Should I get a boy or girl puppy?
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Welcome to the forum Nicola!  Congratulations on getting a puppy! It's such an exciting time while you're waiting and getting prepared for their arrival.
Boy vs Girl is always a good question and it really just depends on your preference in the end. I had always had female dogs until I got Beaureguard. I couldn't tell you why I decided I wanted a male, I just did. But, he's been the most loving adorable puppy I could've asked for. He's nine months old now and is just a sweetheart. Personally, we haven't had too much trouble with him peeing on himself. They tend to do the "lean forward" thing instead of lifting their legs, so there is some splash.
About six or seven weeks ago, I also adopted a female. She's a real charmer who will be 2 years old in October. No sanitary issues with her at all. She's been spayed, too, so there won't be any messy heat cycles. There are advantages to both sexes and I'm sure some of the others on the board will be happy to give their thoughts & share their experiences. You've come to the right place for all things sheepie!! |
| Hi Nicola,
I've had both a male and a female. I think Beauregard's mom is right...it depends on what you are looking for. I've heard that males are more affectionate than the females are (not that the females aren't affectionate, though). I've always been a female animal kind of girl, but when the opportunity to get Barney (my 11 month old male sheepie) came, I jumped on it. He is super sweet and affectionate. He's more stubborn than my last girl sheepie, but that could also just be personality and not gender. Maybe you could give your breeder the top 3 things you are looking for personality-wise in your puppy and see if she thinks she has a puppy that matches that description. Male/Female--you can't lose either way! Oh, and the peeing on themselves thing is not a big deal. A few times when Barney was younger and less coordinated he peed on his front leg (he decided that it was okay to pee while still sitting!) but as he's gotten older, he rarely gets himself--just a splash every now and then. |
| Bailey never pees on himself, not even when he was a puppy. I thank my lucky stars whenever I read a post about that! |
| I think male dogs, in general, are less moody than females. I have a male and a female now and, although I love Lucy with all my heart, Clyde is so much more affectionate and happy all the time. Of course, age could have something to do with that too. We always had male dogs growing up too. I guess it's just what I prefer. I also like that boys are bigger!
Also, the peeing thing isn't a big enough thing that it should influence your decision, I don't think. For us it's just second nature to clean Clyde up if he splashes or hits his foot, which isn't all the time. You love them so much stuff like that won't matter! |
| Okay, here's my 2 cents...I love having a girl...she isnt moody at all, she is low maintenance for a "girl"...wish I could say the same for my stepdaughter...lol Id call her a tom boy....nothing ladylike about her |
| I picked a boy so he could be the man of house.. shh dont tell my fiance that. |
Boys rule, girls drool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
| We have a girl, and she isn't remotely moody ............ever. Of course it could be just "her" ...and not the gender as others have mentioned.
As a puppy , maybe still now, ...peed on her back legs whenever she went ...........and every time she went. We went several months before we ever saw white back legs. 
She doesn't have any aggression issues either. Always happy and my husband and I both think the most affectionate dog we've ever encountered! |
I've always had boy sheepies! And girl cats...don't ask me why!  The peeing oopsies are not that bad...I personally find that "messy bum", you know, "will knots" are the thing to look foward too with sheepies, and that is a genderless issue.
All my boys have never been aggressive, Gucci actually is the most non-aggressive dog I've ever known! I honestly think that it is a personality thing, not nessesarily a gender thing. Colleen and The Gooch=>BOYS ARE COOL! But I'm not saying I don't LOVE the ladies!  |
| All of mine are girls. We have a rescue male but he is not a OES.
Fergie is very happy puppy. No moods. |
| Hi,
let your heart decide!!! Take a seat in front of the hole group of babies...and take the first one, who is coming to you..... We did it this way with our female Bonny.it will work..hahaha Greetings from Germany Michael |
| Hi! We just got a boy puppy and we love him. I wanted a boy, but wasn't oppossed to a female- wanted to see who we fell in love with. And Bogart has stollen my heart- he is such a sweet cuddle bug!!! |
Nicola wrote: Hi. I am probably going to be annoying you all quite a bit with all sorts of questions over the next while. I have never had a OES and have put a deposit down on one. I had chosen a male but now after reading posts about the males peeing on themselves I am wondering should I change it to a female. What does everyone think? What a re the benefit of each sex? well i have just orded my thired old english sheepdog as the other two have died but i have always had males they have been realy good friends so i would pick boys again but the girls are so sweet you must look as see the best for you sue good hunting well i have had t wo now and have just ordered my thired as the last o ne has just died i have always had males they seem to me to make verey good friends |
| I've always had female dogs... until we got Rufie. My husband insisted he need more on his "team!" (Parents of 4 girls!) I couldn't be happier! He's a big sweetheart and he is a little sloppy in the peeing department, but it's no big deal. We keep a box of baby wipes by the back door - for all sorts of cleanup!
