Male vs Female
Male Golden Retrievers
Males, Generally Speaking:
- Male Golden Retrievers tend to be “lovable slobs” and “good ol’ boys.”
- Male Golden Retrievers tend to be more vigorously affectionate and more “in your face” than females.
- Male Golden Retrievers tend to be more stable and reliable in mood, less prone to emotional swings, compared to females.
- Male Golden Retrievers tend to be clumsy and silly and prone to acting like oversized kids.
- Male Golden Retrievers mean well and are easy to love.
On the negative side:
- Male Golden Retrievers are more apt to test their owners and engage in dominance struggles, especially during their hormonal adolescent months, which can last from six months old all the way up to two years old.
- Male Golden Retrievers have obvious genitals, which can make for embarrassing moments if they become aroused or decide to lick themselves when Grandma is visiting. Some males are enthusiastic humpers who will mount stuffed toys, other dogs, sometimes people’s legs.
- Most male Golden Retrievers lift their leg to urinate — a consideration if you have expensive shrubbery or lawn ornaments. Some males are serious territorial markers who will spray urine on every vertical object to mark it with their scent.
Female Golden Retrievers
Females, Generally Speaking:
- Female Golden Retrievers tend to be more subtle than males. They’re affectionate on their own terms. They’ll request or demand petting, then reassert their independence by walking away when they’ve had enough.
- Female Golden Retrievers tend to be quicker to learn and are not as easily distracted during training sessions.
- Female Golden Retrievers are less likely to be openly defiant — but they can be passively resistant and manipulative about getting their own way.
- Female Golden Retrievers are prone to mood swings and emotional theatrics. They can be sweet one day (or one hour!) and grumpy the next.
- Female Golden Retrievers are experts at The Dirty Look and The Sulk.
Now, those of you who are nodding your head right now and thinking that these male-female characteristics sound… well… kind of familiar… let me assure you that you’re not alone in thinking so!
Other Male/Female Considerations…
- Consider the other dogs in your household. Unlike many other breeds, Golden Retrievers are usually fine with other dogs of the same sex. But some male Golden Retrievers CAN be dominant/aggressive toward other males, so if you already have a large male dog at home, you may want to lean toward a FEMALE Golden for your new dog.
- Consider the other dogs in your neighborhoood. If there’s a resident bully who roams free, you’d be wise not to get the same sex, else your daily walks may become stressful. Similarly, if your next-door neighbor has an aggressive dog, perhaps you should get the opposite sex to avoid fence-fighting.
