Lab Dog or Bitch?

[Contender]

In my experience it all comes down to 1) breeding 2) training - all this stuff about a 'bitch is less head strong' is an old wife's tale. When men brings this up about bitches being any easier, my reply is normally: 'Is your wife any easier because she's a woman?' and low and behold, they all buy a dog pup, lol. Some might prefer a bitch to a dog because they tend to be slightly smaller and some have plans to a litter of pups later so they get a bitch. If I wasn't breeding and keeping my own little line going here then I would have dogs only as they don't come into season (you can of course get it spayed).

Lots of very nice and well bred litters out there so try and do some research with regards to lines and see both sire and dam if you can and pick a pup from a breeder that you feel is open and honest. Also beware that there are now some breeders that will not sell to people with children (of younger age) or to a pet home - nothing personal it's just their decision. Others are happy to sell to active pet homes, people whom are prepared to do some training as even the most well bred puppies do not pop out fully trained..

Natasha

[Callthatagundog]

People tend to have a preference for either dogs or bitches and the preference will colour your judgement.

We currently have both lab bitches and a lab dog but over the years my preference has always been for bitches therefore I have more experience with them. There is the obvious problem with bitches coming into season and the accompanying racking up of hormones which in turn can lead to behavioural change. I don't tend to notice apart from being able to say X is coming into season through reading the body language (bolder yet simultaneously more clingy, less tolerant of other dogs, etc.)

I have found my lab dogs to be more full on and in your face - not in a hectic jumping around way, but in an attitude way. This of course is compounded when there is a bitch in season about.

All of ours are family as well as working dogs and I therefore have expectations (trained for) on how the dog would behave around children, other dogs and in different locations/situations. I can honestly say that I have never considered behavioural issues in this scenario to be a gender thing. Rather it comes down to the dogs personality and my training/socialising.

My advice is to go with your gut/preference, which I suspect is leaning towards a dog, and then concentrate on socialisation and training (including training of family members!), once the basics are in place join a gundog training group and ratchet it up a notch.

Good luck.

Sarah xx

[trekmoor]

I have had bitches and dogs, they were all gundogs and family pets. I had no real problems with either sex in the house or as gundogs. I don't really have a preference except to say that bitches come into season twice a year and that can make life a bit more troublesome if "Romeo" pet dogs are allowed to run loose in your area.

Choose where you buy your pup from carefully, get recommendations about a breeder before going to see any litters if you possibly can.

Wullie

[Cass]

I've never had labs but lots of other dogs and mainly females. I will say though that I prefer males. I just find in my experience, all the males I have had have been much more affectionate than the females. Maybe coincidence, who knows. I currently have a male and female - and again the male is much more loving. The female can be too but its on her terms. Most of the time she just does her own thing, whereas the male sees people as the sun in his sky lol.

[dandogman]

Little difference to be honest. I have had both, both have been lovely dogs, affectionate etc... it's more in the breeding and the training!

I must say, I do prefer the bitches though.

[Woody72]

Dogs are less emotional lol bitches can go off the boil during seasons. Dogs are straight forward , however they can become testosterone driven and a problem for novice handlers. It's all about getting a good match tbh

[shamykebab]

Dogs are less emotional lol bitches can go off the boil during seasons. Dogs are straight forward , however they can become testosterone driven and a problem for novice handlers. It's all about getting a good match tbh

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