The feminine and masculine nature are very different although they complement each other perfectly and the differences between the two are manifested through the anatomy, physiology and behavior, not only in the human species obviously, since in our friends the dogs we can perfectly observe these differences if we compare both sexes.
When adopting a dog, sex does not have to be decisive, however, knowing the characteristics and main differences between dogs and bitches can help us make a more appropriate decision and live together with a pet that can adapt more easily to our lifestyle.
In this article we expose the main differences between dogs and bitches, although in the end, leaving aside the question of genres, these animals will always be man's best friend.
Anatomical differences
The anatomical differences may be the most obvious between male and female dogs, it is only necessary to pay minimal attention to the animal.
Females obviously have a different reproductive system, which we can externally observe by the presence of vulva and breasts, in addition, they weigh and measure less than male dogs.
Male males have a penis and testicles as part of their reproductive system (the urethra therefore also slightly changes its anatomical position), A common question is whether male dogs have breasts, and yes, although they obviously do not have any reproductive function and are not as developed as in females. The males are endowed with greater height and weight, being more corpulent, although the difference in weight and height becomes more or less evident depending on the breed.
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Oestrus in females and males
Another aspect of great importance to take into account if we talk about the differences between dogs and bitches is heat or the reproductive cycle.
Females
About heat in bitches we should know that it occurs every six months. In this cycle we can observe a period in which the female develops a great receptivity to being mounted by a male, and if we do not want our bitch to reproduce, then we must extreme precautionsand surveillance.
Every 6 months we also observe a very different phase in her heat, which is the menstruation phase, which indicates that our dog will have blood loss for approximately 14 days. After the menstruation of females, their organism finds high levels of progesterone, which can induce the well-known psychological pregnancy.
During the psychological pregnancy, the bitch can manifest very diverse symptoms: she is nervous, adopts and protects various objects as if they were puppies, seeks to be in isolated places and we can even observe that her abdomen is distended and the breasts are swollen, even being able to secrete milk.
Machos
The heat of male dogs is very different, since they are in heat throughout the year, this means that in any moment they can escape to look for a female that is receptive. Males can continuously display mounting behavior (they can end up mounting countless objects) which is sometimes accompanied by certain aggressiveness
Both genders
our site always recommends reviewing the advantages of sterilizing a dog to avoid behavioral changes, anxiety or the appearance of some diseases. In addition, it is also a responsible practice avoiding a possible unwanted pregnancy. Find out!
Differences in behavior
We have been able to observe that the reproductive cycle or oestrus of bitches and dogs is very different, but the release of female and male hormones also ends up having a very notorious effect on behavior.
Generally it is believed that the female is more affectionate and more homelike, while the male is more independent and active… But this has no scientific basis and these factors they depend on each specific dog.
What we can say is that hormones determine part of the behavior of dogs, depending on whether there is a higher concentration of male or female hormones.
The behavior caused by sexual hormones can be softened after the sterilization of the animal, however, it cannot be eliminated, because there are changes in brain development that mark these differences between genders and that are not modifiable.
Females adapt better to homes where small children reside, because they are more protective by instinct, they are also more docile and respond better to dog training.
Instead, male hormones that predominate in males make dogs more reluctant to obey commands, making training more difficult. In addition, in males we can clearly observe a territorial behavior that they manifest through urine marking. Male dogs can also be more aggressive towards dogs of the same sex.
You should know that although male dogs may have a dominant or aggressive tendency towards other dogs of the same sex, this can be prevented by good puppy socialization. It is essential that all dogs receive it so that in the future they can interact correctly with other dogs, pets and people
Coexistence with other dogs
If we want to welcome a dog into our home but we already have another dog at home, then sex becomes especially important, especially if the dogs are not neutered.
- When we bring together non-neutered specimens of the opposite sex we will find a problem and that is that the male will try to mount the female throughout time. In this case, sterilization will be essential because the female can be hostile if she does not want to be mounted or vice versa if the female does not let the male copulate. Remember the number of dogs that are abandoned daily in the world, do not contribute to a puppy ending up in a kennel.
- Joining two males or two unneutered females can also be a problem on certain occasions as they can compete for the same female or male, they can be territorial, maybe they don't like each other etc.
- Finally joining any dog with another while they are neutered avoids the suffering of thinking about aggressiveness between the two, a possible pregnancy, etc. However, sometimes (and if they are both adults) conflicts can arise. To do this, it is best to go to a shelter with our dog and see what attitude he shows with the one we intend to adopt.
Remember that dogs are herd animals, they like to live in groups, for this reason if you are considering adopting another dog, go to a shelter where you will find friends who will thank you all their lives for rescuing them.
Choosing sex responsibly
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the dog is an exceptional pet, regardless of its gender, however, we must be fully responsible with our choice
This means that if we take in a male dog we must be consistent with the sexual behavior that he may show and we must know that the sterilization of the dog can be a highly recommended option in some cases.
On the other hand, if we welcome a female we are responsible for her reproduction If we decide that she has offspring, we must take into account as a priority the future of these puppies, inform us enough about the dog's pregnancy and be prepared to attend her birth. On the contrary, if we do not want her to reproduce, we must opt for sterilization or be extremely vigilant to prevent a dog from mounting her.
It doesn't matter so much to choose a male or female dog, since it is a completely subjective choice, if we are not aware at all times of what responsibility we are accepting.
