How people select the gender of their pets intrigues me. Many people I speak to appear to have a definite preference for one or the other. “Definitely a male.” “Always female.” Overall, we balance the world.
There is no doubt that the gender does make a difference to their personality and to our interaction with our pet (Kurt et al 2009). It also makes a difference to the problems we are likely to encounter. For instance male dogs may exhibit more separation related distress than females (McGreevy & Masters 2009). I don’t think, however, that most people are thinking of potential problem when they choose their dog (although I have to say having a female dog who does not stop at every lamp post is attractive in my opinion 
)
People often ask me which to choose -male or female – and I generally don’t give them a definitive answer. Most pet owners will choose based on childhood pets and their genders, their partner’s preference, even biases they have for one gender overall. If it’s a second animal of the same species they are acquiring then I advise getting one of the opposite sex, especially if they are close in age and personality type.
Do you have a preference for male or females dogs or cats? Please comment on which and why below.
Kurt, K., Schoberl, I, Bauer, B, Thibeaut A. & Wedl, M. (2009). Dyadic relationships and operational performance of male and female owners and their male dogs. Behavioural Processes [Behav. Processes]. Vol. 81: 383-391.
McGreevy, P. & Masters, M. (2009). Risk factors for separation-related distress and feed-related aggression in dogs: Additional findings from a survey of Australian dog owners. Applied Animal Behavioural Science, 101: 320 – 328.
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@ClickWebDesign yes me too :)
@JoanneRighetti depends what species!
@JoanneRighetti Doesn't matter in our family both sexes would be loved
I definitely prefer female dogs, mostly because male dogs tend to have some habits I'm not entirely comfortable with *ahem* :o) My last cat was male and he was the most awesome cat in the world. After I got him I always swore I'd never have a female cat again. But after he died and I started looking for a new kitty, I fell in love with a girl. With birds, it depends on which gender makes a better pet.
@JoanneRighetti my votes in:)
@JoanneRighetti both different for cats and dogs:)