Dog or Bitch

A male dog is called a "dog" and a female dog is called a "bitch". Choosing whether to have a male or female — a dog or a bitch — is one of the early decisions in choosing the right dog for you.

Dogs tend to have a more "macho" outlook on life than bitches, and if that attracts you, the male of the species will be your choice. Dogs are possibly more outgoing, on average a little harder to train, but often more responsive once trained.

They do not, of course, come into season twice a year, with the attendant bother of estrus discharges, and the attraction of all the dogs in the neighborhood. But it is the male dogs that are attracted, and if you have a male it could be yours that has to be dragged home each night from his wanderings. Dogs have been known to go to extreme lengths to escape into the night, when an available female has been detected.

On balance, if there is such a thing in this particular choice, the female is likely to make a better family pet. She is less likely to be aggressive, although dominance is as much a breed characteristic as it is related to the sex of the dog. Bitches are much less likely to try to wander for most of the year, and they are inclined to be more loving to their human family.

However, all of this discussion over which sex is better is truly a moot point, if you spay or neuter your dog, which we highly recommend. If you have no desire to bring more puppies into the world, then spay your female dog and neuter your male dog. When this type of surgery is performed before six months of age, and as early as 8 weeks, males and females display only minor differences, which might simply be differences in personalities. Dogs become sweeter and more loving, attentive and trainable. Bitches become more stable and self-confident. Spaying and neutering is good for the overall health and mental welfare of every dog.

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