Bitches and dogs, what's the difference...

[andyb2]

I have a 2 year old dog (springer), my first ever gundog I have trained and he has been quite easy to train.

We are about to get a bitch springer, so I will report back and let you know if it was easier or harder.

[Springfield Pointers]

I have a 2 year old dog (springer), my first ever gundog I have trained and he has been quite easy to train.

We are about to get a bitch springer, so I will report back and let you know if it was easier or harder.

It's not about harder to train. It's about temperament.
You get both males and females that are hard or easy to train, it's about how they behave and relate to you and the job at hand.

[CockerCanuck]

Perhaps I am just better skilled as a ladies man (although it has never been suggested before )

I think that, in the context we are discussing, there is more truth in this statement than we realise...

I am not sure what SP had in mind with this comment but I have a theory. There is no single description of a great dog. It is like "beauty in the eye of the beholder". We all have our own definition of what is great. Through forums like this and lots of discussion with guys I train with I am gaining perspective. I am much more of a hunter (rough shooter) than a trialer. My dogs are all also house pets, friends and playmates for my children and now grandchildren. In this mix of expectations I perhaps value calm relaxed behaviour more than some others. I would be willing to give up a couple of degrees of high performance in the field in order to get a balanced and all round performer in the many expectations I have for my dogs.

It has been my experience that bitches "get this" quicker and more easily than males. I don't want to over reach here but I think human psychology studies have shown women are better "muli-taskers" than men. Perhaps because I expect multi-tasking from my dogs I get along better with bitches.

[Judy]

I wonder if there is any truth in the theory that women get on better with dogs and men with bitches? My first gundog was a bitch because that was all that was left in the litter, then I rescued a bitch and the rest is history. Its easier to have all the same sex when they are pets which live indoors with us so I have limited experience of training dogs only boarding a friend's Flatcoat dog from time to time. We got on very well but possibly only because his sister lived with us and he adored her!

[trekmoor]

I get on fine with both dogs and bitches but I do tend to "get physical" more quickly with a dog than with a bitch. I think there is something in the old theory that men get on better with bitches than with dogs. I often form a stronger bond with bitches than with dogs but some dogs ,while still being very "masculine," seem to form a very strong bond with me..... my cocker Charlie is one of them.

He is a bullying, demanding, over energetic little horror but we formed a very strong bond right from the start.

I have had no problems with any of my dogs chasing off after bitches in season but I have had two bitches , that when in season, would go chasing off after dogs !

I have noticed hormonal changes in bitches when in season cause a temporary seeming loss of scenting abilities when taken hunting ( sometimes they would easily find and point birds and very occasionally they could not.)

Wullie

[munstyman]

Springfield Pointers wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 4:35 am
CockerCanuck wrote: ↑Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:57 pm

Perhaps I am just better skilled as a ladies man (although it has never been suggested before )

I think that, in the context we are discussing, there is more truth in this statement than we realise...

I wonder if there is any truth in the theory that women get on better with dogs and men with bitches? My first gundog was a bitch because that was all that was left in the litter, then I rescued a bitch and the rest is history. Its easier to have all the same sex when they are pets which live indoors with us so I have limited experience of training dogs only boarding a friend's Flatcoat dog from time to time. We got on very well but possibly only because his sister lived with us and he adored her!

I found myself nodding in agreement with both these points, but I think there is an over lying factor to take into account. And that is what are the family living arrangements that the dog ( as a pup ) is moved into. Single person, couple or family with children. How the dog or bitch perceives itself in that situation or is allowed to gain a perception will I think determine how it responds to its trainer, and in turn how we may perceive its `character' towards us.

[Judy]

As you say a pup that is bred by a man or woman living alone or a pup that goes into a similar single sex ownership will regard other people differently.
All my pups, apart from this last one for some reason, have taken to the OG instantly and adored him until I start working them, they switch allegiance immediately and pretty much ignore him after, to the extent they wont go for a walk with him if I'm around, wont get in the car for him unless I'm already in there. Think this last one is brighter, she switched on to me from the start in spite of him looking after her while I picked up last season.

[ips]

Obviously i have no comparison but my girl sort of switches between lynn and i in fact she prefers it when we are all three however once my tweeds or cammo are on she is mine all mine. The other day pigeon shooting from a field at the back of mine (didnt even need to drive there just jumped over my fence) lynn brought me my lunch (yep, its posh pigeon shooting that i do ) and sat in the hide with us whilst consuming said lunch, eze ignored her completely she sat in her spot at the side of me (see previous pic) watching my body language intently, even refused a pork pie, (we are talking the dog not the wife). So although lynn has and does work her from time to time its me or rather the gun that she wants

[Nickheref]

Mine behave perfectly well for anyone in the family if I am away but pretty much ignore them if I am here. Long ago when my wife was still my girlfriend and keen to spend time with me she used to come picking up with me as it was the only chance we could be together on a Saturday in the shooting season. Once I marked a very long range runner down and as I was quite busy I sent my wife/gf with an old dog, who had spent a lot of time with her, to go and look for it. She tramped off into the far distance with the dog happily walking on a lead and when she got to the right area the moment my wife/gf let the dog off the lead the dog flicked two fingers at her and came racing back to me as fast as it could. I thought it was quite funny even though it meant I had to walk a long way later and miss lunch, my wife was less pleased!!

[ips]

Mine behave perfectly well for anyone in the family if I am away but pretty much ignore them if I am here. Long ago when my wife was still my girlfriend and keen to spend time with me she used to come picking up with me as it was the only chance we could be together on a Saturday in the shooting season. Once I marked a very long range runner down and as I was quite busy I sent my wife/gf with an old dog, who had spent a lot of time with her, to go and look for it. She tramped off into the far distance with the dog happily walking on a lead and when she got to the right area the moment my wife/gf let the dog off the lead the dog flicked two fingers at her and came racing back to me as fast as it could. I thought it was quite funny even though it meant I had to walk a long way later and miss lunch, my wife was less pleased!!

Ha, mine did similar on Monday, on seeing my wife walking across The field behind me with lunch bag i thought it would be nice if eze went to greet her (that and the fact that if i didnt release her she would run to her as soon as she saw her anyway ) so i release her "go find yer mum" (yep were soppy like that ) eze instantly runs 30yds to mum then turns quick as you like and runs back to the hide taking her position "on her spot" ....poor mum