For those with a dog of each gender...which is the restless one?

[Adina P]

My two labradoodles are 3.5 and 4.5 years old.
The 3.5 year old is my mellow male, Rosco.
My 4.5 year old is my constantly vigilant female, Thule (say Too-lee!).
My 14 year old border collie is a female, Cass.

While none of them are 'hyper' around the house at this point, both of my girlies are little busy bodies. Curious, have to explore, pace the house (not in a frantic or anxious way...just checking things out). It can drive me crazy some days when I want them all to just chill. I've all but told them in a motherly voice: "Why can't you just relax like Rosco here?"

Thule, especially likes to check the yard, make sure every leaf is in place, she'll ring to go out multiple times JUST to hang out and sniff, measure the distance from one fence to the other, count the leaves that have fallen, test the smells against her index of animal urine scents, and make sure she knows EVERYTHING. Rosco on the other hand is typically content to go out, pee/poop, and come back in.

When I get up in the morning the doods follow me out the bedroom. Rosco flops down to rest nearby, Thule lines herself up to go outside. Then if I call her back in later...she'll want to go out with Rosco, with Cass, and again a few times alone to finish whatever she started. Meanwhile Rosco is still flopped over, relaxing, now at my feet.

So was curious...do your girls act more restless/curious/busy than your boys?

UPDATE: Nearly 15 minutes later Rosco is STILL at my feet while I've been on the laptop...and Thule has wandered, clip clopped, around the house many times and now just rang to go out again... GIRLS! (The ridiculous thing about me being annoyed with restlessness is that I was just as curious as a young girl).

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's hard to say. Calla at 10 months will start whimpering to go out at anywhere from 6 to 7am, no matter how late I've had her out. Since she's had at least one urinary tract infection, I don't restrict her water at all in the evening. I think she just doesn't have the bladder capacity of Luca , who is part camel, I think. Maybe it's a male /female thing. He's content to wait til a more civilized hour in the morning. I'm a night owl , of course. Calla is still in a crate at night since I really don't trust her to roam around at night although she can during the day when I'm home. All day she asks to go out more than Luca. She tends to bark outside at the mail truck and people , while Luca usually takes these in stride. He barks at animals, real, imagined and virtual. But then Calla is braver in some areas. She'll run out when the garage door is barely high enough to fit through while Luca waits til it stops completely. She'll jump out of the car when there's not a lot of clearance while Luca will need encouragement or sometimes even lifting. Yet he is not good at amusing himself and he's always trying to get me to throw a ball or toy. She's usually busy chewing on something. So what does all this add up to?

[Adina P]

Hmmmm....maybe their busy body differences will emerge in a year or two. I don't remember such a big difference between them. Rosco IS lower energy and always has been. And Cass is a border collie so nuff said on that. But it just seems more pronounced lately. I want all animals around me to be chill lately...to just lay at my feet and await instruction...LOL. NONE of this prancing and clip clopping constantly. Must be hormonal.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have always said "Hormones rule the world". You are in for a hormonal roller coaster soon, not enough info. given to us all on that.

[Adina P]

I haven't had crazy breakdowns or random crying spells or all those things that preggos are 'supposed to' have. I've been pretty normal. So I'm thankful for that...and um...I think Clark is too :-)

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Hmm, maybe the nesting urge is starting to kick in... the need to have things setted; 'a place for everything and everything in it's place'. Happens (happened) to many of us just before the big event.

[Adina P]

How LONG before the event? I've had mini spurts of nesting but no baby yet. Please wiggle worm...come into this world before Thanksgiving...pretty puhleeze! I am now getting heartburn just LOOKING at food :-(

[Michele Barton]

Molly and Gus are 7 months old, and Molly is definitely the more energetic one. If it weren't for her, I think that Gus would be a real couch potato. She's the one to start zoomie sessions, and she's ALWAYS the one to come and wake me up in the morning, even if Gus is the only one needing to go out. She is also the one who loves to play fetch. When we throw the ball to Gus, he just sits still and lets it bounce off his head - hilarious! The thing I really love about Gus, though, is he is a real cuddler; he's content to be in your lap and watch t.v. They remind me of lions - the males lounge around and the females do all the work! I just love them to death (Gus and Molly, not lions)!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Okay, I live with 2 male doodles, Marley is almost 2 yrs old and Murphy is almost 1 yr old. Marley must be part female, because he is definitely in the more curious, active, OCD catagory. Murphy is more laid back, like "whatever" and he's still a puppy.

Marley has to investigate the exact place to deposit his personal treasures (poop) at least 6-7 times before he finds just the right inch of grass! Then ofcourse he has to make sure it's just perfect before going onto something else. Murphy just runs to a spot, sniffs around a few times and plops, "I'm Done!" SOmetimes leaving a trail behind, not caring what spot it landed on.

Marley has to check out every sound within a 2 block radius and I think he's got radar, cus he even can look up when a plane is coming miles away. Murphy, not so much, I have to drop something on his head for him to look up !

In the evening, Marley just paces for hours, like an expectant father in a waiting room and the only action we get from Murphy is him looking up every now and then to see if there is anything worth getting up for.

However, Marley is much more easily intimidated and anxious around new things,places or experiences, like car rides.
Murphy goes with the flow and just takes it all in like it's just another part of his day. Murphy was tons more socialized and traveled across the country with us his first 8 months, so that may have a lot to do with that difference.

So, not sure it's male or female or ages, but these two males are very different.

[Adina P]

Interesting that Marley your pacer (love the father in a waiting room image!) is also anxious in new places. Thule, our curious one...doesn't pace in an anxious way. It's odd. She just has to be everywhere and know everything. Yet she's TOTALLY okay with travel and being in new places. Whereas Rosco, my otherwise unintimidateable (spellcheck tells me that's not a word!) one, gets quite pacey in new places. Eventually he's fine, but initially he's not sure how to chill in a hotel. Too much of a creature of habit and knowing his favorite locations and spots and routine are there.

[Beverley S. LaLonde]

My three Goldendoodles: Harlee 4 Male, Chloe 16 Mths Female & Li'l Buddy male Petite Goldendoodle 7 Mths.
Harlee is a gentlemen and a scholar. Chloe is a Tomboy rough and ready and the instigater. Li'l Buddy goes with the flow!
I do believe when you have a pack of dogs the female's are more restless. All of my pack are spayed and neutered. Age does help a lot and the fact that you have rules and boundaries for the pack to follow.
Bev, Harlee, Chloe & Li'l Buddy

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Absolutely - but Peri is also all puppy still. The both follow me everywhere, but Peri takes a lot longer to settle down. My mom's girl terrier is the same way. My mom's male terrier was completely different - more relaxed, always wanting to be right next to her. I have friends with female dogs and they are just as you describe. I actually wanted another male because of these reasons, but of course, I am happy I ended up with my Lady Peri!

[DeeDee and Sheila]

I am so glad to read this discussion. I have had all (4) girl dogs and then raised 2 daughters, so I didn't know the difference. But my female dogs were just like you describe Adina!!! I thought they were ALL like that, but since I am on the runway for a baby doodle, I asked the breeder what she thought, as THIS TIME I WANT A MORE LAID BACK ONE, not the dominant females I always seem to get (they run up to the kids the fastest so they get picked). My breeder says "they are all nice, but the males are a tad less complicated". I was always kind of scared of marking behaviors, but I am not sensing this is a problem w/ these doods (see, I'm getting the lingo from this cool site). Anyway, I'm watching you with bated breath to see what you are going to have, human wise. Boy, will this be a trip!!! You have heard of mother's helpers, haven't you???:) They can watch the baby while you write to US!!