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Health
and temperament should be your main priorities when selecting a puppy. Gender is sometimes treated as an important factor.
However, unless you have a specific reason to limit your choice to one sex or the other, it is far more sensible
to be open minded.
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The reality is that there are no major
differences between the sexes in most purebred or mixed breed puppies. If there are sex related differences
in term of coat, proportion or size in a breed, these are always specifically mentioned in breed standard. In these cases,
males are generally more reactive and dominant than females in breeds with strong protective, dominant propensities. But there
are a few breeds, like the Thai Ridgeback where the opposite is true. Males may be slightly larger or carry more coat.
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If there is no mention
in the standard, difference do not exist. This is the case for most Toy and Companion breeds. Myths abound but both sexes
are equally affectionate, intelligent and trainable. Breeding dogs of both sexes can and do indulge in territorial marking
promoted by hormonal surges.
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Neutering
will lessen these tendencies in males because testosterone levels decrease. It may have the opposite effect on dominant females.
The majority of undesirable habits associated with one sex or the other are due to poor training or inadequate socialization.
Both sexes are susceptible to these problems. Both are capable of barking, chewing, running away, etc. to alleviate stress
or boredom.
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