Male or female dog

[Shygal]

Which do you think is a better all around "farm" dog to have? I know each dog is an individual, but I am interested in people's experiences with each - which sex you think is a better watchdog, less apt to harass your own animals, less likely to roam, more wary with strangers, protective of family, or things like that.

[Ravenlost]

It really does depend on the dog.

[mekasmom]

As an outside dog? I prefer a male. They are more territorial, less dependent, laid back, settled, more confident. When we have more than one LGD, we only keep one male and the rest are females. It just seems a more natural pack that way.
Inside dog? Definitely a female. I have several small female house dogs. They don't mark. Even altered males will mark, so they just aren't my favorites for inside dogs.

[Ravenlost]

We have 17 dogs...nine females and eight males. All are spayed/neutered. We have never had a male dog mark his territory inside the house.

The female dogs tend to fight one another more and I agree they are much less laid back than the males. The males are very laid back, but more dependent and less confident.

We've had dogs of both sexes who like to roam (males tend to do this more if they haven't been neutered). Both sexes are territorial and are good watch dogs. Some more than others, but I think this varies with personality and breed.

[pheasantplucker]

As a kid, we always had females...just the preference my mom had...don't know exactly why. Since I've been on my own, I've owned five dogs. Three have been male and two female. I think a little bit has to do with the time frame they're spayed or neutered...The longer you wait, the more ingrained their behavior... I think once they're neutered, for the most part, the behavior becomes fairly consistent whether they're male or female. More important is the way they are trained and treated. Second to treatment, I'd say a dog's size and breed affects temperament more than gender.

[7thswan]

Everything you mentioned is my Female Rottie to a T.

[vicki in NW OH]

I would go with an English Shepherd for the best all around farm dog. Were called farm collies when I was a kid. Doesn't matter male, female, just watch the personality of the puppies for one you take a liking to. They are awesome dogs.

[motdaugrnds]

I have had both male & female and the gender really doesn't matter. What you want to look for is the over-all propensities of the breed. I prefer the German Shepherd simply because I know how to train them to do whatever I want; but then most dogs can be well trained. (My grown "alpha" female pure blood shepherd is outside now literally "baby-sitting" four baby goats about a month old while their dams are out of sight in the pasture.) The funny (Did I say "funny"?) part about this female is that she believes she is suppose to stop everything that looks like a fight .. This includes breeding rituals of our goats and chickens! The terrible thing about this female is that she "will not let any male she has met so far" breed her.

A few years ago we brought home a pure bred chocolate lab. We did not spade him as we kept hoping he would breed our female shepherd. The combination of shepherd/lab is a very nice blending of traits for a farm. (My favorite dog was a blend of shepherd/lab/chow/wolf and "she" was the best dog any homesteader could have in that she seemed to know what was ok and what was not ok and "when" to attack and when not to attack "people". She had learned this over time simply by what we had expected of her. She died a few years back.) This Lab is "slowly" making a good farm dog in that he is territorial and will get angry when the need arises. (I've already seen him bark at some perceived danger and watched the entire herd of goats run "toward" him. It is obvious they trust him to warn them of whatever might harm them.)

If I were in your shoes wanting an all-purpose farm dog, I would simply choose a "large" breed whose character sounds like what is wanted; then spend a lot of time training it.

[Wolf Flower]

It depends more on the breed and personality of the individual dog than gender alone. For example, many breeds show a striking difference in personality between males and females; in some breeds, males are more laid back; in other breeds, females are more laid back. If you're only getting one dog, sex doesn't matter all that much as long as the dog is spayed/neutered.

I think you are looking at pit cross puppies, right? I'd forget about gender for a moment and pick out the one that appeals to you. The middle of the road pup is best--not the one that runs up and pounces on you first, nor the one that hides in the corner, but the one that looks at you with interest and happily comes when you call. You don't want the one that's constantly picking on its littermates, nor the one that's always getting picked on.

Having said all that, I have always had females (German shepherds) as my companion dogs. I find them easier to train and manage. They are more sensitive (this could be a good or a bad thing) than males, and this is part of what makes them so biddable and loyal. Since I spay them, I don't need to worry about heat cycles or puppies which would be the main drawback of having a female.

But again, I'd say, pick the right pup for your situation regardless of gender, spay/neuter, train and socialize, and enjoy!

[chickenista]

I have female dogs.
I have tried in the past to have male dogs and they just didn't work out.
Hard headed... wow.
All were rehomed to places where they fit in great and will be very happy.

I don't think it is as much the dog as it is the owner. I can easily control a female dog, but male dogs give me fits. Even other people's dog.
(the above statement does NOT refer to my Australian Shepherd... but that is her. She is my firecracker..)

[DW]

I'd vote for females...the hard headed comment on males is why I have avoided males. My Dad was quite a dog person and his theory was that females were smarter...he loved all his dogs...even when he had coon dogs!

[ronbre]

have had both, prefer females..

[Teri]

Best dog we've had is a neutered male.

[Ruby]

I had a male Schnauzer, Max who was very territorial high strung and agressive to strangers. I now have another Schnauzer who is very laid back. Never barks at strangers only cats. LOL. Is not territorial and gets along with the other dogs.

I also have two females that are sisters. One is territorial and would probably bite a stranger if they came in the yard. The other sister is more laid back and only barks at strangers if her sister starts barking first. So I would say it depend on the dog's individual personality.

[Oggie]

Male dogs are far less likely to take directions.

But female dogs keep changing their minds.

[Cannon_Farms]

I find girls to be easier to train, boys are more difficult for me because in the natural way of things males are loners until they find their pack, girls are always in the pack so they get the pack order better and have a natural ability to pick up the rules better in my opinion.
I have two male dogs, the are both big goobers who just want to be petted but even though one has his CGC hes not the same level of trained as my girl dogs.

[arcticow]

If a working herder, female... they listen and respond quicker. All -around outside dog to do a little of everything, including hassle with varmints, male. Even neutered. MHO.

[bluemoonluck]

I think its more about individual personality than male/female. Temperament test the pups and pick the one who is the most middle-of-the road, regardless of gender.

I've had males that made me want to put my head thru a wall, and females that made me want to do the same.

[salmonslayer]

We have an awesome female Australian Shephard that is a great field dog (not fixed) and is smart as a whip but she is a little neurotic and prone to some odd behavior like walking around one of our chairs a couple times before going outside, she tries to herd us on the tractors up to and including biting the tires etc. We also have an equally awesome male (fixed) Jack Russell Terrier that is fearless and is my constant companion. He is always close by but never in the way, he mostly minds but can be a bit hard headed at times and he is a great watch dog. Both dogs have good temprements but I guess for me I would prefer a fixed male...mostly though it truely does depend on the dog.

[wolffeathers]

If you are looking for a guard dog that is "less apt to chase your own animals" go with a male. They are generally more laid back and make a nicer casual farm dog. But, if you plan to work with your dog, herd livestock, etc; I would pick a female.

From my experience, females tend to be easier to train. Hubby defines males as hard-headed which indeed has been our experience.

This is the rule we generally use. For our LGD, we chose male because we wanted him to be laid back and more of a casual farm dog. If we were to have a working farm dog for herding, we would choose a female of a herding breed.

PS: Males tend to be cheaper to neuter, than females are to spay. Another reason the LGD is male.