Our current dog is a 4-year-old black lab. He's from a show line, very gentle, castrated at 1 year, playful with other dogs, food obsessed, has never shown the slightest aggression to other dogs or humans. We have a choice from a litter of foxred labs. We know the Mum and a male dog from her first litter (this is her second and by the same sire). Both of them are wonderful dogs, gun trained, steady and great pals with our Harley. So we have no questions about the suitability of the litter EXCEPT we don't know whether to choose a male or female pup. We have a slight preference for male dogs (no rational reason why) but have been advised that introducing a female pup to the home is better where the current dog is male. So my question: Do we opt for a female pup or a male?
Over the years I have combinations of both male and female. I had a male and female who were inseparable, then she died and we got a male pup. The two males , both intact were inseparable. Then the male died, so I got a female pup and the male never warmed to her. I think what I am trying to say is, it’s all down to individual personalities and you won’t really know how they get on until they live together. Good luck with your choice.
Thanks for your reply. We are encouraged by our boy's being so happy with every dog he meets and feel he will take well to a new sibling! But, as you say, we won't really know until we get the little one home.
I suspect by his nature you will be fine either way. Good luck and be sure to come back and post some pics of your new addition
Boys are so much easier as you don't have to worry about keeping then separated (even though he's castrated) when she is in season which will probably be at least twice before she's spayed. I currently have 8 dogs of my own, 4 boys, 4 girls and don't have any issues with boys with boys and mine are all intact.
Thanks for posting this and very timeky as we are considering another lab. Our girl is 2yrs and is chocolate and same again don't know to get a male or female...
All of ours have been girls, but we dog sit a Male Sammie almost every day. They are are all best friends. I probably would not want an un-spayed female with un-neuted males. You could live with it for one or two seasons until she was full grown.
We always try to have one of each sex. Right now we have an almost 4 year old female spayed female and an almost 6 month old unaltered male. They play all day long and seem to really love each other. I think having one of each is nice because they dont really have the 'alpha' competition. The personalities of dogs is hard to determine. When we first got our puppy we thought he was going to be really calm. Wrong! He is pretty intense. He is very sweet but an 'in your face' kind of dog. Our older lab is not at all. She has always been super gentle. So you never know what you'll get. My dogs are from the same breeder, and actually have the same mom (different dads).
