Dominance and Gender Issues with Dogs

When considering a second dog, a frequently debated question is the gender issue. Should it be male / female? Will two males fight? Are two females easier to manage? There are numerous questions. However, the simple answer is really not in the gender matching. The harmony of the household will depend upon two major issues.

There is no magical pairing - no magical gender pairing. The focus should be on temperament rather than gender. Undoubtedly, there will be a social order within the pack. One dog, regardless of gender, will be higher in social status than the other. This has nothing to do with fair treatment from you, the owner. It is an internal pack hierarchy which the dogs will sort out for themselves. Trouble occurs when there are two very dominant dogs. There will be conflicts as one dog challenges the other.

A common misconception is that the male dog is dominant. This is not necessarily so. Although the male may be bigger and stronger, that male may not be higher in pack social status. It could well be the female dog. Her strength is temperament. A female dog indeed can be higher in pack status than the male.

The second major factor for harmony of the pack is your leadership skills. There should be absolutely no question that you are the pack leader. If that is clear to both dogs, then a two dog household is much easier to manage. It will still be more than double the work but it will be easier to control the social dynamics of the pack, if there is no question about who is the pack leader. And, have no doubt - your leadership skills will be scrutinized daily by very perceptive canines.

Catherine Forsythe