I’m getting a German Wired Hair Pointer. My male is 13 so I put a deposit down on a pup. Other than the obvious marking territory and peeing on everything and a females cycle what do you guys prefer. It won’t be a kennel dog, will be a family dog that I hunt. My question is, I’m wondering about trainability, temperament, drive, protectiveness, etc. Does it matter sex or is it strictly what happens to be in the particular dog regardless of sex. Does sex matter? Thanks.

I have 4 females. I prefer them squat to pee, don’t care for the marking issue. As for cycles, I deal with it until they are 2 yo. They get spayed at that age, after they finish growing, and since I’m not in the puppy business.

“trainability, temperament, drive, protectiveness, etc. ”


Not one one those traits can be said to be more prevalent in one sex over the other…

Some people prefer one over the other or have made a determination over an experience with a small sample size.

Thanks. I’ve only ever had males, so thought I’d see others ideas.

I don't think you can necessarily say one is better than the other. My 2 hunting dogs (labs) have both been female. They tend to be smaller which is important to me in house dog. While I have them to hunt, I gotta live with them the rest of the year.

I don’t like the marking, I’d prefer a smaller dog too and I’m not a heavy hand so I’d prefer a softer dog…I’ve seen more softer females than males, maybe it’s just been my sample size but I like the female.

For gun dogs I would say it doesn't matter. This is my experience and generalizations, but I have found the girl dogs love you while boy dogs want to be loved by you. Usually plays out with girls being a little more independent and boys having more attention seeking behavior. I think these differences are pretty minute though and would not affect your dogs companionability or hunting though. Don't know if GWPs are bloat risk dogs, but a gastropexy on a female is not any more invasive than the spay, while on a male dog it is practically an entire separate surgery.

Other working dogs, like livestock guard dogs, it can matter a fair bit. Size can fluctuate by 20+lbs and you can see same sex aggression fairly frequently so you do need to plan that into the household. My current pup is a girl and she marks like crazy and will left up her leg to pee over other boy dogs markings. She is a hyper dominant and territorial breed though (Great Pyr/Alaskan Malamute Mix) and that is bred into her.

Everyone, thank you for your responses and your time. I will make a decision and post a picture in the near future.

Neither of my neutered male labs mark and they squat to pee. No leg hiking. They need to be neutered at the correct time - environment plays a role as well.

Can't stand a dog that has to piss all over everything and I've seen that from males and females.

As for male vs female in the field - it's all personal preference IMO.

I prefer males but have had some dang good females in my lifetime. I like to watch them move. I like a short coupled pointer with a high tail set. Then I let the ones I like pick me.

Male or female can both have the talent and temperament. I think the right litter has more to do with temperament and talent than male or female. For me the difference is physicality. Your wire hair is a versatile. Versatiles are what I hunt. I prefer males in a versatile gun dog for what and where I hunt. I hunt upland birds a good bit and I don’t have much preference there. I hunt geese a good bit also. The versatile dogs I like are built to move in the uplands. That means a thinner built dog that can go are the lines I am seeking pups from. I like how the extra physicality of a big strong male holds up to several days a week in a goose blind. I will say that I think the female dogs mature sooner mentally and physically which can make them easier to work with the first year.
Good luck with your new wirehair pup.

I like female, don't like looking at a male's junk, especially when the red rocket comes out, that thing is gross!!

Had both. Ability wise it does not matter.
Overall, I prefer females.
Sometimes, in a hunting situation, males want to fight and harass the females.

I have a soft spot for the females. Have not noticed a difference in drive and/or ability.
-M

Both males and females are equal when it comes to physical ability, talent, intelligence, etc. Those are not traits that are determined by sex in dogs or other animals that have been domesticated from wild animals.
I've found that males are more consistent and less tempermental than females. Meaning they show up every day and are basically the same, regardless of if they had a good day or a bad day the day before. Females seem to be more emotional/hold grudges/remember things to a deeper extent.
that's the only significant difference between the two, other than external components.

I agree except the physical ability, males are more physical. Oh wait, we are talking about dogs, never mind!