Male vs female

LCR10A said:
Behavior around the house is really important and something to consider. Hunting season is only a small portion of the year.
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This is arguably more important than the hunting part. Hunting only represents a small portion of the overall amount of time with the dog. The rest of the year is something you will be dealing with outside that realm.

You could have a hunting machine but during non-hunting days the dog might be a PITA. No thanks
 
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gim said:
This is arguably more important than the hunting part. Hunting only represents a small portion of the overall amount of time with the dog. The rest of the year is something you will be dealing with outside that realm.j

You could have a hunting machine but during non-hunting days the dog might be a PITA. No thanks
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Most of the time the PITA dogs are a reflection of the owner, just like kids. I prefer females myself. I pick up my new dog from the trainer in March. A black female.
 
Always had females, have one at the trainers now and put a deposit down for a black female that we should be able to get around April sometime. All the females we've had were fantastic hunters and great family dogs.
 
I have both unaltered males and spayed females. I like a good dog period. They come in both sexes. That being said….a very general observation …
The boys are more likely to hunt “with” me, the girls seem to hunt more for the sheer pleasure of it and I just happen to be there.
Most everything else characteristic wise in hunting dogs is about breeds, breeding, training, conditioning, and early socialization and not necessarily in that order in my humble opinion.
 
UplandJim said:
I have both unaltered males and spayed females. I like a good dog period. They come in both sexes. That being said….a very general observation …
The boys are more likely to hunt “with” me, the girls seem to hunt more for the sheer pleasure of it and I just happen to be there.
Most everything else characteristic wise in hunting dogs is about breeds, breeding, training, conditioning, and early socialization and not necessarily in that order in my humble opinion.
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Nailed it. I have had all of the options. I love my females both spayed and not. Same with my males both neutered and not. My females will turn in that absolutely stunning performance and the males tend to be the steady Eddies.. get a good breeding and train it whatever the sex. Both sexes have been super house dogs. That said the worst fight I have had was between 2 females, that when one was pregnant and hormones were in play.
 
Females can be a bit aggressive around other females... just saying.

I have owned and run 7 Brittanys since I turned 18. M, F, F, F, F, M, M

I really cannot say one sex is easier or more difficult to train or better overall in the field ... my two males I own now do not roam whatsoever ... my last Female (turns 16 in two days) ... she was a big-time roamer ... would bolt from our front yard if given the chance from 1-4 years of age and then turned to be a homer for no apparent reason around 5 years of age. In the field she ran big, but she listened extremely well and never got too far out or lost.

All have been pretty darn good bird dogs and nice house/family dogs. My male that turned 10 a week or two ago had an absolutely phenomenal season that just wrapped up.

My fourth dog (a female) was probably my best all-around hunting dog ... pointing running birds at 10 months, retrieving waterfowl, etc.. She came from one of the best Brittany bird dogs of all time ... then again, when she was with me when I was in my hunting prime ... days hunted, plenty of vacation days allowed, younger and better shape, multiple species in a single day, go-go-go ... etc....

I ramble on ...
 
I have had females all my life. Like many of said they can be smaller then males but again it depends on the genetics. I couple of my buddies i hunt with have males and I don't see a difference in endurance or drive. I think females tend to less hard headed and more biddable for the owner. I have found that most of my intact females only come into heat once a year. Not sure if that is because of the northern climate and being outside alot, I'm not complaining but still prepare for the twice a year. Drive in my opinion is breeding, and endurance is on the handler/owner to get your dogs in shape, just like yourself. Most of my dogs have been spayed but I have left them intact if I have thoughts of breeding. In my opinion getting a dog fixed does not change drive or endurance. Intact males I would worry about damage to genitals in the field from fences or other metal they might encounter. Had a college professor with coon hounds and we were hunting on night and laid his scrotum open on a fence. Not a fun night. Either sex will from good stock will make a fine dog for you, just matter of preference of owners.
 
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