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.
 
Having only owned labs, I can't comment on other breeds. Regarding male vs. female, I've had good dogs from both. I think the biggest mistake made spaying or neutering is doing it too early. My vet leaves his own dogs intact, and tells those insisting on the procedure wait till at least 2 before facing the knife. As for females, a spayed female can be tough to beat. One of my favorite hunting machines Lucy was a black female. The only problem I've had with them is they were more injury prone for some reason. While great in the field, the vet bills were always more. Over time, I've settled on intact males. Yes, they had a bent towards fighting, and yes, they get bored and PITA in the off-season. However, those same traits are overcome by more stamina and hard-charging/ never get tired drive. The current sample is coming up on 10, and shows no sign of slowing down.
 
CRP said:
Having only owned labs, I can't comment on other breeds. Regarding male vs. female, I've had good dogs from both. I think the biggest mistake made spaying or neutering is doing it too early. My vet leaves his own dogs intact, and tells those insisting on the procedure wait till at least 2 before facing the knife. As for females, a spayed female can be tough to beat. One of my favorite hunting machines Lucy was a black female. The only problem I've had with them is they were more injury prone for some reason. While great in the field, the vet bills were always more. Over time, I've settled on intact males. Yes, they had a bent towards fighting, and yes, they get bored and PITA in the off-season. However, those same traits are overcome by more stamina and hard-charging/ never get tired drive. The current sample is coming up on 10, and shows no sign of slowing down.
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When I started this tread my thoughts were on which sex would best suit me at my age(75) and easier to hunt with. I have had both and I think the males were more aggressive and harder to control. Males life span are generally 12-13 years while I have had girls that lived 15-17 years. At 75 females might live until my early 90’s and males to my 87-88
Don’t think I want my pups to outlive me and be a burden on my survivors. So I’ll probably go with a male and have him pro trained. I think I can make it to early 90’s and if I can still hunt I’ll find someone to hunt with that has a dog. At 90 I’m pretty sure the ball & chain will not let me have another dog.
 
C16, your thoughts are correct regarding males being more aggressive and hard-headed. When I was younger, those traits posed no problem since I could keep up. Most of my bird hunting has always been "point the lab into the wind and stay with them". However, at 68, I'm having to consider options now that were not even thought of before. Previously, I would always get a pup when the older dog was around 8, that way, the pup would be field ready when the older dog was close to retiring. But, the current lab is 10 in March, and tore his CCL (ACL in humans) on the last day hunting in ND b4 Christmas. With no puppy in the works, and not knowing if the current dog will be ok to hunt any more after surgery/rehab, my whole hunting situation is up in the air. If you don't get another dog, I think you can likely find some friends that will let you hunt with them. When my dog got his leg torn up 2 years ago (bulldog off leash in a park) I had to hunt with some friends during the month of Nov. It was not the same w/o the dog, but staying home was not an option. Good luck whatever you decide.
 
CRP said:
C16, your thoughts are correct regarding males being more aggressive and hard-headed. When I was younger, those traits posed no problem since I could keep up. Most of my bird hunting has always been "point the lab into the wind and stay with them". However, at 68, I'm having to consider options now that were not even thought of before. Previously, I would always get a pup when the older dog was around 8, that way, the pup would be field ready when the older dog was close to retiring. But, the current lab is 10 in March, and tore his CCL (ACL in humans) on the last day hunting in ND b4 Christmas. With no puppy in the works, and not knowing if the current dog will be ok to hunt any more after surgery/rehab, my whole hunting situation is up in the air. If you don't get another dog, I think you can likely find some friends that will let you hunt with them. When my dog got his leg torn up 2 years ago (bulldog off leash in a park) I had to hunt with some friends during the month of Nov. It was not the same w/o the dog, but staying home was not an option. Good luck whatever you decide.
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I hunt mostly solo but when I do hunt with others they are older and dogless
Think I am going with the male. I think the training will help with the control
I need a dog to keep me busy and away from the TV and the View and Oprah reruns
 
CRP said:
C16, your thoughts are correct regarding males being more aggressive and hard-headed. When I was younger, those traits posed no problem since I could keep up. Most of my bird hunting has always been "point the lab into the wind and stay with them". However, at 68, I'm having to consider options now that were not even thought of before. Previously, I would always get a pup when the older dog was around 8, that way, the pup would be field ready when the older dog was close to retiring. But, the current lab is 10 in March, and tore his CCL (ACL in humans) on the last day hunting in ND b4 Christmas. With no puppy in the works, and not knowing if the current dog will be ok to hunt any more after surgery/rehab, my whole hunting situation is up in the air. If you don't get another dog, I think you can likely find some friends that will let you hunt with them. When my dog got his leg torn up 2 years ago (bulldog off leash in a park) I had to hunt with some friends during the month of Nov. It was not the same w/o the dog, but staying home was not an option. Good luck whatever you decide.
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My dog had CCL surgery at 9 and is still hunting. She will be 12 in the summer. We did the tight rope procedure and it is important to do the physical therapy as prescribed. If you have not had the surgery, you need to do so immediately. Waiting only allows more arthritis to set in which can't be reversed.
 
He is 3 weeks out from surgery, and doing according to schedule per the vet this week. He had the "fishing line" version, not the TPLO. Not spending $5K-7500 on a 10 year old dog. My previous lab had the same surgery when she was 9, and did ok after. I sure hope this is not turning into a pattern.
 
CRP said:
He is 3 weeks out from surgery, and doing according to schedule per the vet this week. He had the "fishing line" version, not the TPLO. Not spending $5K-7500 on a 10 year old dog. My previous lab had the same surgery when she was 9, and did ok after. I sure hope this is not turning into a pattern.
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My dog actually tore hers going up the stairs. I knew it as soon as she did it. You have to keep them slim, a little rib showing is good. The vet that I used does both surgeries but felt the tight rope would better serve an older so I am sure you made the right choice regardless of money. I took the recovery slow with my dog. And continued leash walks longer that needed.
 
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