As a breeder and dog trainer, I have often come across the statement that a female dog is easier to train than a male dog.
Many times you also see it play out in the price of the puppy, where the difference is sometimes up to 1/3 more expensive for bitches. As a trainer, however, I experience that the males are a little more on the dole than the bitches as young dogs, but at the top level it seems that the males' extra gear benefits them.
So why is it that we still come across the expression that a female dog is easier to have than a male dog? Is there any scientific evidence to support this statement or is it just another myth that is alive and well in today's Denmark?
Hormones are raging
The most obvious difference between the sexes is of course the bitch's heat periods and here it is different how it unfolds, both from bitch to bitch, but also from heat to heat. For some, this may mean that activities must be stopped for periods. But if we look beyond this obvious difference, hormones also have another meaning in relation to how the difference is experienced between males and females.
Since the male dog is more controlled by his hormones throughout the year, it can seem to disrupt his daily life more than the female dog. They can seem to be more on edge all the time and it is said among male dog owners that “they are in heat all year round”. Although this may seem like a hindrance to many, it can actually be easier to deal with than the fluctuating hormones that the female dog has.
It's no big deal that female dogs mature earlier than male dogs. We see this in almost all mammals, and we know for ourselves how "stupid" the boys were in the oldest grades of elementary school.
As a family dog or training dog, it is seen that the big differences come during this period. It seems that the bitches are easier to train during this period, which can give an advantage in the long run, but that does not mean that they are also more intelligent, just that they have matured faster. The males usually come after that, just a few periods after their body and brain mature.
Science
There are very few studies that show how the sex of dogs affects their cognitive intelligence, which is the closest I could find on this topic. A 2011 study, from the University of Vienna, included 50 dogs divided 25/25 by sex and showed that bitches were better at keeping focus on the tennis ball than males. BUT they also concluded that bitches were much more dependent on vision than males.
This is because the bitches have to keep their focus on a pack of puppies using their vision, whereas the male's tasks do not involve vision to the same extent. In addition, the study showed no other differences than the already known factors of hormones and age. Have we become much more knowledgeable about why the statement continues to appear in today's Denmark (and the rest of the world)?
Not immediately. There may be other factors that apply to the choice of gender, but whether a female dog is lighter than a male dog or more intelligent is still not scientifically proven.
I am a big fan of male dogs myself, but I also prefer their more “silly” approach to tasks as young dogs. My bitches are sharper, but it is far from an advantage every time, but a necessity to have in the pack as a breeder.
So should our focus be more on the chemistry between puppy and buyer, rather than gender? Are we being guided too much by what the norm says or even the gender we usually have?
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my greatest interest lies in dog sports. I own 3 hunting dogs, who are with me (almost) everywhere, to trials, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. As a hunting dog trainer and breeder, it is a joy to share my thoughts on the dogs as active working dogs.
Besides my daily work, I always have a lot of dog stuff going on, including as a writer for "HUNDEN" and a consultant for Essential Foods.
Battle of the sexes
As a breeder and dog trainer, I have often come across the statement that a female dog is easier to train than a male dog.
Many times you also see it play out in the price of the puppy, where the difference is sometimes up to 1/3 more expensive for bitches. As a trainer, however, I experience that the males are a little more on the dole than the bitches as young dogs, but at the top level it seems that the males' extra gear benefits them.
So why is it that we still come across the expression that a female dog is easier to have than a male dog? Is there any scientific evidence to support this statement or is it just another myth that is alive and well in today's Denmark?
Hormones are raging
The most obvious difference between the sexes is of course the bitch's heat periods and here it is different how it unfolds, both from bitch to bitch, but also from heat to heat. For some, this may mean that activities must be stopped for periods. But if we look beyond this obvious difference, hormones also have another meaning in relation to how the difference is experienced between males and females.
Since the male dog is more controlled by his hormones throughout the year, it can seem to disrupt his daily life more than the female dog. They can seem to be more on edge all the time and it is said among male dog owners that “they are in heat all year round”. Although this may seem like a hindrance to many, it can actually be easier to deal with than the fluctuating hormones that the female dog has.
It's no big deal that female dogs mature earlier than male dogs. We see this in almost all mammals, and we know for ourselves how "stupid" the boys were in the oldest grades of elementary school.
As a family dog or training dog, it is seen that the big differences come during this period. It seems that the bitches are easier to train during this period, which can give an advantage in the long run, but that does not mean that they are also more intelligent, just that they have matured faster. The males usually come after that, just a few periods after their body and brain mature.
Science
There are very few studies that show how the sex of dogs affects their cognitive intelligence, which is the closest I could find on this topic. A 2011 study, from the University of Vienna, included 50 dogs divided 25/25 by sex and showed that bitches were better at keeping focus on the tennis ball than males. BUT they also concluded that bitches were much more dependent on vision than males.
This is because the bitches have to keep their focus on a pack of puppies using their vision, whereas the male's tasks do not involve vision to the same extent. In addition, the study showed no other differences than the already known factors of hormones and age. Have we become much more knowledgeable about why the statement continues to appear in today's Denmark (and the rest of the world)?
Not immediately. There may be other factors that apply to the choice of gender, but whether a female dog is lighter than a male dog or more intelligent is still not scientifically proven.
I am a big fan of male dogs myself, but I also prefer their more “silly” approach to tasks as young dogs. My bitches are sharper, but it is far from an advantage every time, but a necessity to have in the pack as a breeder.
So should our focus be more on the chemistry between puppy and buyer, rather than gender? Are we being guided too much by what the norm says or even the gender we usually have?
Behind the scenes of this week's blogger
My name is Cynthia Jensen and my greatest interest lies in dog sports. I own 3 hunting dogs, who are with me (almost) everywhere, to trials, exhibitions and not least on the hunt. As a hunting dog trainer and breeder, it is a joy to share my thoughts on the dogs as active working dogs.
Besides my daily work, I always have a lot of dog stuff going on, including as a writer for "HUNDEN" and a consultant for Essential Foods.