The short answer is: yes. The personality differences can most clearly be seen between females and intact (non-neutered) males. Males can be more dominant, territorial, and easily distracted than female dogs.
If you have lots of people in and out for gatherings or like to take your dog into public places, a female may be the best choice. If you have several dogs or intend to add to your canine family, a male may be a better fit. Females tend to have more problems with anxiety and phobias.
There are a few general personality differences between male and female dogs. Males tend to be more affectionate, and females tend to socialise more easily, for example.
ARE MALE DOGS MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN FEMALE DOGS? Both male and female dogs have the ability to show aggression but the statistics show that “entire” (not neutered) male dogs are more likely to show aggression than female dogs or neutered males.
Female dogs tend to reach maturity faster than males. Making training slightly easier than with a male dog the same age. But male dogs are not impossible to train just need more patience and guidance.
Even though there are some established behavioral and physiological differences between male and female dogs, biological gender doesn't play a huge role in the animal's personality as a whole. "There is very little scientific research into whether a male or female dog makes a better pet.
Approximately 35% of owners and trainers voted 8-9 months as the toughest age citing new challenging behaviors associated with their puppy's now larger size such as pulling on the leash or counter-surfing.
Studies show, for example, that due to higher testosterone levels, intact male dogs between eighteen months and two years of age have a greater incidence of aggression than females or neutered males.
Dominate behavior can occur in any breed of dog and it can occur in both males and females, though it's more common in males. In most cases, dominant behavior occurs when a dog has reached maturity, somewhere between one and three years old.
“If a dog is taken care of by a female, they're more likely to prefer females, [whereas] if they're primarily taken care of by a male, they may prefer males.”
Having a multi-dog home can be great, but it's not for everyone or every dog. Many dogs thrive in a home with other pups, but not all can adjust. For example, if your dog isn't comfortable around other dogs, bringing home another puppy might not be the best choice.
Is a Dog More Protective of Female Keepers? This isn't a general rule, but some pets are more likely to exhibit protective behavior with female keepers. This is because women generally have a softer voice and are gentler whenever they care for the dog.
Although males are typically the dominant sex in mammals, the authors note that females obtain power differently than their male counterparts, and that this power depends on the type of mating system the species employs.
One long-standing myth about dogs, is that female dogs tend to be more loyal than their male counterparts. This myth has passed down generations of dog breeders and dog lovers. And can be traced back as far as when dogs were wild and living in packs.
However, there is no scientific evidence that males tend to smell stronger than females. Female dogs can smell differently during heat, especially if they do not groom themselves. Similarly, the smell changes after neutering because the hormone balance changes.
The age of onset of dominance-related aggression is most commonly thought to be at social maturity around two years of age. However, it has been described in very young dogs (i.e. five months) and can also occur in older dogs.
Whether or not dogs are more attracted to one gender can't be objectively answered because all dogs and people are different. But, dogs generally tend to be more attracted to a specific set of behaviors that are exhibited mostly by adult women. It's not that dogs are exclusively attracted to female adults.
Breaking Eye Contact
In the wild, alphas put betas and omegas in their place with a decisive stare. If your dog breaks eye contact with you first, this is a dramatic sign of them viewing you as the alpha. It also demonstrates that you can discipline your dog with nothing more than a look.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months). During this time, they'll often test their owners, seeing what they can get away with. Being firm and consistent with your training will help establish boundaries.
Most puppies start to calm down as they approach their maturity age, which is usually around 12 months, but for larger breeds it can be more likely to occur between 18 months and 2 years.
6 Months - 1 Year Old
Your puppy should know all of their basic commands and have a solid foundation of potty training, crate training, and socialization. From this point on, you will continue to work with your puppy to reinforce what they have already learned!
Generally, puppies start to calm down when they reach emotional maturity — around 1 year old. However, some dog breeds take longer to reach adulthood and emotional maturity. In those cases, puppies may not mellow out until they hit 18 months to 3 years old.
Having your pup socialise and giving them basic training helps them grow into confident adult dogs. Training your pup starts with the week you bring them home, typically 8 weeks of age. At this age they are able to quickly grasp the commands to sit, stand, stay and come.