males vs females personalities????

edited December 2008 in Shiba Inu (柴犬)
ok this i a newbie question is there any difference between a male or female shiba. like will one sex be more picky on what kind of food it likes. or there aggressiveness. or it doesnt really matter. personally i might pick out a female.

Comments

  • edited December 2008
    I have a 1 year old Male and a 5 month old Female Shiba Inu. Here is what I can tell you (but Im no expert!) and remember, no matter male or female no two dogs are alike and gender can not really tell you what your pup will be like when it grows.

    My Male is a wuss, he doesn't like to go outside to pee or poop if it is raining. My Female will go out in any weather and just sit there, she thinks it's fun.

    My female is a DRAMA QUEEN, she will cry, bark, scream, etc to get what she wants and if she doesn't get it she will throw a tantrum and not talk to me for hours...My male could care less.

    My Male seems to be more cuddly although the female has been getting cuddlier, but she only lasts for about 10 seconds.

    They both eat Orijen dog food and love it.

    Neither are "agressive" or "reactive" but this is because of the HEAVY socialization I have put them through and continue to do so. We go to lots of different places, meet lots of different dogs and people and they have both gotten very good about it. The female is still a little nervous about certain things (i.e. strollers, joggers) but she is still learning and gets more comfortable every time we go. A puppy class can really help socialize them.

    I am sure there is more, but I have only had 1 cup of coffee so far, so if I think about it I will edit this post... :)
  • edited November -1
    I think it is pretty hard to use sex as a guide on how dogs will be. I know some female Shibas that are just little Princesses that do not want to get dirty, be out in the cold, or play rough. Then I know some female Shibas that are very Alpha and are always bossing other dogs around, playing rough, and willing to do whatever.

    Dogs are truly individuals.
  • edited November -1
    I've had 2 male foster shibas and 1 female foster shiba along with my two resident shibas (one male, one female) and I have to heavily agree with Brandon when he says that dogs are truly individuals. I think Kristin's explanation shows that too, because while I can relate to her dogs, no two have been the same in my house.

    Is there a specific reason you'd want a female?
  • edited December 2008
    Each dogs personality is different, just like each person. You have some people who love children, and some who hate them. Some people love to swim, while other make it a personal mission to avoid water at all costs. so many factors can make a personality, and gender is only one of them. There is also genetics, previous experiences, how you yourself would raise them, how the breeder took care of them, where you got them (pet store or breeder), breed type and probably many other things I can't think of right now.

    I know that this would probably have little affect, but between me, my boyfriend and the rest of my immediate family, we have 4 males of different breeds (shih tzu/lhasa, schipperke, shiba and sierian husky). They each have different personalities, and none of them truly exhibit what would be a "normal" personality for that breed.
    The Schipperke, Teddy, is supposed to be very much like a shiba; stubborn, loyal, selective hearing, but a little more affectionate and likes water. He can be affectionate when he wants to, especially when there is a food he likes. But since my sister got him from a pet store (before she knew how bad they were) and he had 3 months of kennel cough, he's been a nervous wreck who has high aggression tendencies. Food aggression, invasion of personal space, territorial, these are traits not normal for the schipperke breed but he exhibits them.
    The husky, Tikaani, is a dominant breed that is supposed to be energetic, very talkative and a handful. Tikaani is a mush and only really energetic when he's excited about something. Other than that, even though he is still a puppy, he's pretty much satisfied sleeping and chewing on rawhides. He only really makes noise when something scares him or he's hungry, and it sounds more like whining than barking. He acts all dominant, but when the chips are down, he folds. He too suffered from puppyhood illness, but only shows a gassy fear of the vet.
    The Shih tzu/Lhasa (only stated as such since we're not sure which he is), Petey, is supposed to be a loyal, brave, intelligent and an affectionate companion. He can show those traits sometimes, but for the most part he is very confused. when the other dogs play, he tries to break it up thinking they are fight but in the process starts a fight. The most he's learn is sit and paw, everything else just goes over his head, even with treats to guide him. He is not loyal to one person, just to the last person who pet him.
    The shiba, Tetsu, well you'll hear plenty about their personality type. Tetsu doesn't have a hatred of water, in fact he plays at the beach and snorkels in the waterdish. I have a plant sprayer that he loves to play with. He does like his "me" time, but he also loves being around me. Sometimes he'll go out of his way to sleep at the foot of my bed. He does have that whole "mine" attitude, but when someone walks through the front door, he greets them bearing a gift (If you walk into my house, please be sure to either wear steel toe shoes or watch your feet in relation to his gift). He wrestles with the husky, mouths and teeth chomping away at each others body parts. I hear that this form of play is not shiba-esk, but he enjoys it as much as running after another dog.

    What I'm trying to say is that gender is not a leading cause of personality, and yes I do write a lot of words. Heck, the breeder we got Tikaani from practiced a puppy personality test to help determine what home would be best for him (he scored mostly 4s). Here's the link for anyone who would like to compare it with their own pups:

    http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/bouvier/BuyersGuide/Puppy_Aptitude_Test.htm

    You may find that when you meet a litter of puppies to take one home, you'll choose one that wasn't the one you expected. Gender is more of a preference, and I feel doesn't really coincide with the personality.
  • edited November -1
    I think gender really only becomes relevant if you are mixing your pack. Meaning if you are adding a dog to an already established group. Otherwise pick the dog you like.
  • edited November -1
    Each animal is unique and different and gender has little to do with generally how it will behave in terms of fear, weather, food, bossiness etc.
    If you already have a dog pick an opposite gender and if you can discuss with your breeder and find opposite personality to your current dog. That way it is better balance in terms of developing a friendship between the two.

    Snf
  • edited November -1
    From the 3 breeders I have dealt with/spoken with on the issue:

    1-They are called bitches for a reason.
    2-The males tend to get placed much easier due to reason #1.
    3-First time shiba owners report males generally being easier to live with.

    Having ignored all of that and me starting out with a female shiba first off instead of a male, I feel like I conquered the mountain and everything would have to be easier from there. It was but why put yourself through that? I know I still would have wanted a female anyways even after I got my boy. They are good together but I find my boy's temperment much easier to live with than the female's. Again, as was stated above, it all depends on the dog. There are a lot of pleasent easy going females and plenty of reactive boys.
  • edited November -1
    Mylie's a female Shiba and a little snob, but I say that with all the love in my heart! She'll bark/cry/squeak for attention, she's intrusive of everyone's personal space, and she think the world is supposed to stop for her when she drops a ball in your lap. She only obeys commands when I'm extremely persistent, or there's something in it for her. She huffs and puffs when irritated or bored, and plays rough. Late at night, about and hour before bed, she turns into my little snuggle bug. If I successfully tire her out, she'll fall asleep on my lap watching tv. She insists that my ears need cleaning on a daily basis and will hold my face down with her paw until she's satisfied with her cleaning. She's very smart, and very aware of her surroundings. If something in my house is out of place, or new; she will bark at it as if to warn me.
    She's a cutie, truly committed and so funny; Although, I chose her based on her personality and the connection we had when we met, not her gender.
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