Trialling Males Or Females?.

[Longcoat]

I have noticed quite a large number of people trialling in agility, flyball etc have females and was wondering what kind of male/female ratio's are working in those sporting disciplines???. I haven't trialled in agility for many years which used to be more male dominated or should I say the more serious trainers who did well generally trialled males thinking that they were a better choice for ultimate performance. Of late, I trial in Schutzhund which is generally male dominant, but I am interested to know if there are differences between trialling either???. I have seen some excellent bitches in Schutzhund, probably lacking some power in some areas, but extremely fast and agile being of smaller stature than a heavier male.

Interesting to know if people do have a preference???

Edited January 24, 2010 by Longcoat

[JulesP]

I've had 2 boy borders and 2 girl borders. I have preferred training the girls. They have just been more focused, more into it.

[Jumabaar]

In my flyball club my girl is often the odd one out being the only girl on the team. I have 3 girls and 2 boys- The boys are entire so have had to work a little more on their focus but in general they are as easy/hard as each other.

[The Spotted Devil]

I have an entire male Dally - he is a blast to trial with. However, I put a lot of work into teaching him an "on/off" switch in terms of his hormones, sniffing, peeing and generally being distracted (he is a real boy and will pee and scrape all day if you let him). He knows when it is time to concentrate and I have never allowed him to decide to switch off - I taught a release word and made sure I always used it before he became distracted. Now I can ask for focus for longer but the biggest mistake I see is people turning their back on their dog in training or in the ring (mentally or physically!) - perfect invitation for a dog to decide for himself that it's switch off time!

My last dog was a spayed ACD girl - gorgeous thing she was. Mad as a hatter and incredibly focussed too....by luck more than by design though ;)

[Ptolomy]

I have found that the girls learn a lot quicker than the boys. With the boys I have to break thinks down into little tiny pieces, build and then rebuild if I miss a few days training because there is never anything left in the memory bank. The girls have memories like elephants and just never forget.

For me, the boys I have trained all wanted to please whereas the girls can have a stick it up your jumper attitude.

My next obedience dog will be a boy!

So far both boys have been desexed - one at 7 months and one at 12 months.

The girls were all entire when they began their trialling career. Blaize was steralised at 6 yrs, Beans at 3 years, Lexi at 3 1/2 years and Lara at 12 months.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Ptolomy

[xena98]

I have had all girls and they all have wanted to please and got OC (4) AG CH (2) and have done 2 boys one a Jack Russell and spent all the time arguing. Girls all round

[The Spotted Devil]

Can I ask a favour of everyone please? Would you mind indicating whether your boys/girls are entire/desexed? Thanks!

[xena98]

All of mine have been desexed except the Jack and that was the ex's dog and he refused. Thought it was very cruel but fine with the girls

[Kavik]

I've had two girls and two boys. I've only managed to trial one of the boys, but that is more due to temperament than anything else (and my previous dog - the first girl, I got when I was 11 and didn't know about trialling until she was too old to try).

[ness]

Only trialled 2 dogs but both are desexed girls.

[JulesP]

1 desexed boy, 1 entire boy, 1 desexed girl, 1 entire girl. Didn't really notice much difference except the entire male broke a stay to go say hi to a bitch! Didn't notice any training issues with the entire female.

[MonElite]

Not that I have a lot of expereince trialing but I did a bit with my old entire boy (dobermann) and where he was pretty good on the individual stuff I was always worried about the group stays.

If there was an entire male next to him Id would withdraw him, just in case.

He loved the girls tho, and that was a problem as well, he once just got up and left the ring to play with his whippet girlfriend from the club, he was soooo in love with her

My girls - well Divani is relativelly good, I dont worry about dog agro with her, but she is flat in the ring and it annoys me no end, so I kinda given up on her, she can just be a pet and chase bunnies. Mind you I might bring her out again and get a title on her eventually.

Furia - nearly 12 months old only attended mock trial once and was PERFECT for what she knows.

[Guest Clover]

I have had trialed/ competed with four dogs (the four in my signaiture). All four are desexed. I have not found a pattern with my guys to who works better, more drive etc. Elvis & Clover have been the stand outs with Flyball, where Tinny and Harri are out there for fun .

