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Last Updated:
11/14/2024 3:54 PM | |
© 2024 HUGS |
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Does Dog Gender Matter?
According to Pet Care Facts, as 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.
Dogs of the same sex have to determine the “pecking order” and will fight for which one ought to be deemed the pack leader. A pair of female dogs tends to vie for attention from their master, while two male dogs often face off with intense power-matches to determine the more dominant male in the house (this can be particularly dangerous when there are small children around who can get hurt when the dogs are wrestling, biting, and generally displaying their strength).
Another unfortunate side-effect of adopting a second dog of the same sex is that one dog will usually overpower the other and live with bossy unchecked bravado, while the defeated dog will develop a submissive and skittish personality. Both temperaments are unhealthy and create a negative environment for both dogs.
The best way to avoid the battle for supremacy is to avoid getting same-sex dogs of a similar age. If you have an older dog, adopting a much younger dog will make the transition easier for your adult dog to get used to. It will make the same-sex issue less of a pressing matter because the age gap will be the primary differentiating factor. As the second dog grows, the older dog will have time to adjust to the addition without being threatened by the new dog in any way.
In Summary, It is Always Ideal to Adopt:
-A dog of the opposite sex of your current dog. It's a win win, as the male dog gets to be the alpha male dog, while the female dog gets to be the top female in the house.
-If adopting dogs of the same sex, choose a dog that is much younger [or older] than the original dog.
You should always bear in mind when introductions are finally made, the dogs will require patience while getting used to each other before they become amicable companions. Most dogs will generally engage in exploratory nipping, sniffing, growling, and barking at the initial introduction; this is a natural part of the process.
Information excerpted August 2017, from Pet Care Facts resources for dog & cat lovers - Adopting a Second Dog: Gender Considerations. http://petcarefacts.com/blog/tips-and-how-tos/adopting-a-second-dog-gender-considerations"
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