Pros And Cons Of Male Dogs
In general, male dogs tend to be larger – often something to consider if choosing one when it’s still a puppy. They often need more robust, assertive training than she-dogs. Once trained, though, they tend to be good, steady family dogs, adaptable to all sorts of situations.
If your male dog is not neutered, you need to make sure he has an area to exercise in that he can’t escape from – especially if there are female dogs on heat nearby.
Male dogs don’t have much parental instinct, and so they tend to view children as potential playmates rather than strangely shaped puppies! This can make things a little boisterous at times, and it’s important that young children don’t become intimidated, giving the dog the idea that’s it’s a rung or two above them on the pack ladder. This varies a lot from breed to breed, however, and some male dogs can be every bit as loving and protective of children as a maternal she-dog.
Male dogs are usually more affectionate than females, and some positively crave human attention. You’ll find it’s always you who brings the cuddling and fussing to an end – he could happily go on like this all day!
In a family setting, the majority of male dogs tend to become great big puppies, taking a long time to mature, and often retaining that playful puppyishness right through their lives. This often makes it relatively hard to keep them focused when you’re training them. Their love of attention is your secret weapon, though – give them lots of fuss when they get it right, and they’ll try hard to grasp what it is that seems to please you so much!
In some cases, un-neutered male dogs are more likely to try to mark their territory or hump others
“Un-neutered or intact male dogs tend to be more prone to urine marking and humping,” Ashley Valm, shelter behavior manager at the Humane Rescue Alliance, told INSIDER.
This urine marking is a natural but sometimes unwelcome behavior often used by dogs who are trying to mark a space as their own.
Humping is a natural and fairly normal behavior for both male and female dogs, though it often occur most frequently in un-neutered male dogs. Dogs hump for many reasons that arent sexual, including stress, excitement, or to exert control over other dogs.
Un-neutered male dogs can also be more prone to roaming than female dogs
Valm also added that un-neutered male dogs can also be more prone to roaming — running away or wandering out of the house in an attempt to find a mate. That said, the likelihood of this behavior can be decreased by neutering your male dog.
Puppy Series: Choosing a Male or Female Puppy
When it comes to bringing home a new pet, most dog owners are confronted with the following question: should I get a “boy” or a “girl”?
Rather than carefully weighing up the pros and cons of each, most folks end up making a decision based on recommendations, past experiences, or even based on their “gut instinct”.
Young men, for instance, often like to pick up a tough-looking male because he probably reminds them of their own manly traits. While women are said to be more likely to buy small female dogs because perhaps, they feel a ‘purse dog’ makes for a cute companion.
Gender stereotyping1 might just be what we’re doing to our furry companions. That being said, some stereotypes prove to be not so far off after all.
Either way, deciding what gender to own ought to be based on the pros and cons of each, which we will discuss in this article.
There seems to be no winner when it comes to male vs female lifespan2.
Please note: All male and female dogs need to be trained, regardless of age or breed. Most of these issues below can be addressed with proper training. Always prioritize temperament, health, and other substantive factors when choosing any dog.
The main pros that come with males include no heat cycle, less expensive to neuter, and potentially easier to train and more loyal.
Male puppies can be slightly less expensive compared to their female counterparts. This can be a major advantage because it means you’ll be saving a little bit of cash to cater to some of the other needs of your beloved pet.
Males do not go through heat cycles. It’s a pro because it reduces one source of hormonal issues as well as drastic behavior changes or physical symptoms such as a phantom pregnancy.
It goes without saying that male dogs are often more protective of their owners and make good watchdogs.
Many breeds of male dogs are said to be easier to train because they are more receptive to commands.
Males tend to be larger, stronger, and more robust. They also have higher endurance levels, making them ideal as police dogs, rescue dogs and so on.
Male dogs typically have more energy and are more likely to look for ‘excuses’ to goof off or engage in horseplay.
This is a common reason why so many dog lovers tend to go with males because they tend to be less expensive to have neutered than females to have spayed.
The cons of buying a male include potentially increased aggression or issues such as marking, but nothing that couldn’t be managed with training.
Many male breeds can be over-the-top aggressive, especially if they are sexually frustrated. In fact, a ‘sexually aware’ male will go to any length to track down his in-heat mate. If they don’t, then they may irritate you with too much barking or chewing away pillows, soft carpets, sofas, etc.
Males may exhibit behavioral problems, particularly during their younger years. They can be difficult to train as a result and might also show a generally rebellious attitude.
Unneutered males are more likely to wander about or sniff around when they’re not supervised by their owners and are more likely to get into fights.
Since male dogs love marking their territory frequently, your landscape may suffer as well as awkward eye contact with bystanders as your dog tries to pee on car tires.
Males are larger which means they require more calories than females. So you’re looking at higher food expenses.
The pros of female dogs include the common assumption that female dogs are sweeter, more relaxed, and friendlier towards strangers.
Female dogs are perfect if you want to breed cute little pups which should only be done with proper breeding program, commitment to the puppies, as well as thorough health testing.
This is a major incentive for buying a female dog – it’s presumed they’re more relaxed and will chill out easily most of the time.
Generally speaking, female dogs do not display too much aggression like their male counterparts, and this means fewer behavioral problems to deal with. They also exhibit less territorial spraying habits.
Even though it is said that male dogs are more playful, energetic and receptive, and hence easier to train – the same can be said for certain breeds of females – this is especially true for younger females because they mature a lot faster than males.
Given their nature, female dogs are far more likely to make friends with people around the house and even visitors, as well as other pets you already have.
Females are surprisingly easy to housetrain and even have the ability to hold their bladders for significantly longer periods.