Companion DDR, male or female. - Page 1

I am not altogether in agreement with the view that a female is the way for you to go.

1) A male is more, not less, likely than a female to accept a male person as alpha.  Think of the wolf pack -- there is a male and female alpha.  The female dog may well accept you as the male alpha and still assert herself strongly with your wife, gf, or older daughters.  Further, the female alpha can take liberties with the male alpha that a male beta may not take.  I saw this pattern play out for years in competitive obedience.

2) A male dog is more likely to quarrel with male dogs, a female with female.  Which is more dog aggressive as a rule?  I would say the order is whole male - spayed female - whole female - neutered male.  So if you are going to neuter, a male may be the least argumentative.  Plenty of spayed females are quite bitchy (they have less estrogen than natural, after all).

3) That said, I would not allow a monstrous breeder or vet to talk you into pediatric castration.  A dog neutered before at least ten months (and preferably 18) does not yet have a clear sense of gender identity, and neither are his joints and bones fully set.  A eunuch is not only misshapen (taller, smaller head, thicker body, lower muscle mass) but he is confused.  Dogs neutered very young (before six months) often are unreliable in their relations with other dogs.  They are not clearly male or female, and this makes it hard for them and the other dogs to know how to behave.  Males castrated young are often the one dog at the park most badly abused by both males and females.

4) Were I you, I'd pick a calm male puppy, on the small size (there are males who grow to only 75 lbs -- the size of many females), one who accepts social dominance at seven weeks (see the Volhard test) -- and then I would raise him to not quarrel with many chances to interact with other dogs with you watching out for the first sign of trouble -- and intervening clearly.  Train him to neither initiate nor accept challenges (at least in front of the family).

This is the frame through which I see the gender issue after many years with gsds.  Others may differ, and you should hear out anyone with an open mind and some real experience to draw upon before deciding.

MVF

As for the DDR issue, my experience with three DDR dogs (both genders) and my brother training a fourth, and with many west german, including a highlines, plus even a wg x american is that DDR dogs are no less likely to fight with dogs.  In fact, my most peaceable dogs have been west german, although I had a top male DDR dog who was so totally uninterested in other dogs that he was perfectly safe.  MY WORST DOG FIGHTER WAS A DDR FEMALE.  The sample is small, but I don't actually know why you think DDR buys you any special insurance on this one.  I had a scaredy-cat west german showlines dog (linebred Canto Weinerau) who would never have fought a dog, but I also have a young west german working lines dog who has proven to have enormous restraint under conflict with medium and small dogs, when he could easily have had his way.

I think you would most likely be better off with a male. This is just from my personal experience (and that of friends) where female dogs (including mine) have all blown the men of the household off. They like our husbands if they think they can get a treat from them, but the real affection seems to be reserved for us "girls". As for DDR, I personally prefer the West German lines: they seem to mature faster, and therefore can be easier to train . But that's just me - we all have our favorite camps. I would check both out carefully before committing - and realize that whatever you get, training and socialization are a must! You might also want to consider a rescue - there are more and more dogs of the type you are looking for being surrendered every day. It would cost you far less than a puppy from a breeder ( we adopted a 6 month old boy a year or so ago - he was $350, and he is AWESOME.) As far as getting along with other dogs, I encourage that. I enjoy going to dog parks (we have some great ones here in Colorado) and along hiking trails where they can be off leash (some permit it.) We always encounter other dogs along the way, and I'd hate to miss out on a fun day because I can't trust my dog around others.

I wish you luck!