Must a new dog be male?

[SummerRose]

I’m thinking about getting another dog. The current resident dog is a 3 yo female. She has never shown any sign of aggression towards any other dog. She can be over-enthusiastic with other dogs but she’ll act submissive and back off if another dog tells her to.

Growing up, my family usually had up to four dogs at a time, always mixed groups of males and females. We had one set of males who were a challenge to integrate but we never had fighting among the females.

I’ve read that it’s best to have a male and a female vs two females in a household.

In the vast experience of COTH dog owners, how true is that? Are there mitigating or aggravating factors?

[Simkie]

I have had only same sex (female) pairs. I’ve never had an issue.

Some breeds may be more likely to have same sex aggression than others, I’ve read.

[OverandOnward]

I have no idea, but a friend couple has two females. The first one (boxer mix) was about 6 yo when the second older pup [border collie mix] was introduced. Friends followed the rules on introduction, the dogs get along well.

Dog #1, the boxer mix, has always been a very well-behaved dog, lots of energy but a chill personality. Dog #2, the bc mix, is a hot ball of fire and is often being scolded for the latest impulsive high-energy behavior.

#2 is currently under a new professionally-guided training regime. There have never been problems between the dogs, the problem is with one of the owners, who expects dogs to , you know, behave themselves. With respect and situational awareness. #2 isn’t there yet. But she’s smart and trying. Apprx. 2 yo.

The other owner has been very lenient. The entire human-dog family recognizes that there need to be some changes all around – well, changes for everyone except Dog #1, who is the perfect child. But #1 and #2 still get along well despite their different status in the family (for now).

[LookinForSpace]

@SummerRose

I’ve read that it’s best to have a male and a female vs two females in a household.

That’s always a good idea, and Least likely to have issues down the road. Yes, it does depend on breed and individual, but as a general rule, it has the best chance of success.

One consideration is that the dogs can be fine together for a year or two, then develop aggression towards each other that can be Very difficult to manage. When you’ve had the second dog since puppyhood and for a couple of years, it’s hard to give that dog up. Yet it can be literally dangerous for the dogs, and the humans, if serious aggression comes up.

A second female MIGHT be perfectly fine, especially in breeds that tend to do well in packs.

[endlessclimb]

We are an all female household, 4 dogs. We wouldn’t consider a male - both my husband and I prefer females.

Never a serious issue. Some bickering, but that was a dog with a somewhat fresh TPLO vs a puppy. It subsided as the TPLO fully healed.

[jherold]

2 females may get along and they might not. It would add an element of risk that you just wont have with a male puppy.

It’s no fun if they decide not to get along. I had two that were very bonded until the younger decided she wanted to be in charge at about 2 yrs of age. The last fight resulted in one with a broken leg and the other almost lost an eye. I had to keep them separate for the rest of their lives.

They say males fight for breeding rights but females fight for breathing rights.

[SummerRose]

I forgot to pay the picture tax. She’s the one on her back.

A somewhat more dignified pic:

[Pico_Banana]

We have successfully had a pair of females. They were wonderful with each other for the most part, but one of them was so laid back she would have gone along with anything.

I now have two females and a male. No issues between the two girls. But all three of them are pretty chill personalities. They compete to see who WON’T be alpha.

[Bonnie2]

We have always had multiple females, always got along. The little sisters tend to love the older sisters more than vice versa. We worried a bit about one strong minded female who did NOT suffer fools, especially foolish male puppies. But she was great with “her” puppy. If you get an adult dog it may take a little more accustoming. Personally I think an adult female dog would be more likely to get along with another female than a male.

[ET_s_Home]

entirely breed dependant. what breed is your current dog and what would be the new dog?

[George_T_Mule]

We currently have two girls; we had three, but our eldest passed last year. Other than the usual K9 jealousy’s, no problems.
We have also kept a mixed population without issues.
Maybe off topic, but we usually stagger new additions such that they are about 4 years apart. Two puppies together can be a problem (destruction), and by staggering their ages, the youngest learn appropriate behavior from the older dogs, so generally “basic training” is unnecessary. A huge bonus in my book :-).

[luvmyhackney]

It depends.

I have a beagle male and a heeler mix female. They get along well with a few disagreements but nothing serious. Heeler mix is super bossy and nags him. My grand dog is female and gets along with my female better than the male. She’s too much energy for him.

I think personalities matter way more than gender.

