Is there any truth behind "i should get a small female dog"..?

Question

That I should get a small female dog now because I own a larger male already?

I have read some places, that this would work out best, and its the male's instinct to protect that smaller female.

It seems our almost 6 month (soon to be neutered) male gets along MUCH better with male dogs. Everytime I have had a female foster puppy, they fight...more, and my male picks on the females way more also.
Any advice?
I just want what's best for my male puppy also.

Answer 1

I'm sure you'll get all kind of answers, but the truth is that dogs have their own liking and disliking like we do. Just because they get along with one of the opposite gender, doesn't mean they'll get along with all of that gender, or size, or breed.
My personal experience is that is far easier to have males dogs getting along than males and females together, or all females.
Either gender, dogs are pack animals, however, male dogs do establish the pack order, even if they have to get in a fight in order to do so, and respect it. Female dogs don't have a pack order, they all want to be the alpha one.
No one can really tell what would be the best companion for your male puppy. Socialization is the basic of it. Take him to obedience school, and dog parks, and the rest will easily fall into place.

Answer 2

A neutered male and a spayed female typically get along better than two males would or two females would. This is the case because dogs have a strict hierarchy, and if you have two males they will probably have their hierarchy disrupted now and then and fight to readjust it. But if you have a male and a female, he can be the alpha male and she can be the alpha female.

Just note that it doesn't always work out this way. Sometimes two dogs of the same gender get along great together. You have a better chance of the two same-sex dogs getting along if they're both neutered. But to be on the safe side, I'd recommend getting a female.

There isn't really any truth to that statement that the male will protect a smaller female, though. It doesn't matter the size of the female, and he likely won't have any instinct to "protect" her.

Answer 3

My husband's family only ever gets male dogs, because there could be a dominance issue between your male dog and smaller female dogs. If your dog is socialised with male dogs and gets along well with them, maybe another male dog is the way to go. Sounds like your dog would be happier with a brother. (This may change after he is neutered though, as my dog's personality changed a bit afterwards, and he is not dominant at all.)

Answer 4

I could tell you that quite precisely, but I won't because a big part of the strategy is surprise. That having been said, I remember reading some stories about female bounty hunters in a magazine once upon a time, and one of the women in question admitted that only once had she required help: to subdue a woman who was not even particularly large, but was high on PCP. But I think a lot of the advantage is the mindset. I don't think it's an accident that more than one country prefers women commandoes, because they are quicker on the draw and shoot more accurately. And this is probably due to the fact that, besides having good eye-hand coordination and reflexes, they just calmly go about their business without getting emotional about it. In other words, it's not 'Kill! Kill! Kill!' but 'Focus. Focus. Focus.' And on top of all that, there is the obvious advantage that every woman has in fighting with a man: he can't kick her in the balls...

Answer 5

Small dogs tend to be hyper and high strung. Male-female combos work also male-male works provided they are not pure breds. Really it depends on your dog and his temperment.

Answer 6

well he will be the alpha dog and a female would not challenge him as a male would. Size of dog should only suit you.

Answer 7

ive always piked a female dog given a choice