back from her, she's a real pleasure.......... however my dog (the spaniel) gives me nothing back. I've tried so hard with him but he is happy just sniffing and doing his own thing. He has little drive an even after spending much time trying to train drive for a toy, he is very hit and miss and ultra sensitive to boot. He will do nothing for a toy but get some food out and its a different matter.

There's so much online atm about how you shouldn't buy mongrels, but you know what, I would have ten times over!
 
My first greyhound was a boy, laid back, prone to deafness, Kevin through and through and it took him a very very long time to learn anything. He had to be babied through, wasn't really interested in working with you, didn't race as he refused to chase 🙄😂
Current greyhound is a girl and she's totally opposite end of the spectrum. Very switched on and with you at all times, wants to please you, gets very upset if she gets something wrong as she tries so so hard she makes it more difficult on herself (you ask for paw and you get one and before you've had a chance to praise her you get the other paw followed by
entire greyhound 😂 150% at all times)
Super super smart though.

The jack x chihuahua boy is in a league of his own 🙄
 
My springer bitch is a million times more drivey than my friends springer dog of the same age - different litters and very different dogs generally to be fair. Having dealt with both of them I do love my girl's focus, but especially at this time of year she's demented for chasing squirrels, rabbits etc and putting up birds. Both grew up with cats, the dog never chases them, my bitch will always chase cats that run - including mine if they moved a bit quick. For the most part she is easier to upset than he is but when she is concentrating she's brill and takes little correction. He is much more easy going but where I can correct my girl with a raised eyebrow he can be utterly oblivious to any sort of correction
 
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