Does gender matter?

[Juno]

So I've been considering getting Juno a friend since she desperately needs one. I know huskies tend to play better with other huskies, so while I'm looking around for a good breeder, I've been thinking. What better to ask these questions than here?

First off, do females get along with females (both spayed) or do they fight more?

Would it be better to get a male if I already have a dominant female, instead of another female?

What is the difference in temperament? I know that my female is sweet when she wants to be, mostly in the morning is when she's cuddly. She is weary of strangers, except when they're in her house. Most of the time, she just tolerates me when I grab her and hug her. She does follow me around the house like velcro, which I kind of like because I can keep track of what she's doing.

Do males have the typical male issues I see at the dog park, like starting fights, humping other dogs and marking behavior, even when fixed?

[Elyse]

So I've been considering getting Juno a friend since she desperately needs one. I know huskies tend to play better with other huskies, so while I'm looking around for a good breeder, I've been thinking. What better to ask these questions than here?

First off, do females get along with females (both spayed) or do they fight more?

Would it be better to get a male if I already have a dominant female, instead of another female?

What is the difference in temperament? I know that my female is sweet when she wants to be, mostly in the morning is when she's cuddly. She is weary of strangers, except when they're in her house. Most of the time, she just tolerates me when I grab her and hug her. She does follow me around the house like velcro, which I kind of like because I can keep track of what she's doing.

Do males have the typical male issues I see at the dog park, like starting fights, humping other dogs and marking behavior, even when fixed?

It really depends on the dog. For example, I know my boy is dominant...so if I were to get another male, unless if it was super submissive, they wouldn't get along very well.

(Besides, Suka likes the ladies. )

But, in general, you don't want 2 dominant dogs together...doesn't matter on the gender. You want, preferably, 1 dominant and 1 very submissive dog....to ensure the submissive won't suddenly get bold. However, generally submissives usually don't challenge the dominant one anyways.

The temperment, again, depends on the dog. I was told male huskies are more cuddly than the girls, but my boy is about as aloof and as non-cuddly as you could get!

He's neutered, but he still displays the typical un-neutered male behaviour at the dog park. (marking territory literally constantly, humping other dogs, etc). This may have been because he was neutered later in life (he's a rescue), or it may be due to his natural dominant personality.

Please consider adopting a dog instead, there are many huskies in need of homes! If you look at a husky rescue, you can request for a submissive dog because you already have a dominant girl to begin with.

Also, if you rescue, you'll already know the temperament of the dog so you can more easily find a match. If you get a puppy, you won't know what they are like until they are grown up...and by then its too late.

Read more on dog body language here, so if you meet a dog planning to get him/her, you can figure out what they are 'saying' to each other...so you can see if they will get along or not.

http://www.husky-owners.com/forum/showthread.php/30806-A-Guide-on-Dog-Body-Language

Edited December 12, 2012 by SolitaryHowl

[Juno]

We tried to adopt/rescue an abandoned husky at a local rescue recently, but they wouldn't let me bring Juno out to see if they got along, and they would only let us meet him if we filled some bogus applications, so screw them. There is another rescue that has a husky, but we don't adopt from them anymore since we had issues with the other puppy we got from them.

I want to get a husky from a good breeder that hip certifies them, so that I don't get a dog that will eventually be unable to walk. Juno is going to live for 10+ years, so I want that dog to live as long as she does and be able to keep up with her.

I know rescues do a lot for dogs, but I quit with rescues and kennels. I want a dog that I know what I'm getting in to, and rescues and kennels don't know enough to let me go on anything. Sure, I could pay $200-$250 for an adoption fee here, but for an extra $250, I get a healthy dog instead of whatever they pass off here as healthy. Plus, I love being able to trace lineage, and I want the option to show some day.

[Jakeo]

I can't add much to what Elyse said, but from what I've heard females seem to get along better with males than other females.

That sounds odd for a rescue, I can't think of a reason to fill out forms before even letting the dogs meet

I can understand the frustration but I wouldn't rule out rescues in general. I know I will most likely never get a dog from a Humane Society shelter again as I did with my first dog, but I found my boy Jake in a wonderful foster care system I found him through the petfinder website which I think has done a nice job of getting lesser known rescues out there.

That said if you plan on showing in confirmation, you would definitely want a puppy from a good breeder, but plan on spending lots if you plan on winning lots! My mother in law spent a few thousand on each of her pups easily, and traveled halfway across the country for them A good place to look for breeders would be at confirmation shows though.

