Male Or Female?

[GreyStella]

I have my home visit this morning, and I initally was looking at getting a female. I am not sure if I should consider a male. Can anyody tell me if there are any pros or cons either way? My main "wish list" for lack of a better term, is:

 

Crate trained

House trained

quiet

gets along well with other dogs

likes walks

can do stairs

 

Would one sex be perferable over the other for this list? I realize I may not get everything, and I am willing to do what it takes to make this work, but I don't want to make a mistake and fail the dog.

[locket]

Absolutely not Each dogs are individuals, male or female would suit your list! The personality will be more important

[EllenEveBaz]

No major pros or cons either way. You would need to be a little more vigilant with males about them not lifting their leg to mark territory in strange places, but not a big deal. I've never had one of my males mark inside my house. If you think you might ever have to carry an injured dog for any distance and it would make a difference having a 76-lb male vs a 66-lb female, then maybe a medium deal. But otherwise, I don't think there's consistent gender patterns on your wish list criteria.

 

Relax and enjoy your home visit, in which you'll get to talk greyhounds obsessively without anybody thinking you're nuts. And if a hound comes along on your home visit, be prepared to be overwhelmed at seeing such a big, beautiful creature in your space.

Edited May 28, 2017 by EllenEveBaz

[GreyStella]

Thank you. They are bringing one with them.

[greysmom]

No great difference in sexes, really. Females tend to be a bit more active - they always want to be involved and to "put on their tool belts" and help with everything going on. Males tend to be a bit more laid back, laissez-faire, live and let live sort of dogs. The absolute "laid-backest" of them all is a very large male, IMO! But big goof-balls tend to get overlooked because no one wants a *big* dog. It can be an issue if there's an injury, and you're by yourself, in getting them into the car and such, so you do have to consider big vs small, but I really love the big boys!

[macoduck]

Boys are preferred at our house. Our girls are bossier.

[Houndtime]

Boys are usually more playful, but, that being said; all dogs are individual. Sometimes females are a little bossy. I only had one that was a mother hen. Pick the dog that you love; not by gender.

[BatterseaBrindl]

As far as your list goes, there should be no difference between males and females.

 

I had always been a 'female' person until I went searching for my first Grey and the adoption gal strongly suggested I get a male, as our two current dogs were a very bonded, been-together-for-10-years 'pack' and she felt adding another female into the mix could be tricky.

So I came home with Nixon... and will forever be grateful that she pointed me in the direction of the boys.

Both Nixon and Nigel are laid back loveable cuddly Velcro hounds. They both sleep in my room.

Ruby is super friendly and laid back too...but only cuddly on her terms. She would never ever get on the couch if there was a person on it...only if it was vacant. And she sleeps all alone in the computer room on one of the grandkids beds.

Currently both boys are here with me ... and Ruby is all alone on the futon out in the mud room

[rsieg]

There seems to be a bias toward adopting females, so you will sometimes see after a haul of new greyhounds off the track for adoption that in a few weeks all the females are adopted and it is mostly males remaining available. So you may have more of a choice if you are interested in males (or at least willing to consider them).

 

All my dogs growing up, and my first (non-greyhound) dog that I adopted on my own were all females, but Logan and Max were my first greyhounds, males obviously. I don't see any difference in behavior or anything like that, but there is a subtle psychological effect we impose on the dogs, that is, we think of a male dog as a "he" or a female as a "she". It may seem silly, but if you really want a female, that is, a "her", as your canine companion, then that is what you should get.

[Brandiandwe]

I've got both. My girls are trickier. Lots more going on in those heads. Cuddles but generally more complicated. One is independent, the other has severe SA. I adore them! My boys have been a lot easier. Less snark. My newest (not yet in my sig) doesn't do strangers, and is very closely related to the black girl there (mother is Paige's half sister), so I believe genetics plays a strong role in determining some behaviour. That sais, his sire is throwing some (I say sharp, my vet who deals with a lot of racing greys says aggressive for greyhounds) interesting pups depending on the dam. Benny and Hermon in my signature, both completely and utterly bombproof and perfect.

 

My suggestion is to write your list of necessaries (things you absolutely need) might be things like size if you're small or have a small car or whatever, but definitely think about if you're around children, have a cat or small dog, able to live alone, etc etc. then think about desireables. These might include sex, but really personality and your necessaries should guide you towards your dog. Don't discount a dog because of looks or first impressions. Some dogs are just right but my mercurial little princess who has my heart took several weeks to decide that I was ok, and several years to turn into the charmer she is now.

[WalterWallerson]

look for a personality that fits this list rather than a gender. can't recommend this enough

 

 

 

 

I have my home visit this morning, and I initally was looking at getting a female. I am not sure if I should consider a male. Can anyody tell me if there are any pros or cons either way? My main "wish list" for lack of a better term, is:

 

Crate trained

House trained

quiet

gets along well with other dogs

likes walks

can do stairs

 

Would one sex be perferable over the other for this list? I realize I may not get everything, and I am willing to do what it takes to make this work, but I don't want to make a mistake and fail the dog.

[Mercsmom]

look for a personality that fits this list rather than a gender. can't recommend this enough

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, what he said.

