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When it comes to male and female dogs, there are some differences that not every owner may be aware of. In general, male and female dogs look similar, but if you pay close attention to the overall appearance, behavior, and personality of the dog, it can be a telling sign whether it’s a male or a female dog.
There are very few differences between the different sexes of the same dog breed, and it may not matter to you whether your dog is male or female. However, some owners prefer a certain sex over another for personal reasons. This article has made it easy for you to distinguish the differences by informing you of the characteristics that separate a male dog from a female one to better understand any significance in the overall sex of your dog.
Visual Differences
At a Glance
- Male dogs have a penis
- Intact males have testicles between their back legs, while neutered males have a scrotum, a skin sac where the testicles used to be, which varies in size and appearance
- Males tend to be more robust in appearance than females, particularly around the head and neck
- Male dogs will generally weigh more than females of the same breed
- Female dogs have a vulva
- Females tend to be smaller than males of the same breed
Male & Female Dogs 101
The overall difference between the male and female dog you own depends on the specific breed. For example, the male Labrador tends to be more robust than a female, may be taller, and weigh more, but there are some individual variations. Female dogs are generally smaller and weigh less, but this is an approximation based on adult healthy dogs of adequate body weight, not those that are underweight or overweight. Mixed-breed dogs may produce offspring where the puppies in the litter vary significantly in size and appearance, and females can be larger than males.
A dog’s personality, besides gender, will largely be influenced by their upbringing, socialization, training, neutered status, and experiences they gathered early on in life. There is no typical female or male dog personality, as each animal is an individual, but there are some traits that seem more common in one than the other. However, this is not a general rule.
Male Dog Overview
Personality / Character
Male dogs may seem to have a more playful and active personality, striving to please their owners. However, male dogs can also be docile, and there are a lot of factors that influence a dog’s temperament and personality. Intact males may become territorial and be fixated on females, while neutered males generally lose this interest. Males also may take longer to mature, both physically, sexually, and emotionally.
Training
Due to the increased stamina and vigor, but also the process of sexual maturation and development, male dogs can sometimes be more challenging to train, but this is not always true and will depend on each dog’s individual character. Their boisterousness and physical strength will have an impact on the way they perform during training and physical exercise. Both male and female dogs are intelligent and receptive to being trained.
Health & Care
A healthy male dog should have very few health problems if they are regularly examined by the vet, have received all their preventative health treatments, are fed a good diet, and are cared for properly. Speak to your veterinarian about neutering your male dog and the best time for this to be done, based on their age, breed, size and personality.
Both males and females can be predisposed to certain health issues based on their neutered status, breed, and age, or they can acquire them later in life due to many environmental factors, inadequate care, insufficient exercise, and a deficient or inappropriate diet.
Breeding
Male dogs are more likely to search for a female to mate, especially ones that haven’t been neutered. Males sniff out female pheromones to see if the female in question is in heat, which means she is becoming ready to mate. They may escape their home or roam, mark their territory through urination, and sometimes even be aggressive toward other male dogs they encounter.
- Stronger and robust (may also be a disadvantage for some owners)
- Possible stronger urge to protect their family
- Specific male reproductive health issues
- Unneutered males frequently mark their territory
- Tendency to escape and roam in search of females, if not neutered
Female Dog Overview
Personality / Character
Female dogs may be calmer and gentler, but this is not a rule. Some are as energetic as males, if not more. It will largely depend on their breed, age, socialization, and the amount of physical exercise and environmental enrichment. Generally, bored or frustrated pups, male or female, tend to be more prone to mischief.
Training
Female and male dogs can be equally intelligent, and there are variations between breeds depending on the breed group type, the purpose for which they were bred, heritage, and genetics, as well as differences between individual dogs. Female dogs can learn the same types of tricks and can be trained just the same as male dogs. Like male dogs, females can have similar energy levels, and this will depend on their age, breed, level of fitness, and personality.
Health & Care
Both male and female dogs can get the same illnesses, except when it comes to reproductive problems that are gender-based. Female dogs have an increased risk of certain gender-specific reproductive disorders and illnesses based on their neutered status, such as mammary tumors and pyometra or an infection of the uterus in unspayed females. There is a lot of research on the impact of neutering and spaying, particularly when performed early, on the risks of certain ailments in dogs, and it’s important to speak to your vet about the benefits and potential risks associated with spaying your female dog.
Breeding
Breeding your female dog should be avoided if possible. There is no necessary medical reason for your dog to have a litter of puppies, which is why so many veterinarians recommend spaying your dog when they are the right age and size.
- Less interest in roaming, particularly in spayed females
- Generally less territorial but greatly dependent on personality
- Smaller than males
- Unspayed females experience regular heat behavior
- Prone to certain health issues if unspayed
Which Sex Is Preferred?
The owner’s personal preference plays a major role in the sex and breed of dog they want to own. Each individual has a preferred sex of the canine companion they want, whereas some merely do not mind the sex of the dog at all. Certain dog breeds should not be overlooked because of their sex-based stereotypes, such as the popular belief that male owners should have a male dog or vice versa. If you find a dog that you like, the sex does not make much of a difference.
Do Male or Female Dogs Live Longer?
Sex does not seem to play a significant role in the longevity of a dog. Every dog breed has an average lifespan that is not guaranteed. Many dogs who are healthy and well looked after have the potential to exceed the general length of their breed’s lifespan. A study done by Hoffman et al. in 2017 reported a subtle lifespan advantage of intact males compared to females, while spayed females seemed to live longer than neutered males. Neutering and its timing have a bigger impact on lifespan than gender. Another study conducted at the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation showed that female dogs live longer if their ovaries are not removed early in life. There is a great need for further research in this field to characterize factors responsible for longevity in dogs better.
Every dog has the potential to live a different length of life. Illness, health risks, predispositions, and genetics play a huge role in the overall lifespan of your dog, but there is no way to determine how long that will be, so make the most of every single day.
Pee Stance and Anatomical Differences
It is visually clear that there are certain differences in the physical appearance and external genital anatomy of female dogs in comparison to male dogs. The females’ genitals and anus are closer together and sit underneath the tail, whereas male dogs’ genitals are further apart. Most male dogs will lift their legs when they pee, or even pee against a vertical object like a wall or tree in the garden, in order to mark their territory. Whereas females will squat their back legs to pee. However, some females will pee with one of back their legs up, and some male dogs will squat down to pee.
Which Sex Is Right for You?
Sex does not matter to most dog owners, but some people may prefer one sex over another. All dog shelters will have a varying amount of male and female dogs, which gives you plenty of options to choose your ideal dog breed and your preferred gender in a dog. Keep in mind that while there are certainly distinct differences between male and female dogs, it does not mean that it applies to every single individual dog. It is best to take a look at all the different dogs available for adoption and see which one catches your eye, whether it is a male or female dog will rarely matter once you take the dog into your loving home, but personal preferences are perfectly normal.
We hope that this article has helped to inform you of the main differences between male and female dogs. By using the information in the article, you will be able to determine which gender of a dog is more suitable for you and your family.
Featured Image Credit: (Male) belu gheorghe, Shutterstock (Female) David Pegzlz, Shutterstock