If you're looking into agility or obedience, rescues can (and do!) participate in those

[MidnightPaws]

I have three females, 2 dominant and 1 submissive. We adopted Kay about 2 months ago and I knew nothing about her before getting her. She came from a kill shelter so when I saw her pic on petfinder I just couldn't let her be put down. Though I wanted to get a male because maya is dominant and from my limited experience and what I've heard from others females tend to be more dominant. But not all are.

So the first meeting went horrible, we introduced them on neutral ground too. Then when they met inside it was an immediate fight, I didn't even see who started it. They got into multiple fights after that too, at least 3-4 a day. Kay also doesn't have good doggie manners so she's quite rude and annoying. They don't hate each other, they even cuddle sometimes and often they next to each other. They just have some issues that need worked out.

I would have preferred getting a male and if I could go back in time I would have. My family only likes females since they think they don't hump. Maya and Kay hump, well they try too. Maya only humps Sophie, she tried to hump Kay but Kay wouldn't allow it. And Kay tries to hump other dominant dogs at the dog park. So it's not only males that hump contrary to my parents belief.

[Povodny]

I have two of each, my boyz are intact and although had a phase where they had issues. Sorted it out and get on fine. Girls hold grudges. Once they develop a problem with another female it is never solved, you can only manage it or rehome one.

Our female problems came about because of health issues. Someone mentioned dominant and submissive and it's fine if you get one of each temperament. Peppa couldn't be more submissive towards us, people in general or the boyz. But towards Safi? She'd fight to the death as would Safi with her. Like most things it basically comes down to the individual dog.

[Bec]

Nope, unless you are wanting to breed them sex is the last thing I'd look at when selecting a puppy.

[Marc]

Also, if you rescue, you'll already know the temperament of the dog so you can more easily find a match. If you get a puppy, you won't know what they are like until they are grown up...and by then its too late.

To add to this, I think the opposite about dogs. From a puppy you have more control over the behaviour as you train them to the way you want them to be trained. Its a lot more difficult (although by no means impossible) to train an older dog in comparison to one you have always had. Elyse's, info is excellent though and I purposely picked a point out that I actually disagree with for a reason. There are many differing opinions on how to do what, which is best, what methods to use for this that and the other, however the only one thing that most will agree with is to do as much research as possible and make your own choice in the same way as you did when you got the first. Find the answer that suits yourself best for the right reasons and you generally wont go wrong.

Male versus female? We only have males so wouldnt know, however I can say we have been told a few things such as brothers will fight, having 2 dominant dogs will cause serious issues, they should all be nutered or they will cause you problems etc etc and I dont think none of these things matter one bit if the time and effort is put into making them the huskies for you. For example ours go bananas when people come here that they know (excited), however mum and dads dont. We like it that way, mum and dad don't. Every person is different as well as every husky. What suits one person will not suit another.

[simhauu]

I know a female husky in our area who is dominant and although Ghost is very fond of humping, with this one, he was the one to get humped... As goes that males start fights with males, so can and do females with other females.

Also recently there have been researches I think that show that genetics in hip scored dogs doesn't always have to mean that the dog won't develop dysplasia. Walking too much and inconsistent when young and on bad surfaces and too much stairs when young all can add to it.

And you may want to look for eye scores as well.

[Elyse]

I know a female husky in our area who is dominant and although Ghost is very fond of humping, with this one, he was the one to get humped... As goes that males start fights with males, so can and do females with other females.

Also recently there have been researches I think that show that genetics in hip scored dogs doesn't always have to mean that the dog won't develop dysplasia. Walking too much and inconsistent when young and on bad surfaces and too much stairs when young all can add to it.

And you may want to look for eye scores as well.

Also a diet that is high in calcium while they're joints are still growing contributes to it too.

[Juno]

Yep, we looked at all of the genetic tests before getting her, because the original puppy we had was a nightmare.

The husky we were looking at before was with a rescue, not a humane society. You would think that they would be happy about me wanting to meet at a dog park, for example, to see how they get along, but they weren't willing to work with me on that. He was in a foster home, so it's not as though I was asking anything ridiculous. They wanted me to fill out forms first to see if I was serious and to see whether or not I was an approved home, but when they sent me the form, it was for cats.

I read somewhere about stairs being an issue, along with genetics and food. We feed great food, and her genetics are great, but I do have stairs that lead up to my room. I try to carry her down them, but sometimes she runs up the steps to get her toys or treats. I don't want to block off the stairs because she sleeps in my room during the night.

I totally get the whole "depends on the dog" thing. Juno was really quiet and scared when we brought her home, but now she torments Sadie. I guess I will just have to see about bringing her to the breeders to see what dog she gets along with

[Elyse]

Yep, we looked at all of the genetic tests before getting her, because the original puppy we had was a nightmare.