 

If there are no noticeable differences, please consider going with whichever is least adoptable, (in other words, a black male).

I've talked to many dog people who have consistently said males are more affectionate. As I've only had one male, and only one grey, I won't comment on a sample size of one.

[Guest DarkHorse]

Our first pair was a male and a female, because the adoption coordinator of our group tended to recommend that pairing. We loved our little princess, but she was just that. She definitely was more independent and willing to do things on her own - she would often be found on her "princess bed" while we were all in another room. It became more pronounced as she aged, to the point where she would have to be coaxed downstairs for breakfast most mornings.

 

For our second pair, we chose to go with two boys. Partly this was because the group didn't have any cat-safe girls, but mostly it was because we really liked having our first boy. Interestingly, Cole has some of Araley's quirks - he can be quite demanding, a bit of a spook, and he's pretty delicate and small. But he's still much more clingy and intent on being where the humans are. And he's bonded more to KB (and to Dexter when he was still around) than Araley ever did to Dexter.

 

Honestly, I'd slightly lean towards a female if this is definitely going to be an only dog. We always joked that when Dexter died, Araley would be relieved to be on her own. We weren't expecting to lose her first, and we had to get another dog (and ended up getting two) because Dexter wasn't happy about being an only dog. I worry a little that the same will happen to either Cole or KB regardless of who goes first, and I don't know that either would have been OK if we'd just adopted one for Dexter - we would have been looking for another anyway probably by January.

[XTRAWLD]

I've only ever had boys, mainly because I was told a long time ago that that females are more independent. I kinda wanted a grey that was attention seeking = males. I know now that it's totally personality dependent and not a sex thing, as I have met females that are WAY more attentive to me than my boys.

 

I think your wish list is acceptable for both sexes. And just you wait....they will pick you....not the other way around you'll know when that happens too!

 

Good luck!

Edited May 29, 2017 by XTRAWLD

[Hubcitypam]

Biggest boy you can find IMO. They don't have nuttin' to prove and are big suck ups. Girls get back you their timetable.

[GeorgeofNE]

I prefer male pets of every variety. There is a reason the term "bitch" has come to mean what it means!

 

You might consider relaxing on your "shopping list." It would appear to me you're looking for a dog who requires no work, and there aren't too many of those available!

[KickReturn]

For all the folks that have found that males are more attention seeking, snuggly etc. I will just add my one data point. By far the most snuggly, attention seeking, funny, loving greyhound I have ever met is a female. I have only ever had males and will continue to do so, but I care for a female on a regular basis (just had her for the whole month of May), and she simply cannot be topped in the lovable department. At some point every night she departs her bed and crawls into bed with me. No other dogs are allowed this privilege and she wouldn't be either but she cannot be stopped. I have awoken from a nap to find her settling on top of me. When she greets me after any absence she wraps her legs around mine and won't let me move. She play bows to me, barks, vocalizes, chatters, nibbles, bats at me with her paws, and hip checks me. Forget gender and look for character.

 

(FYI the reason I have only males, and in particular large males, is that I have the space for them and strength to deal with any situation. I leave the smaller greyhounds for those that need them.)

 

This is not my dog!

 

Edited June 1, 2017 by KickReturn

[Pennymom]

LOL both my girls have been way more likely to mark (including lifting their legs!) indoors than our male! All of our dogs have been cuddly, although our male is less discriminating. Our girls certainly have had favorites. I agree that size is an important consideration, especially when it comes to thinking about emergency situations. Trying to lift our 80 pound male into the car to rush him to the vet after he ate a bunch of grapes and refused to jump in was a challenge for me. I also find it more difficult to keep control if confronted by an aggressive or off-leash dog while walking him because he's just so strong. I do agree that boys tend to be goofier. If I could only have one I'd have a female. I like a little more independence.

[IndyMama77]

I prefer male pets of every variety. There is a reason the term "bitch" has come to mean what it means!

 

You might consider relaxing on your "shopping list." It would appear to me you're looking for a dog who requires no work, and there aren't too many of those available!

Agree on the "bitch" quote! I have always had male dogs (we have our 1st grey now). Better personalities overall, in my experience. But it all depends what you are looking for I suppose!

[brindlehound]

One thing about girls. I'm not sure if this is true at all racing/adoption kennels but the girls tend to be in the top crates if there are 2 tiers of crates. I would think girls are better at jumping. Magic (my boy) never jumped up on counters, tables, etc. Joy has.

 

I've heard males are more affectionate. Magic rarely kissed me. Joy does it more often. Both like to snuggle with me.

[krissy]

When I was originally looking at getting a greyhound I wanted a male. I didn't want a female. Mostly just because I wanted a BIG dog, but also I had heard they were goofier. In rabbits I have found that males are more personable and have sunnier dispositions, so I followed this bias into dogs.

 

Once I got into agility though, I have switched to females for exactly the opposite reasons... they are smaller (more agile, fit the equipment a bit better) and much more serious. I would not say that I have so far found one sex to be more independent than the other (I've fostered quite a few dogs) or necessarily more affectionate. My girls are FAR more demonstrative than my male ever has been. He is very genteel and his affection is more subtle. None of my dogs are especially cuddly, but Kenna is the cuddliest.