Male or female?

Blitzen · 21-07-2010, 20:47

Thanks for your perspective on this Enid, I have found it is generally the same in German Shepherds (my breed for now). They too are generally more noisy to other dogs, especially when they mature. Having said that, my most loyal and obedient dog was a boy, but then he too like to put other males in their place

. My female shepherd is very soft with other dogs, and doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body.

saschia · 21-07-2010, 22:28

Well, whether you'll have a female or male, remember, the socialization and good upbringing are extremely important. And I would not count on the female to be sweet - I thought me current girl will be nice when she was small, because she tried to persuade every dog that she only wants to play, but now she is dominant with females and I need to make sure she does not have an opportunity to fight with them. But she is still sweet with her old female friends (which she know either since she was a puppy, or since they were a puppy), of course with most males, and with people too. Although she would take food from anybody, and without asking, she can be with me in restaurants and behaves nice there.

Enid Black · 21-07-2010, 22:53

Of course socialization is my first aim. I live in a small town in Italy (in Tuscany), but luckily I have a lot of friends who just can't wait 'till I have this little teethy thing to play with, and I even have a school for small children at 100 meters from home, so I'll be able to take her in front of it and get used to the noise and maybe some mom will be nice enough to allow at least the puppy to be caressed by some Kid (but I won't be asking it). I have some young cousins I can use to train her and I think that even my neighbour's daughters (14 and 1

shall be glad to play with her to ensure her the maximum of exsposure to different people. This besides to a puppy class and going to the city with me. I even have some friends with dogs big enough to play with her, and some Vlcak which live near enough. I'm already planning everything to ensure her good growing, even reading books over books to try to have an idea

. And I am trying to see them as often as it's possible, even if it is not as often as I wish.

I still think it depends on the character of the dog too.
For example, I knew a female, Hayla, who licked my face as soon as we met, very sweetly, and she was very sweet with her owner. But I saw her teeth when poor Oxy approached her (a very big male... he got growled even from one of the puppies

).

I've even seen a Vlcak who is always growling (when eating, when sleeping, when cuddling... always

) but in her manner she is sweet too, and I have a very sweet photo of her with her owner where the owner is kissing her nose and she is simply relishing it with her eyes half closed, and a very relaxed expression.

I am no expert though, as I said, I am a newbie and I only fell in love with the Vlcak because of a photography on the net, to be then taken hostage of their eyes when I saw them the first time.

Blitzen · 22-07-2010, 10:15

You sound like you are very well prepared for a CSV, Enid. Good luck with your 'little teethy thing'.

Saschia, like Enid, I plan to socialise my pup extensively when I get it, a couple of years from now, too. I think I have decided on a male, part of the reason being that I like the bolder look of a male, and also because I don't like to castrate or spay for no reason, and I plan to work him in Schutzhund, I won't have to be careful with a female season/ phantom pregnancies etc. My german shepherd female is going to be spayed soon because of her constant suffering from phantom pregnancies and it breaks my heart to have to do it to her. I don't want to go throught that again.

Joanna · 22-07-2010, 11:05

Enid, I have one remark – please distinct behavior during the meetings and dog shows from the daily one.
My bitch is generally sweet (ok, let’s say – much more calm) during the shows. She allowed Ibona (met first time in her life) to lay down on her during the waiting by the ring but wasn’t so nice during the walk.
I've noticed the same change in almost all csw I've met.
Circumstances have really strong influence on the level of tolerance.

I think the main think to consider is to choose a puppy wisely. I have a female and, unfortunately, she has a strong need to prove she is the most important one in the neighborhood. She is not self confident enough to don’t have this need (and I was not good enough to eliminate this behavior

). I can allow her for contacts with puppies but I have to be careful when they’re older than 3 months. My observation of csw showed me males are more tolerant for young dogs.