The husky we were looking at before was with a rescue, not a humane society. You would think that they would be happy about me wanting to meet at a dog park, for example, to see how they get along, but they weren't willing to work with me on that. He was in a foster home, so it's not as though I was asking anything ridiculous. They wanted me to fill out forms first to see if I was serious and to see whether or not I was an approved home, but when they sent me the form, it was for cats.

I read somewhere about stairs being an issue, along with genetics and food. We feed great food, and her genetics are great, but I do have stairs that lead up to my room. I try to carry her down them, but sometimes she runs up the steps to get her toys or treats. I don't want to block off the stairs because she sleeps in my room during the night.

I totally get the whole "depends on the dog" thing. Juno was really quiet and scared when we brought her home, but now she torments Sadie. I guess I will just have to see about bringing her to the breeders to see what dog she gets along with

I'm sorry you feel that way and that you had a bad experience. But from what I heard, its policy for a potential adopter to fill out forms and a home-check is performed - its just for the safety of the dog to ensure it won't be sent back to the rescue/etc. And perhaps when they sent you the cat form it was by mistake...they might have looked very similar.

Whatever you choose, I hope things work out for you. Keep us updated, eh?

[Juno]

OH yea, totally! I've been speaking with Juno's breeder and she referred me to a friend that shows. She will be having puppies sometime within the next few weeks and they will be ready to go in 2-3 months. They're limited, but I can get full registration if I co-own. Which works out because I don't know much about shows so she will help out a lot!

[Sheppard-Valli Huskies]

I work with sled dogs and we do EVERYTHING in Male-female pairs. simply to eliminate fighting. when we put them in the dog boxes to trasport them when they run in the team....everything. We can pretty much throw ANY female with ANY male and they do perfectly fine together. there are a FEW exceptions to the rule we have maybe two females in the whole kennel that will pick fights with males and there are a small handful of females that we can pair with other females. (not sure about males because we have more females than males and i havn't run into needing to pair two males yet)

But as far as house pets go.....if you are adding a new puppy it wont matter the gender. because your current dog will get to know it as it grows up. If you are adding an already grown dog...it will fully depend on the personality of the two dogs.

I think tho that as a general rule of thumb two females=Most likely to fight--two males=will possibly fight--male and female=not likely to fight(unless she is in heat and he is being 'flirty' when she isn't interested., but even then the most that will probably happen is she will growl and nip to say get lost-and that will be the end of it.)

[Bec]

Just re the point made about not knowing a pups temperament until it grows up, the genetics that form temperament are there from day one so if you know how to assess a litter you can select based on temperament. A puppy's temperament isn't an unknown quantity until it matures, it's genetics won't change. It can be shaped by its environment but you can't alter genetics

[Juno]

Ah okay, that's really helpful! I do like mature females more than mature males because I hate the humping everything that moves stage with un-neutered males.

Of course, whatever dog I get, I will most likely not get it fixed until a little later, because I do want to show with AKC. I hate the idea of not being able to fix the dog until much later, but it's either deal with the females heat twice a year or deal with a male starting fights at the park year round. I think I'll go with female

[Juno]

Submissive female that is... or maybe it will do Juno some good to have her butt kicked a few times by a more dominant female. Maybe then she will get off her high horse and learn she's not the only one in the family that gets love lol

[simhauu]

Ah okay, that's really helpful! I do like mature females more than mature males because I hate the humping everything that moves stage with un-neutered males.

Of course, whatever dog I get, I will most likely not get it fixed until a little later, because I do want to show with AKC. I hate the idea of not being able to fix the dog until much later, but it's either deal with the females heat twice a year or deal with a male starting fights at the park year round. I think I'll go with female

I do not really agree on the point that males start fights all year round. Due to issues with one dog in our building my dog does think that if he screams at the other dog he will provoke action (sometimes, not always) because a female used to and still does this to him. When we enter the building from a walk, and the female is there (mind you a small dog, highly socialised) she starts barking. My dog is now scared of this dog, and tries to get as far away as he can. He did pick from her the provoking. When I go out, besides these couple of times when he tries to provoke, he never starts a fight. He does what I call - responding to challenges.

If you train your dog he won't always start fights. Don't throw all males in the same group.

Btw, I do have an un-neutered male, and he doesn't hump everything. People, he tried to but was taught to stop it and now devotes his energy to a pillow. Outside, yes it's a little problem.

Edited December 17, 2012 by simhauu
typo