When selecting a new puppy, regardless of the breed, you’ll most likely include a series of factors.
These factors may be influenced by whether you have children, if you live alone, or if you are a senior, as well as apartment or house, yard, or no yard.
And while all of these aspects do play an important role in your choice, your pup’s gender should be factored into the equation.
Are Male or Female Labradoodles Better?
It’s really not a question of whether a male or female dog is better, but rather if the dog’s gender is the best choice for your lifestyle.
Both male and female Labradoodles are beautiful dogs and have much to offer a new pet parent, but one may work better within your particular situation.
This may be particularly important if you own other dogs and will be introducing a new puppy into an already established pack.
To assist you in integrating gender into your decision, let’s look at some of the differences between the two.
1.) Dog Size: Male vs. Female Labradoodle
Individual dogs are unique and the size of your Labradoodle Will be influenced by genetics and the canine parents. Generally speaking, a female Labradoodle will be a bit smaller, roughly ten percent smaller, than a male dog.
If you select a Mini Labradoodle or Toy Labradoodle, your pup will be even smaller and gender differences will be even less noticeable. The slight difference between a male and female will be more obvious in a standard-sized Labradoodle.
If you like the idea of a slightly larger dog, go with a male Labradoodle, and vice versa, if you prefer a smaller dog, choose a female.
When observing puppies, it’s worth mentioning that female puppies tend to mature a bit faster, so they may appear larger initially until the dogs reach adulthood when the male will surpass in size.
2.) Labradoodle Health: Male vs. Female
Gender is not really a determining factor it comes to health. Both have the same expectation of lifespan and health considerations are not specifically related to gender per se. If anything, there will be a difference when considering reproduction.
To Neuter or Spay
If you do not plan on involving your Labradoodle in breeding, most veterinarians will recommend spaying or neutering your dog at a young age. This is because there are some health-related issues that may arise from a lack of sterilization later in life.
The cost of sterilization will probably differ depending on gender as female sterilization is more complicated. Neutering can also discourage territorial marking by your Labradoodle.
3.) Grooming Your Labradoodle: Male vs. Female
Fur coats will not vary according to gender, so male or female will have no bearing on the time or expense involved. The generation of your Labradoodle puppy may influence grooming necessities.
Both parent breeds, Labradors, and Poodles have grooming requirements particularly to avoid fur matting through frequent brushing, and of course bathing and nail clipping.
4.) The Labradoodle Personality: Male vs. Female
While every dog, regardless of the breed is going to have a unique and one-of-a-kind personality, some factors can influence personality and behavior.
Two activities that play into this debate when considering a male vs. a female Labradoodle are territorial marking and the so-called “humping”.
Territorial Marking
One generally associates marking one’s territory with male dogs of all breeds. However, females also mark their territory, all be it probably with much less frequency. Females may mark their territory a bit before and during the heat.
The real difference between males and females is in the method. Male Labradoodles will lift their legs. Female Labradoodles will squat.
Marking is characterized by the dog releasing small amounts of urine, marking objects, and the dog is not sterilized.
The spaying or neutering canines assists in discouraging territorial marking.
Humping
No one particularly enjoys seeing their dog humping as it is considered sexual in nature. However, not only males hump but females do also.
This activity is not purely sexual but can be used by either gender of Labradoodle to assert their dominance over another dog, or during play.
While sterilization of the dog may diminish the urge, it is a behavior that can be curtailed through training.
See also: Male Vs Female Siberian Huskies: 6 Key Differences!
Who’s More Aggressive?
The idea that males are more aggressive than females is simply not true. Just like the idea that females are more submissive is also not necessarily so. The role of nurturing and socialization can influence aggressiveness much more than Mother Nature.
Within a litter of puppies, some females exhibit more independence than male siblings. Canine aggressiveness can develop for many reasons including the perception of a threat, pain, possessiveness, or the desire for dominance.
And while dominance may be more often attributed to a male, pain from illness or injury, possessiveness of food or toys, and fear are not gender-oriented.
On the contrary, there is no dog more aggressive than a female defending her litter of newborn puppies out of fear from a perceived threat.
With regard to dominance, it is not a breed trait, but a behavior that is usually practiced toward another canine, but it can also be used with humans.
While a dog may have a tendency toward this behavior, it is generally determined by the circumstances. And because it is behavior and not an inbred genetic trait, it can be unlearned through training.
A final common cause of aggressiveness is frustration. If a dog is frustrated it may redirect its frustration as aggressive behavior, but again this is not attributable to gender.
Is a Male or Female Labradoodle a Better Choice?
There is no right or wrong answer based on gender when selecting a Labradoodle puppy. Labradoodle behavior will depend on many other contributing factors such as the environment, socialization especially while still in mom’s care, other family pets, and whether your dog is sterilized.
You may want to consider the sterilization aspect when deciding but not specifically because of the gender but because of what it entails.
If you do not plan on sterilizing your Labradoodle, a female will go into heat and have a menstrual cycle. Males that are not sterilized may practice more territorial marking and become unruly when in the presence of a female in heat.
The sterilization methods are different and will have different costs both monetarily and in recovery time.
Male or Female Labradoodle?
Other than sterilization considerations, there is no reason to base your choice on gender.
Rather than choosing your puppy based on stereotypes, take the time to observe the litter from which you plan on selecting your puppy.
Choose your Labradoodle based on the puppy personality that strikes a chord in your heart.
