Gender Preference?

[lizziedog1]

When it comes to hunting dogs, is there a gender prefrence? Which usually makes a better hunting dog, a male or female? I would like to hear from folks that have had experience with both.

 

[MaterDei]

My experience is that bitches are easier to train. Admittedly, I've only trained a few but that has been my experience.

 

[hogcowboy]

I agree. Females are easier to train. Males are bullheaded but they will learn.

 

[pat86323]

It would depend on what kind of hunting dog, for a bird dog it would likely be better to get the female for ease of training. If we are talking hounds i would lean toward males. I think males generally get a bit bigger and have a bit more agression to them.

 

[Kingcreek]

Best bird dog I ever had was a male but the females are generally a little easier to train. but females also come into heat once during the hunting season, but then again, an intact male is always in heat. toss a coin...

 

[desidog]

I think it depends more on the personality of the individual.
Like people, not every one is a faster learner; or pees in the right spot 100% of the time.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I tend to lean towards the males for my rabbit dogs (Beagles) but I have both in my packs. Usually I will run one of the females (as long as she isn't in heat) with 3 of the males. I have enough dogs to run 4 dogs for a couple to 4 hours (depending on the heat and how hard they are running) then truck them and let the other 4 on trail for the afternoon. One of my females has absolutely the BEST nose of all my dogs and tends to lead the pack until they catch sight, then one of my patch hounds that has blazing fast foot speed takes over and if that rabbit doesn't hit hole or I take it he will catch the dern thing. Not good when not in season but still fun to watch him hit and roll them! Definitely agree that males tend to be knuckleheaded stubborn mules (as with all mammals including human) but once they are trained up they are not easily broken off trail so that is a plus in my opinion.

 

[Border Hopper]

IMHO, there is not much difference between the sexes, but there is quite a bit of difference between breeds. Choose a hunting companion for the job you have in mind, and remember that the hunting season only lasts a few months and the time they spend with you and your family goes 365/year. A great dog on the hunt sometimes causes serious troubles at home. And vice versa.

Also realize that very few dogs are "all-around-just-right-for-feathers-family-fur". I am a veterinarian and have pretty much seen one of every breed that had a nose find a dead bird. Lots of funny stories, including lap dogs, sight hounds, bulldogs, farm collies, etc.

I have purposely owned sporting breed dogs because they are very trainable, either male or female, and it is up to the owner to train dogs. Those that have great hunting genes are desireable, but you don't know until they are tried in the field. If they are just so-so on game, get 'em neutered and solve many problems. That is still a measure to consider unless you are planning to be very serious about the breeding business. Both sexes have "urges" and the timing may be inconvenient, like was mentioned above....females twice a year, males all the time.

The AKC has a great book about all the different breeds, and Google may have excerpts from that volume, but to them (AKC), all kinds of praise is heaped on every purebred.
If you are buying some rare breed for big bucks you may want to see the parents work in your hunting situation before you invest.

 

[terryknight]

I've only owned male dogs. I tend to like them more. But i have hunted with both and both sexes have done what they were trained to do.

Here's my 3 yr Lab

 

[CoRoMo]

When it comes to hunting dogs, is there a gender prefrence?

I have no preference. But, I've also never hunted dogs. I suppose if I were to, I'd just shoot the first one that showed up on opening morning.


j/k

 

[x_wrench]

we have always had females. we were told by three seperate hunting dog breeders (beagles) that females make better hunters, as long as they are not in heat. a male dog is always looking for "a little something", in addition to the game he is supposed to be hunting. a female could care less about "the something else", unless she is in heat. if you get her fixed when she is a pup, before her first heat, that eliminates the problem permanantly!

 

[Shelstin]

LOL at Border Hoppers comments...the best retriever I ever had was a female boxer. She chased a ball a lot as a pup, and one day I decided that I would just let her tag along on a dove hunt. It totally blew people away that I hunted with. She was a lot of fun.
I prefer a female Brittany for birds. Good house dogs, easy to work with, great on pheasant and quail. And, they eat a lot less than larger dogs.

 

[txhoghunter]

I voted female, but Remi is the only hunting dog I've ever had and she's great! German shorthaired pointers make great lap dogs as well