Guide: male vs female puppy
Male vs Female Puppy: Does It Really Matter?
Male vs female puppy is one of the first questions buyers ask. The honest answer is that it matters less than the individual dog. Most real differences come from hormones, and many of them fade after spaying or neutering. Temperament, the parents and how the puppy is raised tell you far more than its sex.
Male vs female puppy: what actually differs
- Size. In many breeds, males grow a little larger. For example, the American Kennel Club lists male Golden Retrievers at 65 to 75 pounds and females at 55 to 65.
- Heat cycles. An unspayed female comes into heat about twice a year. See our guide to the dog heat cycle.
- Hormone-driven habits. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), intact males may mark with urine, mount and roam in search of mates. Intact females may also roam and mount around their heats (AKC).
In small mixes such as Havapoos, the size gap between the sexes is usually small.
Behavior and training
You will hear that males are more affectionate and females more independent, or the reverse. However, there is little solid evidence for either claim. One AKC columnist suggests male puppies tend to be a bit more adventurous, but differences between individual puppies are far bigger than differences between the sexes.
In other words, a calm male and a busy female from the same litter are entirely normal.
What spaying and neutering change
The AKC notes that neutering can often reduce leg-lifting and mounting, although not always, and that it may reduce aggression in some dogs (AKC). Spaying ends heat cycles.
Timing is a decision for you and your vet. A large study of 35 breeds found that small-dog breeds seemed to have no increased risk of joint disorders linked to neutering age (Hart and colleagues). Spay surgery usually costs more than neutering, so ask your vet for both prices.
Myths about male vs female puppies
- “Females are easier to housetrain.” Both sexes learn at the same pace with a consistent schedule. See our potty training guide.
- “Males are more aggressive.” Aggression depends on genetics, socialization and training far more than on sex.
- “Females are better with children.” Both parent breeds of our puppies score 5 out of 5 with young children, and that rating is not split by sex.
How to choose between a male and a female puppy
- Choose temperament first. Ask the breeder which puppy is the calmest, the boldest or the most people-focused.
- Think about pets you already have. Your vet or trainer can advise on a good match for a resident dog.
- Decide about spaying or neutering. If you will not neuter, the hormone-driven habits above matter more.
- Stay flexible. Insisting on one sex can mean passing over the puppy that suits you best.
See how to pick a puppy from a litter, and ask us about each puppy’s personality.
Related guides
- How to Choose a Puppy Breeder: 12 Things to Check Before You Pay a Deposit
- Cost of Owning a Puppy: A First-Year Budget Guide
- Littermate Syndrome: Should You Get Two Puppies at Once?
- Adopt or Buy a Dog? An Honest Comparison From a Breeder
- What Age Can Puppies Leave Their Mother? Why 8 Weeks Matters
See all our puppy guides, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
Sources
- American Kennel Club. Sexual Maturity in Puppies: What to Know and What to Expect. akc.org
- American Kennel Club. Spaying and Neutering Your Puppy or Adult Dog: Questions and Answers. akc.org
- American Kennel Club. Puppy Socialization: Does Gender Matter?. akc.org
- Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2020. Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- American Kennel Club. Golden Retriever breed information. akc.org
Sources were checked on October 7, 2026.
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Our puppies are born and raised inside our family home in Eagle Mountain, Utah, from health-tested parents. See who is available now, or ask us a question.