Male or female?

[Kelly Wink]

We are getting our first doodle this spring. I am looking for help deciding male or female???? Any suggestions?????

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I honestly don't think it matters a whole lot if you get the male neutered. I have grown up having only male dogs. My first dog on my own was a male (my current chihuahua). I have always thought males were a little more loving for some reason (don't ask me why). A male was my first choice for a goldendoodle. However, I was going to have to wait a few more months on the next litter because there were only 2 males in the one I was waiting for. I was ready for a puppy and wanted those particular parents so I went with a girl. Boy am I glad I did. She is so great.

Do you have any other dogs currently? I really think the male-female thing works out well in my situation. Taquito loves his "little" sis Peri!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

It is funny to me that everyone always says it doesn't matter if you get the male dog neutered! They never say anything about female dogs.

A female dog is referred to as a BITCH and that term has translated into a term used to describe human women. Not mothering, nurturing, loving, kind women but rather aggressive women!

Honestly when looking at companion breeds it does not matter. This is not a protection breed so they are non aggressive by nature and are very loving. Gender has nothing to do with what makes these dogs great. Reputable breeders are doing early spay and neuters and gender related differences such as hiking legs to pee are learned late in a male dog's life, if ever learned. Territorial behaviors that are ingrained into a female (for the protection of her nest) have been eliminated before they could ever develop.

I have many clients with multiple dogs. Some have multiple boys (up to 3 boys in the same house, some have boy / girl combos and some have girl / girl combos.

I think it really only matters if you already have a dog that has a predisposition to playing with a specific gender or that does not like another gender.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Taquito had a predisposition to playing with male dogs and generally ignored females. He is still that way, but he loves Peri. I don't know if it would have been any different if Peri was male....

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

If Taquito were your first dog and you made that comment to me I would likely have placed a male with you for your second dog. I don't know in what order you got your dogs. Sometimes you do not know until your second dog arrives : )

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Taquito was first. He didn't hate females, he just preferred males. So the litter was smaller than anticipated and my breeder kept the male for a future stud. It was either female or wait 4 months. I took a chance! And it turned out just fine.... :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

I don't think it makes a huge difference either. I know that females can sometimes tend to be a little protective/territorial when they aren't spayed. Just as males are more likely to have mounting/marking/dominance behaviors when not Neutered. I think if they are spayed/neutered, it wouldn't really matter. Males are larger, I guess that is something to keep in mind. Either one would be great, I have owned both and love them both. I like the loving goof nature of males... and that they are bigger.

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

We prefer a male... they seem more happy go lucky and aren't as expensive when it comes to getting them fixed... but really it doesn't matter. When you go look don't pick because of the gender but instead pick from personality! A good personality is the key :) Good luck!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have one of each. My male will be 2 in March and my female will be 1 this month. Luca was about 14 months old when Calla came and they get along perfectly. she is actually slightly bigger than him but that has to do with parental size, which was different. They are both great. They have some differing traits that don't have much to do with gender, I think.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Hi Kelly. My name is DeeDee and I have been waiting for my doodle since Sept. I've had lots of other dogs, though. If you are new, welcome to the site. I will warn you, it has been addicting for me!! I love it. I've always had female dogs, and my new doodle, Miss Sheila, is female. My breeder told me males are a tad less complicated than females. I had to laugh. My husband has always said he has his hands full of dominant females (the labs we always got seemed to be the bossy kind, but lovely). So I can recommend females highly. But I want to have two dogs and my breeder also said that the best mix is a female and male, so my next doodle will be male. There are alot of multiple doodle owners on this site, so I'll be interested to hear what they say.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

We had (4) dogs up until the end of December when our eldest Keegan passed on. We had(ve) (2) males and (2) females. They range(d) in age from 14 years down to our doodle who is 15 month. I have to honestly say that I have never had an issue in all these years that came up with any of them that I sat back and said "well, it's because he or she is a male or female". I have truly never known any difference between them and never considered it upon their respective adoptions. We never adopted with the consideration of how the others would react being the same or opposite sex. Maybe we were naive but we expected our dogs to have manners and to greet any new family member with respect regardless of their sex. They've never let us down even when we puppy sit for the occasional transport ;). Gaston-Cramer is completely out numbered right now as the only male and I don't think he or the others even give a hoot!

That having been said, I do understand that every one's experience is different but I'm of the school of thought that temperament is of the utmost importance. Let your breeder help you decide which pup is best suited for you and your family. What an exciting time you have ahead of you!

[Kelly Wink]

Thanks everyone for the great input!!!! I have decided to go with a female. Hopefully my husband will love her so much he will agree to another doodle and we can get male in the future!!!!!!!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I have a preference for male dogs, but I really don't think it is much difference with doodles. Their dispositions are so mellow. But be aware that they are also high energy dogs and require a lot of outdoor time. And, ANY DOG, male or female, should be neutered or spayed unless you are a breeder. Don't think that because you have a doodle you can breed him or her and make some money. That is one of the reasons we have so many dogs in rescue and SPCA facilities. Purchase a puppy from a verified breeder and I would recommend that you check it out. Ask for references and then contact them. I think that as a puppy your new member of the family will fit in with whatever situation (s)he encounters. Females are more protective and territorial and we had a female shephard as my son's companion when he was young. We live in the country and nobody could get near him. Even if I scolded him, she would get between us. So females, although bitches, do have their place.