Morkies: Should You Get a Male or a Female?

!±8± Morkies: Should You Get a Male or a Female?

If you're planning to get a puppy, you might be contemplating whether a male or female is the better choice.

There are differences in behavior so it's something you might want to explore. However when it comes down to it, either male or female Morkie makes a great little dog, and if the dog is neutered, you'll have an even better pet companion.

Rule #1: no matter the gender, your dog needs to be neutered

Famous animal trainer Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, reminds us that a dog that isn't neutered, be it male or female, spends its whole adult live dealing with natural urges to procreate. The result can be a very frustrated, overwrought animal.

What are some other reasons to ensure your dog is neutered?

Most purebred and hybrid dog breeders will insist on a no-breed clause in your sales contract. They've worked hard to bring out certain qualities in the breed they're selling and to counteract other characteristics. Unless you're buying a show dog specifically for breeding (and you'll pay many, many thousands of dollars for this privilege) then consider yours a pet, who should not be bred. Neutering your pet will eliminate some common causes of cancer in dogs, namely breast, uterine and testicular cancers. When those organs re removed, it's pretty clear they can't be the site of potentially deadly illnesses. Four million cats and dogs-about one every eight seconds-are put down in U.S. shelters each year. So if you're not neutering your dog to keep your options open of having an adorable litter, you can see by this one statistic alone, there are more than plenty of dogs available today.

OK, Neutered Male or Female?

Neutered or not, all male dogs tend to 'mark' their territory by lifting a leg. No matter it's your best white silk furniture! You can try to train a dog not to mark his territory, but you're asking him to go against his instincts.

Two males in a household can mean a lot of bickering, as each fights it out to be alpha dog. However, females will also take part in dominance tests, so picking a girl doesn't guarantee this won't happen. Many experts suggest that if you already have a dog, chose the opposite gender for the best compatibility.

Gender isn't the only predictor (or even a good predictor) of how a dog will behave; however experienced dog owners often agree that a female can be easier to train, but a male can be more affectionate.

When it comes right down to it, the choice of male or female is entirely subjective. There is no substantial evidence that one gender behaves differently from the other; instead there are many factors at play including the breed, raising and environment.

If you consider some of the more famous dogs in our culture, and realize they often played the opposite sex, you'll agree, there's really no difference.

Did you know...

The famous Taco Bell Chihuahua who was portrayed as a kind of bandito tough-guy, was played by a female called Gidget. Spuds McKenzie, the beer guzzling babe-chaser spokesdog for Bud Light, was played by a female Bull Terrier, Honey Tree Evil Eye. Despite the fact the character Lassie is female, all collies to play Lassie in the television series were male because male collies retain a thicker summer coat than females, which "looks better on television." according to author Beth Jacks. Toto in Wizard of Oz, was referred to as a male (at one point in the movie, Dorothy said "come here boy") but the part was played by a female Cairn Terrier called Terry. As long as your puppy is healthy and comes from a reputable breeder not a puppy mill, you're on your way to years of love and fun with your Morkie - male or female.