Anyway, I’ve chosen a female to protect plants in my garden

Oh, I forgot - beware - feamales THINK!

saschia · 22-07-2010, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joanna

[
Anyway, I’ve chosen a female to protect plants in my garden

Oh, I forgot - beware - feamales THINK!

You mean so that she doesn't pee on them?

Both my previous female and also now Frei pee like males, but Frei avoids doing anything of these in our garden (that' her own idea, I don't know if she is so clean or just saves for marking outside). Most funny is when she is peeing standing on one leg and than she decides she might as well poo, now doing that on one leg is quite a job, I must say

Joanna · 22-07-2010, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by saschia

You mean so that she doesn't pee on them?

I hoped they doesn't but life showed me I was totally wrong in this matter. Dewi can reach as high as a male! Fortunately, she does it outside

Enid Black · 22-07-2010, 11:29

Hi Joanna!
We were not in a show, we were in a meeting for fun, in the countryside, dogs had plenty of space to stay away one from the other and did not have the stress of a ring show

.
I recognise, anyway, that you are right: behaviour in public is veeeery different from behaviour in private

...

I've noticed it too: males become a complete bunch of gelatine with puppies, while it is easier for a female to growl to a puppy. But I've read that it is quite normal, indeed. I love seeing males with puppies, they're absolutely wonderful.

And I know that females think! I've thought a lot about taking a male or a female, and in the end, we opted for a female for a series of reasons, these being the principal;

1. Females are smaller. I will be the one in charge of the dog for most part of the day and I am 1,65 tall for 57 kg and not very strong. So the question is: do I want a dog I can possibly bring out for a walk even when it is adult or do I want a dog who will take ME out for a walk (flag-on-the-wind-style I would say!) at 13 month old?

2. Males tend to be difficult in their first 2 years. We are completely newbies to dogs, and I do no know if I feel brave enough to face it without a previous experience. I do not want to make a dog suffer because I am not ready.

And, anyway, that's only the beginning, because, as I said, my partner desires a male in the future, so I think we'll be owners of two teethy things... but we'll see how it goes with the first one!

.

Sincerely, we are choosing our puppy on the base of the character of the parents AND of other siblings. I choose home-breeders, who will ensure continuous contact with human beings, and I'm trying to go and visit the breeders themselves.

21-07-2010, 22:28	#2
saschia Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bratislava Posts: 936	Well, whether you'll have a female or male, remember, the socialization and good upbringing are extremely important. And I would not count on the female to be sweet - I thought me current girl will be nice when she was small, because she tried to persuade every dog that she only wants to play, but now she is dominant with females and I need to make sure she does not have an opportunity to fight with them. But she is still sweet with her old female friends (which she know either since she was a puppy, or since they were a puppy), of course with most males, and with people too. Although she would take food from anybody, and without asking, she can be with me in restaurants and behaves nice there. __________________ Saschia (Sasa Zahradnikova) http://www.chiens-loup-tchecoslovaqu...ei-et-damon.ws

22-07-2010, 11:05	#5
Joanna Tmave Zlo Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kopana k/W-wy Posts: 1,196	Enid, I have one remark – please distinct behavior during the meetings and dog shows from the daily one. My bitch is generally sweet (ok, let’s say – much more calm) during the shows. She allowed Ibona (met first time in her life) to lay down on her during the waiting by the ring but wasn’t so nice during the walk. I've noticed the same change in almost all csw I've met. Circumstances have really strong influence on the level of tolerance. I think the main think to consider is to choose a puppy wisely. I have a female and, unfortunately, she has a strong need to prove she is the most important one in the neighborhood. She is not self confident enough to don’t have this need (and I was not good enough to eliminate this behavior). I can allow her for contacts with puppies but I have to be careful when they’re older than 3 months. My observation of csw showed me males are more tolerant for young dogs. Anyway, I’ve chosen a female to protect plants in my garden Oh, I forgot - beware - feamales THINK! __________________

21-07-2010, 20:47	#1
Blitzen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 19	Thanks for your perspective on this Enid, I have found it is generally the same in German Shepherds (my breed for now). They too are generally more noisy to other dogs, especially when they mature. Having said that, my most loyal and obedient dog was a boy, but then he too like to put other males in their place . My female shepherd is very soft with other dogs, and doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body.