Good Luck! |
| I thought I wanted a male but wasn't sure till we got to the breeders. We had 8 or 9 pups to pick from. The family spent an hour playing with all of them. It was good to see how the interacted with all of us and each other. They definetly showed their personalities. Would you have that oppertunity with your breeder? I think how they blend with the family matters more then boy or girl. We ended up with a male, Mojo, I think he picked us! |
| Zeke says "boys rock"!!!!!!!! Seriously, I wouldn't say all girls are moody, my oldest is, but then again she belongs to my hubby and probably shares his personality (lol). My little Reba is my little sweetie - but quite the watchdog at the same time. After having Sammy (snif, snif) and now Zeke, I would say that I favor males. JMO -- but you have to decide for yourself. Pick the one that appeals to you, no matter what the gender. |
| Well, this is a bit off-topic, but I have to say my girl puppy is ingenious, the way she keeps herself clean during elimination. She plants her front feet, then she places her back feet on the ground right behind the front paws. This way, her back end is suspended over nothing but thin air. She stays very clean. Now, drinking from a bowl is a whole other matter. Besides the whole face being a dripping mess, she really loves to dump over the dish. I bought a dish that wouldn't tip over, so she started splashing the water out with her paw instead. She also loves to jump in our pond, but only in the mucky edge to make sure her legs are dirty all the up. She is so much fun to watch. Sheryl in Ohio |
| From my observations on the forum and other people who have dogs (and myself), I would say it seems a lot of people who have boy dogs prefer boy dogs, people who have girls prefer girls, and they stick with that preference. Not passing any judgement on that, myself, I think I'll be sticking to the girls (I have 3 girls). Interestingly, our breeder who has had lots of dogs of both sexes, has no preference! So I'd say flip a coin, or just go with whatever you think, or it might even be a question of availability for your first dog. |
| I didn't really have a preference - but I'd been told that the males tended to have aggression issues more than girls (that's probably bunk, but I was clueless at the time. So don't necessarily buy into that) so I got a girl. I've had plenty of boy dogs, but not OES. I agree with the follow your heart advice. And this may seem shallow, but ... well, with girls you can put bows and stuff in their hair? |
| I think I prefer boys. They may be more rambunctious, but they are more outgoing and clown-ish. More eager to please. The other benefit is health. It seems like I'm reading stories here about members whose girls are having UTIs and other girl problems all the time. Boys don't seem to have those issues. |
CamVal1 wrote: I think I prefer boys. They may be more rambunctious, but they are more outgoing and clown-ish. More eager to please. The other benefit is health. It seems like I'm reading stories here about members whose girls are having UTIs and other girl problems all the time. Boys don't seem to have those issues. Heh, I feel the same way when I see posts about people with boys with un-descended testicles and the like  |
| Well I have had both and..... my last one (a girl) and my current one (a boy) both like to be grungy. I have had a wild Tom Boy girl and my Wild Wooly boy. My childhood girl love to play rough. But I must say my boy is so darn sweet. We call him Sweetums. |
Shaggybear wrote: Hi, let your heart decide!!! Take a seat in front of the hole group of babies...and take the first one, who is coming to you..... We did it this way with our female Bonny.it will work..hahaha Greetings from Germany Michael This. When we went and got our Annabelle, I wanted the big, chubby male with blues eyes, but my girlfriend insisted on a brown eyed (with a little blue spot in her left eye) that wouldn't stop following her around. While, we would probably be happy with any sheepie, I couldn't imagine not having Annabelle. Although, if Annabelle is any indication, picking the one who follows you around and comes to you the most may mean they are the most rambunxious, lol, but maybe thats just a coincedence. |
| Wow - what a topic. I've had 3 males now, my Mom has a male. I used to have 1 female. She was moody and would attack out of jealousy if the other male approached me (but never any other dogs oddly after they were split up). I adopted 2 at once (years ago) - I kept the female and let the male go to a friend that had wanted to adopt an oes for years. Anyway, she had attacked him and his eyelid hit a plastic stool and he needed stitches - so no more of that. Anyway, she was great, but seriously moody and I've heard this applies to other breeds in terms of females and hormones. Also, I find that where the females urinate, anatomically speaking - there is fur - so they get and stay a bit wet and/or stink more after urinating because it sticks to the fur. The males, if neutered, will squat and it's like a water fountain upside down - very clean out of the fur's way. Goes straight down instead of dripping on fur. I keep my dogs in a short fur-cut however. I vote for males based on the 4 even tempered, very clean ones we've had in my family. Just my experience. Also, I've always been a fan of girl dogs only - I heard growing up that males mark things and so on - all so untrue if you have them neutered when young. I accidentally got a male because he was the only one with the markings I wanted. I'll never turn back now. |
| Only had Kenny (who is a boy). We were going to get a girl but that fell through and I kind of always wanted a boy. Just to note the things he does: 1. Very playful and rambunctious (in a good way) 2. Very affectionate 3. Very clownish 4. Had an un-descended testicle 5. Pees on his front left leg almost every morning but that's it Honestly I don't care about the pee and we were going to neuter him anyway. Yes it's annoying but i just get my paper towel and wet wipe..kind of a routine now. I really have nothing to say about girls since i have never been around a female OES. At this point, I'd get another boy if we got a 2nd just because we got a first boy. |
| Also, just saw post about girls and UTI's - yes can be true as the female tract is shorter thus more prone to infection just like in humans, but males can get them too. My older male OES just got one a few months ago, and it's now reoccurring. Back to antibiotics. Oi. What a strange thing for a dog to have. Have had a ton of dogs throughout life and never saw a UTI in one. |
| I was told by the breeder that we got Farley from that boys like their mama's best and I think it's true altho Butchy loves me for certain things and daddy for others so guess he spreads the love around. I prefer males for whatever reason but would love whatever I was able to have. |
ICH wrote: I was told by the breeder that we got Farley from that boys like their mama's best and I think it's true altho Butchy loves me for certain things and daddy for others so guess he spreads the love around. I prefer males for whatever reason but would love whatever I was able to have. Haha, not sure how much truth there is to that but Kenny definitely likes woman more than men. I dont think he likes my wife more than me but I can say that he "misses" her more and is more excited to see her but definitely listens to me a lot better. I tell him to do something, he listens haha. All that said, he is affectionate and loves us both....he is definitely one who likes attention from both |
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