Clover was a good Obedience dog away from trials, but put her in the ring and she would lose interest. I still have hope for Elvis and Obedience trialing. And am currently working on Harri's formal Obedience skills. I'm sure if i put some effort in Tinny would learn eventually, but she tends to fotget things pretty quickly.

ETA: Oh and my preference is dogs over bitches.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Clover

[Sayreovi]

Interesting.

My next dog will be a bitch, and never having a bitch before (except for the rescues) I don't really know what too expect. Hopefully given the lines she will be an awesome focussed dog who goes great in sports!

Would be nice having a dog that just focusses on what is required, sometimes my boys get distracted and completely forget what I told them to do or even what we are doing. It does make training and trailling tedious at times.

[bedazzledx2]

My boy is entire and has been used at stud 3 times...by the second time he knew what it was all about and by the third time he decided this is what he was born to do I now have him on the implant Supralorin which has proved to be wonderful!!! He still has great attitude but without the need to check out every fanny in the vicinity not to mention the peeing on every blade of grass!!! :p He is a very nice Aussie and I would like to have a pup from him down the track which is why I have chosen not to castrate him.

My next pup will be a working Kelpie girl (although I also have a boys name picked out just in case ;) )

Can I ask a favour of everyone please? Would you mind indicating whether your boys/girls are entire/desexed? Thanks! ;)

[bedazzledx2]

Thats called 'boy brains' :p I know it well which is why I'm going after another bitch after 3 boys which all had the same affliction

Interesting.

My next dog will be a bitch, and never having a bitch before (except for the rescues) I don't really know what too expect. Hopefully given the lines she will be an awesome focussed dog who goes great in sports!

Would be nice having a dog that just focusses on what is required, sometimes my boys get distracted and completely forget what I told them to do or even what we are doing. It does make training and trailling tedious at times.

[huski]

Daisy's the only dog I've ever trained for competition, she is desexed.

I train Micha for fun and I find he's much easier going than she is! But that's his character - he's Mr Cool!

I think they call girls bitches for a reason Daisy picks things up pretty easily and when she's switched on her focus is excellent irregardless of the distractions around us. She's definitely more intense than Micha.

I would really like a tri colour male beag next (call name will be Burt) but then again I have a real soft spot for the girls, I have girl names I really love too :p

Temperament is more important to me than sex, I like the pup with the spunkiest character, I don't really care if it's male or female.

Edited January 25, 2010 by huski

[Ptolomy]

Has anybody found with the entire girls that they are either coming into season, in season, going out of season or having a phantom pregnancy all of which affects their drive/effort/performance?

I kept a diary with Blaize and she would work well throughout her season apart from days 9-13 - then her intensity dropped off.

I have now decided that tollers don't mature before 4 years of age - so it was really hard to know with Lexi and Beans how much of it was hormonal and how much was immaturity when they had an off day

[Staff'n'Toller]

Male Kelpie x desexed @ 6mths, awesome attitude, trained to advanced obedience and protection. Would work all day, picked up things with great speed and accuracy.

Female Stafford desexed @ 2yrs, will also work for long periods, learns fast but accuracy not so great- would probably be better with some clicker work but has a low frustration index.

Male Toller desexed @ 2.5yrs, learns at lightening pace but retention is another matter. Or should I say....learns it the right way then likes to do it different *just because* I would have sworn this was BS if someone had said their dog does it before I got Geordie! Spends a bit of his time looking for the girls, or smells of girls, or "look at that birdie over there!!" ad infinitum. :p

I also live with a Kelpie x Bull Terrier girl and work with a Labrador girl and boy and the boy Lab can be a goofball too.

I will be getting girl dogs for the forseeable future. :p

[J...]

I do agility and dabble in a touch of obedience - I have a 4 yo bitch trialling in agility and a 8 mo bitch. Both desexed.

Darcy (4 yo kelpie x lab) is probably more dog like in that there is not an ounce of "bitch" in her temperament wise. Can be a bit of a sook but loves to work, yet she's not pushy. Very laid back while not working but will fire up in a heartbeat if there is work to be done. Picks stuff up pretty quickly.

Zee (8 mo BC x kelpie working bred) is pushy, super quick to learn and we're finding her off button as it doesn't always work. Loves people and does a great job of class clown!

I think it depends on what your own preferences are - I've grown up with mostly working bitches and a few dogs along the way. Working ability wise it's pretty much personal preference but IMO when things get tough the bitches have that slight edge to keep going and get the job done.