GSP pup, male or female opinions

[Scooter]

Looking to get our second GSP, we have a 3 year old female. We are 4th on the pick list and only 3 females, so we may do a male. Anyone have opinions on the difference between the sexes?

A little background: Our first is a family member, inside crate trained, lap dog first. She hunts with us on occasion, but we only get out 4-5 times per season. The rest of the time she plays, chases balls, squirrels, birds, whatever.

Thoughts please.

 

[519vx]

I dont have GSPs, but I've got a pair goldens, and can share my experience of bringing a second dog in as I've done so twice. All of my dogs have (and probably always will be) been females. Very first dog was a very laid back, submissive, and gentle natured. I brought in a second femaile pup that chased her around the house, jumped on her, took her toys, etc. Older dog was wonderful and couldn't have been more tolerant. There was competition at first when hunting them, but they eventually became quite a pair. I LOVED having 2 dogs. A couple of years ago, the older dog passed and I wanted another female puppy. Got one, and I had some major dominance issues with the now older dog. She was used to it her way and there were some pretty heightened moments with the pup over anything from attention to toys to who got to sit closest to dad.

With time, we got over all of those things, but as I started working more with the pup on hunting/training/retreiving, I had some pretty major issues with the older dog on possessiveness over birds. Literally the older dog would sit in the front of the truck and watch the younger dog in the back seat. If the younger dog even looked backward at a dead bird in the back of the truck after a hunting trip, older dog would growl at her!. Same thing in the field, even if younger dog got to a down bird first, older dog would rush in and claim it. It was terrible and a set back for the younger dog and her hunting skill development, as anytime I knocked a bird down, she was afraid to get to close to it for fear of being growled at, even if the older dog wasn't along on that hunt. For some time, I had to hunt them apart to re-develop confidence in the younger one.

Time, training, and patience overcame all that, and this fall/winter I had a pretty darn good team with the two of them. I probably won't ever be without two dogs, but be prepared for some of the variety of issues you might encounter when you introduce that second dog.

Just remember time, training, and patience.

 

[Scooter]

Thanks, great info. Did the first dog ever socialize with other dogs and show dominance? Our first (Bella) is not dominant to other dogs, and will run and play with or without them, doesn't seem to care.

 

[519vx]

First dog was kind of a take it or leave it with other dogs. Not aggressive but didn't make much of an effort to play with other dogs either. I think a lot it had to do with it being just "her" house and "her" yard and all of a sudden there's a new pup there.

To a point, I had to let them establish a pecking order, but I was very watchful and quickly corrected any behavior that I didn't like.

 

[birdshooter]

As far as hunting ability it will make no difference, male or female.

You can have just as many confrontations between two headstrong females as you can with two headstrong males. The parents will usually depict what you end up with in a litter.

Having a male and female co-exist in the same household should not present any unusual problems either with the exception of the bitch coming into season if you elect not to have her spayed. Generally speaking the older dog most times will rule the roost. But to be honest, it really depends on each individual as to who will eventually become the dominant dog, male or female will have nothing to do with that decision as much as each dogs inherent personality.

You have naturally dominant personalities and naturally submissive ones. When picking a pup, don't pick the boldest most dominant one unless that is what you desire as an adult.