Should I get a male or female dog — does the sex actually matter?
Short answer
For most pet homes, sex is not the most important factor — an individual dog's temperament, how it's raised, its environment, and genetics matter far more than whether it's male or female. Sex mainly matters if you plan to breed (or want to avoid it) or are adding a second dog, where two females are somewhat more likely to clash than a male-female or male-male pairing.
Sourced from veterinary authorities · not a diagnosis · anything risky goes to a vet.
Who this is for
Anyone deciding between a male or female dog for a pet home.
When this doesn’t apply
- Deciding whether to spay or neuter — see that guide
- Breeding decisions, which need breed-specific and veterinary guidance
What changes the answer
- Whether the dog will be spayed or neutered or kept intact
- Whether you already have another dog, and its sex
- The individual dog's temperament and how it was raised
- Whether you intend to breed
Common mistakes
- Assuming males always mark, hump, or roam more — AKC notes these are training issues, and females are just as likely to do them
- Choosing on sex-based stereotypes instead of meeting the individual dog
- Adding a second female to a female-only home without weighing that female-female conflict is somewhat more likely
- Expecting sex alone to predict trainability or affection
Sources
- Are We Gender-Stereotyping Our Dogs? — American Kennel Club · Tier 2 · verified 2026-07-20
Common questions
Do male dogs mark and hump more than females?
Not inherently. AKC experts say marking and humping are training issues rather than sex-specific ones, and females are just as likely to do them.
Are female dogs easier to train or calmer?
There's no reliable rule. Some research reports small average differences, but experts stress it comes down to the individual dog, its upbringing, and genetics far more than its sex.
Does sex matter if I already have a dog?
It can. Breeders often steer toward male-female or male-male pairings over two females, because female-female conflict is somewhat more likely if any conflict occurs — though individual temperament still decides it.