What a horrible and irresponsible message to send readers. One way to avoid the battle for supremacy, is to avoid getting same-gender dogs of a similar age. A toy-orientated dog kept with a scent-orientated dog will have little reason to compete, but two toy-orientated dogs may find toys worth fighting over, no matter how many toys there are. However, with proper leadership, females can peaceful coexist with other females, and males with males. For examples, a moderately active family with a lazy female Shih Tzu might want to adopt a sturdy athletic male Labrador who is great with kids, and can keep up on family hikes. I’m glad I didn’t know this then because I love our family the way it is. A female instead of a male. She's only 12 weeks, so I don't plan on getting another one anytime soon, but we DO want another one someday. If you already live with a dog who displays bad habits like digging up the pansies and petunias in the backyard chances are that your new pup will pick up the same undesirable tendencies. Turns out, it does! How you socialize your new pet applies to all breeds and sexes of dogs. (This can be particularly dangerous when there are small children around who can get hurt when the dogs are wrestling, biting and general displaying their strength.). Second Dog Success Stories. If you have an older dog, adopting a much younger dog will make the transition easier for your adult pup to get used to. Your email address will not be published. "I got Fluffy first, and he was very shy and fearful during the first few days. opposite sex. I have enough love to give another dog and she would be great companion for my Shih Tzu but I want female dogs cause I like putting bows in their hair & little dresses with a male I really can’t. It’s more than twice the fun. If your dog has any history of fighting with other dogs or any kind of dog-dog aggression, then adding a second dog is not a good idea yet. For this reason, many pet parents avoid exacerbating their pup’s melancholy by simply adopting a live-in companion for their pooch. I wanted the extra time to bond with my first dog, properly obedience train him, and make sure I had most of his issues under control. Our hope is to make petcarefacts.com not only a comprehensive resource for dog and cat lovers, but also a fun place to interact, share experiences and explore all that our furry family members have to offer. 1. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We’ve had more than one dog at a time and they all were males except for a while we did have 2 males and 1 female, when my SIL passed away. Top 5 Dangerous Foods for Pets on Thanksgiving. Before You Choose Dog Number Two Let the dogs meet on neutral territory. Getting a second dog can definitely enrich your family, but before you do, consider the consequences of adding another canine to your household. Does your dog prefer playing with males or females? Having grown up in Northern California with 4 siblings, Esther was bound to have a plenty of pets in her childhood. she loved her old partner gus who died at 12. she has become more receptive to other dogs since he passed but i am wondering if the gender of the new pup will matter. Ideally getting a male would be the better choice if you want to decrease the chances of fighting. Thank you for touching on all of these points. You’ll know a bit about the two dogs’ compatibility when they meet, but you’ll have a better idea of their relationship once they’ve been living together for a few weeks. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. we where thinking of getting another female. Fun fact for anyone else who comes across this article and is as disgusted by the “pugnacious pit bull” quip as I was – American Pit Bull Terriers actually rank ABOVE Golden Retrievers for stable temperament. Any dog can be pugnacious I don’t think she meant bad just that if your not experienced it’d be hard to control all that muscle even a rottie some would be harder to control if they had an active stubborn temperment and u didn’t have experience to train them well its the dog and training not breed mostly bulldogs are the sweetest lovable lapdogs ever though i have seen big active dogs not properly trained become very hard to handle sadly then the owner doesn’t want it because it’s a nuisance and it’s not his fault. If your current dog is a puppy, they’re likely to be more receptive to a new dog or puppy entering their life, regardless of gender. The Worst Reasons to Get a Second Dog If the reason for getting a new puppy is among the ones below, I recommend that you wait. Two male dogs are more likely to compete over food, toys, and their owners’ affection. Hopefully, these tips will help with that decision. What does your pet need? My family is considering on bringing home a second dog, we currently have a female and these points just reaffirmed our decision to adopt a male puppy! nothing is set in stone. If you decide you really want a second dog at some point, then be sure to get some help from a dog trainer or behaviorist . But if you do get another dog of the same gender, a pair of males may be less likely to get into fights than a pair of females. Generally, a second dog of the opposite sex is a good idea for most families. All Content and Images are Copyright© Miss Molly Says. This is a question many people ask. According to Pet Care Facts, a s a general rule, if you currently have a dog, it is usually safest to adopt a dog of the opposite sex of your current dog. In particular, you’ll want to consider carefully what gender to adopt. Does Dog Gender Matter? We’ve been considering getting another dog in the near future so I will definitely have to take this advice into mind when looking. Take your dog around to dog parks, or other places where you would see a lot of dogs and see how he/she reacts to different dogs. Review the list below before you head to the animal shelter: The short answer –yes. Don’t worry too much about the gender of the cats involved. Some of the major benefits of getting a second dog include: Your dog will always have company. But really? Gender determines many of the dog’s natural instincts, behaviors and traits. I've heard that if I get a male puppy, she would get along better than if it was a female. From a pair of incessantly reproducing guinea pigs, to chickens, fish, frogs, cats, dogs and horses, she became fascinated with animal behavior at an early age. May 9, 2019 - Does gender matter when adopting a second dog? Laid-back breeds like Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and Golden Retrievers are more likely to be fine with dogs of the same gender since they have such dog-friendly temperaments. Dogs are social creatures. For those of you who want the short answer, here it comes. Any advice would be great. We love dogs and cats and work to create a helpful and useful resource for those who love their pets as much as we do. Pet health, nutrition, and all things pet! “Pugnacious Pit Bull” Responsible pet ownership necessitates personality-pairing between pets (as best as one can), and thoughtful consideration to the kind of home environment one desires both for the family as well as for the pets. I agree with Sarah completely! What kind of pet do you have? A male dog will have fewer issues with a new female dog, and vice versa. I just really don’t know what to do. Does she need a young pup that can lead her in games at the same energy level and intensity? Why you ask? Should you add a dog of the same or opposite gender or does it really matter? (When in doubt, females have a steadier demeanor, and they are less inclined to vie for the dominant position. Male/female – The sex of a second dog really depends on some personality traits of your first dog. Now I’ve been debating getting another female puppy that is a Maltese. If they’re sweet and playful and always get along with the other dogs at the dog park, they may be fine with a new dog of any gender. are two females a bad idea. We have an older female and when we went to adopt a second dog we initially looked for a male, but fate had it that the only dog we liked at the shelter that our older dog approved when we brought her to meet them was a female puppy. I will tell you the pits bulls are some of the most snuggley, lovable dogs. Generally, a second dog of the opposite sex is a good idea for most families. 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