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Male or Female Puppy or Kitten?

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Which Should I Choose?

by Terry Thistlethwaite

Anyone who has had a number of dogs and cats over the

years will smile knowingly when they hear this question.

The "typical" potential adopter wants a female, and

only a female, whereas the person who has had any degree

of experience with both typically wants a male.  Why? 

The simple answer is misinformation that is cured only by

experience. 

It all started in the South about seventy five years ago  (give or

take a few), with not so responsible hunters who would round

up a group of stray dogs and take them out to find raccoons. 

When the hunt was over, the dogs who had remained with the

group would be brought home and fed.  The hunters quickly

noticed that it was the female dogs, more often than the males,

that would remain.  This led to the "old tale" that females make

better pets.  They stay home while males explore.  Over the years,

the oversimplified and fully erroneous conclusion was simply

expanded to include cats.

Well, some might say, "I prefer females because male dogs lift

their leg and male cats spray".  Technically, this is correct.

Realistically, however, it's pretty much irrelevant to suitability

as a pet.  Male dogs will, it is true, use their urine as a means for marking territory outside.  So will females.  Adult male cats which

are actively breeding will also use their urine to mark territory. 

Adult female cats will do likewise.  Any cat breeder, in fact, will tell you that their worst "sprayers" have most often been females.

Both male and female puppies and kittens can be housebroken with minimal knowledge and effort, as well as taught what areas they "may"and "may not" use for marking outside.  Dogs trained for assistance work, in fact, are typically trained never to relieve themselves unless a "release" word is given.  Certainly every puppy

is capable of learning the simple rule of "appropriate areas".

Female dogs and cats certainly have their charm, devotion, and

ability to make excellent pets.  They also have their mood swings,

their grudges, and their incompatibilities -- It's just the nature of

being female.  Male dogs and cats are much more likely to "go with

the flow", to shrug off offenses, and to be particularly protective of

their female owners.  It's just the nature of being male.

Picture a cat dressed up in doll clothes and hanging over the arm

of a three year old, and I guarantee you that cat is a very contented

male! 

Many breeders, and even many rescuers will price their female pets

higher than their males, because they well know that the general

public obliviously believes the "old tale" about females "making

better pets".  The higher price for the females gives the unfairly

maligned males a more equal footing in the consideration process.

Cats and dogs make good pets.  Ask anyone who

has had experience with numbers of animals, and they will tell you that if they could have only one, they would absolutely choose a male.

That said,

When deciding on an individual puppy or kitten, the fact is that

just about EVERY other consideration is more important than the

consideration of  "male or female".   Once you determine the breed

of dog or cat that suits your lifestyle, find the breeder or rescuer

you feel comfortable working with, relate to the personality of the

individual puppy or kitten (or dog or cat) being offered, the "male

or female" consideration should reasonably have little bearing

on the final selection. Falling into the trap of believing the erroneous

tale that "females make better pets" and excluding from

consideration a whole population of wonderful animals who fully

meet all of your better thought out criteria may well leave you

missing out on the best dog or cat you might have ever known.

You're listening to:

"Wish Upon A Star"

written by

Ned Washington

& Leigh Harline