Should You Get a Male or Female Dog?
If you’re having trouble deciding between a male and female dog, you’ll benefit from hearing the observations that dog owners, veterinarians, and trainers have made regarding the two different sexes.
Behaviour Considerations
From a baseline standpoint, male and female dogs’ behaviour largely depends on their training as a puppy. After training occurs, you can begin to spot more behavioural differences in the gender of a dog.
Since female dogs mature more quickly than male dogs, they can have an easier time grasping training.1 If you’re looking to strike a behavioural balance, you can consider getting one female and one male dog. Dogs are known to exhibit more positive behaviours when they’re around the opposite gender.2
Anatomy and Health
Spaying female dogs and neutering male dogs can spawn health benefits. Spaying a female dog can lower risks for uterine infections and mammary cancer, while neutering male dogs can offer protection from conditions like testicular cancer and prostatic hyperplasia.
If you’re wondering when you should spay or neuter your dog, vets have recently begun recommending that you wait until the dog reaches physical maturity.2 Waiting to spay or neuter your dog reduces the likelihood of cancers and orthopedic problems.
One benefit of neutering and spaying that people tend to overlook is the practice’s ability to reduce dog overpopulation. When an overpopulation of dogs occurs, issues like dog homelessness and shelters in Australia having to euthanize thousands of unwanted dogs3 every year become increasingly common.
Hormones
Spaying or neutering your dog will reduce and, in a lot of cases, eliminate mating behaviours. Female dogs that aren’t spayed will experience estrus twice a year. Estrus results in a female dog producing a secretion that attracts male dogs for mating. Spaying a female dog will eliminate estrus patterns and lead to a disinterest in reproduction.
Male dogs that experience neutering are less likely to exhibit behaviour patterns like territorial marking, dominating smaller dogs, and acting aggressively under pressure.
Choosing Your New Pet
Ultimately, there is no right answer regarding whether or not one dog’s gender is better than the other. The best strategy you can practise is to meet a dog, learn about the dog’s background, and provide healthy training practices early on. While you practise these steps, feel free to let your own behavioural observations of your dog influence the actions that you take.
When looking to acquire a male or female dog, dog doors are essential. Australia Pet Doors prides itself on offering a wide range of dog doors, along with full installation services. Whether you’re seeking a large dog door, a small dog door, or something in between, we’ll have exactly what you’re looking for.
Contact Australia Pet Doors today at +61-437-644-330, so we can help you find the ideal dog door for your four-legged friend.
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