[SummerRose]

@George_T_Mule

Maybe off topic, but we usually stagger new additions such that they are about 4 years apart. Two puppies together can be a problem (destruction), and by staggering their ages, the youngest learn appropriate behavior from the older dogs, so generally “basic training” is unnecessary. A huge bonus in my book :-).

I like that theory! Jazz would make an excellent role model for a puppy.

[SummerRose]

@luvmyhackney

I think personalities matter way more than gender.

Jazz can get a little overexcited around new dogs but she generally has an excellent temperament. I’ve never seen her show any aggression towards other dogs. I don’t think food aggression would be a problem with her because she literally lets the cats push her away from her food and steal the toys she’s actively playing with.

In fact, she offers her toys to the cats and is always so disappointed when they won’t play tug-of-war. She needs a dog to play with.

Sex of puppy aside, the challenge will be for me to identify the personality in a puppy that will work with my household. But I very much appreciate everyone’s input! It sounds like it is very often fine to introduce a new female but it can also go very badly wrong.

Regarding breed, her sire was pure beagle and her dam was mostly pit bull with a bit of beagle/mutt genetics. I can’t begin to make any assumptions about her behavior and so far, she’s pretty much shown all the positive stereotypical traits and virtually none of the negative. I love beagles, but who’d have thought a beagle would excel at obedience?

(Marie is very much the boss of the household. Dog included.)

ETA: and yes, I understand that her behavior with the cats would not necessarily mean that she would behave the sane way with a female dog sharing the house. She lets her male “cousin” who sometimes visits steal her food and toys, too, and she has has always backed down for both male and female dogs if they’ve gotten irritated by her exuberance.

[SummerRose]

And the breeds I’m considering are collie or sheltie. Yes, I know they’re very different breeds but I like both of them. I’d prefer a sheltie because of their size and they are often good at agility, but they tend to be “talkative.”

[George_T_Mule]

SummerRose, I’ll add another thing that occurred to me while reading back thru this thread:
When you bring a new puppy into a doggy household, the tendency is to fawn upon it. And that’s fine, to an extent, but be sure to give equal time (at least) to your existing animal(s), and be sure to let them know that they’re still The One.
And don’t be too harsh with 'em if they get after the new puppy, at least not as long as it doesn’t appear to be life threatening. In general, they’ll work things out on their own, and getting mad with the older dog will only escalate the issue. The Puppy should remain the “low man on the totem pole” until they earn higher status.

[MunchingonHay]

I have always had male puppies from the pound and they get fixed at a very young age. I have had two boys together, boy and girl (unaltered) together and now two unaltered females. (pup will be fixed this Sept/oct she just had her first heat)

Current situation:
Lilly (pup) can be pushy and Buma (8) is so much more passive. So I make sure Buma is first for everything; fed, thru the door, in the car, get first treat, etc. Lilly has to sit and wait for her turn.

I feel that bringing a puppy into a household compared to bringing in an older dog is easier for everyone regardless of sex.

[Mango20]

I’m on my third pair of females (4 dogs total, two at a time). I’ve never had a problem. With my current pair, the younger one will randomly guard random resources (a sock, a cardboard box, a toy) from the older one, who couldn’t care less. It never escalates beyond tense body language and a growl, then the older dog just goes a little farther away. I think this resource guarding would be the same if our other dog was a male.

[libgrrl]

I did a lot of work with a local open access animal shelter. The most heartbreaking surrenders were households that had two dearly loved females that grew to hate each other to the point of being a danger to one another.

Sadly, I had my own experience with this a few years later. I had two that began to turn on each other, and I eventually needed to “crate and rotate” until one of them was euthanized for health reasons. I hope to never, ever have that situation again. I kept thinking I could control the triggers, but they got worse and worse to the point that I eventually had my hand ripped open trying to intervene. Once in a lifetime is more than enough for me. This is far from the case with all multi-female households, but in the bad cases, it is horrible.

[ET_s_Home]

I think with a Beagle and other hounds, you are probably okay with same sex pairs. Remember, they are often worked in packs!

Any breed in the working group would probably be a no go. I have Dobermans and Same Sex Aggression is real in this breed. They are bred to be alert, defensive and stand their ground. my male dog played with his litter brother until 6 months when both decided the other must die. He’s now 2 and won’t back down from anything. He has been able to play with a black lab male but that dog was the happiest dog you could ever meet and would never challenge a flea.