21-07-2010, 22:53	#3
Enid Black Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Arezzo Posts: 1,142	Of course socialization is my first aim. I live in a small town in Italy (in Tuscany), but luckily I have a lot of friends who just can't wait 'till I have this little teethy thing to play with, and I even have a school for small children at 100 meters from home, so I'll be able to take her in front of it and get used to the noise and maybe some mom will be nice enough to allow at least the puppy to be caressed by some Kid (but I won't be asking it). I have some young cousins I can use to train her and I think that even my neighbour's daughters (14 and 1 shall be glad to play with her to ensure her the maximum of exsposure to different people. This besides to a puppy class and going to the city with me. I even have some friends with dogs big enough to play with her, and some Vlcak which live near enough. I'm already planning everything to ensure her good growing, even reading books over books to try to have an idea . And I am trying to see them as often as it's possible, even if it is not as often as I wish. I still think it depends on the character of the dog too. For example, I knew a female, Hayla, who licked my face as soon as we met, very sweetly, and she was very sweet with her owner. But I saw her teeth when poor Oxy approached her (a very big male... he got growled even from one of the puppies ). I've even seen a Vlcak who is always growling (when eating, when sleeping, when cuddling... always ) but in her manner she is sweet too, and I have a very sweet photo of her with her owner where the owner is kissing her nose and she is simply relishing it with her eyes half closed, and a very relaxed expression. I am no expert though, as I said, I am a newbie and I only fell in love with the Vlcak because of a photography on the net, to be then taken hostage of their eyes when I saw them the first time.

22-07-2010, 10:15	#4
Blitzen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 19	You sound like you are very well prepared for a CSV, Enid. Good luck with your 'little teethy thing'. Saschia, like Enid, I plan to socialise my pup extensively when I get it, a couple of years from now, too. I think I have decided on a male, part of the reason being that I like the bolder look of a male, and also because I don't like to castrate or spay for no reason, and I plan to work him in Schutzhund, I won't have to be careful with a female season/ phantom pregnancies etc. My german shepherd female is going to be spayed soon because of her constant suffering from phantom pregnancies and it breaks my heart to have to do it to her. I don't want to go throught that again.

22-07-2010, 11:29	#8
Enid Black Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Arezzo Posts: 1,142	Hi Joanna! We were not in a show, we were in a meeting for fun, in the countryside, dogs had plenty of space to stay away one from the other and did not have the stress of a ring show . I recognise, anyway, that you are right: behaviour in public is veeeery different from behaviour in private ... I've noticed it too: males become a complete bunch of gelatine with puppies, while it is easier for a female to growl to a puppy. But I've read that it is quite normal, indeed. I love seeing males with puppies, they're absolutely wonderful. And I know that females think! I've thought a lot about taking a male or a female, and in the end, we opted for a female for a series of reasons, these being the principal; 1. Females are smaller. I will be the one in charge of the dog for most part of the day and I am 1,65 tall for 57 kg and not very strong. So the question is: do I want a dog I can possibly bring out for a walk even when it is adult or do I want a dog who will take ME out for a walk (flag-on-the-wind-style I would say!) at 13 month old? 2. Males tend to be difficult in their first 2 years. We are completely newbies to dogs, and I do no know if I feel brave enough to face it without a previous experience. I do not want to make a dog suffer because I am not ready. And, anyway, that's only the beginning, because, as I said, my partner desires a male in the future, so I think we'll be owners of two teethy things... but we'll see how it goes with the first one! . Sincerely, we are choosing our puppy on the base of the character of the parents AND of other siblings. I choose home-breeders, who will ensure continuous contact with human beings, and I'm trying to go and visit the breeders themselves.