Stupid Question (SchH) - Page 1

Ok here goes... I am curious about whether there are a lot of female (dog) competitors at the regional and national levels. I only hear about the males. I understand that it can/could be tricky with the females heat cycles. But I still never hear any mention of females competing that high up.
Any specific reason or reasons why?
I'm just curious, mainly because we are getting a female pup and my husband is very competitive :-) He would like to take her to her full potential (which may not be regional or national) BUT as far as she as an individual wants to go. Obviously if for some reason she hates the sport or doesn't excel, they won't get too far... I understand this.
Just looking for some insight, stories, information about some excellent females. What levels they got to, who their trainers/handlers were. Maybe some links about them.
Thanks in Advance
Stacy

this is not true look better , girs are more responsive and might be even better

 

Wildpolish,
I was not trying to make a statement but ask a question about who these females are. With males you don't have to look so hard for them. The winners are a common workingline name.
Thank you for your information. I did wonder about whether males or females were more responsive to their handler :-)
Stacy

My understanding is that it's mostly related to money. You can get way more money from titling a male dog to the top and then making him your stud dog. Or selling him as a stud dog. There's probably little to do with male vs female capabilities, though you could definitely argue that point.

Just from looking at the BSP 2005 list for female sounding names:

V Hella vom tasmanischen Teufel
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/332302.html

Esta von der Nikolausstraße
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/123735.html

There are more, just look for first names that end in "a" or sound girlish haha!

Not a stupid Question:

Females go through a cycle. When in heet they usually loose their Mind ..lol
Females get bred, about 4 months out of a year is gone. (of course I work females all the way till later in pregnancy and I start getting them into shape when puppies are about 5 weeks old. (it is just not as intense)

I like to work with females.. unfortunatelly they are higher maintanance??
pack

This sounds like it is your first dog, so, I wouldn't worry about it. For a first time handler a female is probably much easier to train overall than a male. You have a much better chance of getting a good female than a male.
My helper likes to say, I can get a female to dance with me anytime.

When it comes to top level competition dogs the reason that many choose a male over a female is because of a few reasons.
A truly impressive male will, almost always, look more powerful on a trial field than a female. More importantly, though, is the fact of, as mentioned above, dealing with the heat cycles. When a female goes in to heat they can, or will, get scatter brained. If your dog has a bad experience or gets in to a bad habit, male or female, it can take months to fix it. There is a much greater chance of a female having a bad experience or getting in to a bad habit while it is in heat. Top level competitors have too much time and money invested in their dogs to chance major setbacks like this. It also, somewhat, limits you on when you can trial your female if she does get a little nutty during her heat cycle.

Again though, I would stick with your plan of getting a female. They are, overall, the better choice!

Hey thanks for all that info! Going through the list for girlie names was clever idea ;-)
That's really cool. The link gave me hope mollyandjack :-)

Pack,
I understand about the cycles.   :-/     I don't even know my current female when she is in heat LOL One reason I wondered about that. So I guess the timing of her cycle will decide whether we go for titles too! I can't imagine the disaster that would be.
I'm not even ready for my BH yet with my male (took a long time before I started training him, so it's all new to both of us!)
I think my husband will really enjoy this new puppy. He has "dog smarts" and retains information

This may be a cool topic for learning. I had wondered if maybe a lot of people who were capable of taking their females to the higher levels maybe decide to use them as brood instead.

OGBS,
Looks like we posted at the same time. Thank you for the info on females. I have a 2 and a half year old male from the same breeder, we got a late atart but are just starting our SchH training. Because he is an adult male now, he is WAY too much for me to take on another one, so my husband will be her HOT. Well HT anyway LOL...

What you posted made a whole lot of sense to me and was basically what I was looking for in an answer. I appreciate that...Thank you!

Over here there are several good Females working Nena is a prime example a great dog. Now regards handling and what response you may get from a female vs a Male a do not think it will make too much difference saying that i have never owned a female Dog in 60 years of keeping dogs until i got little Heidi and that did not go far but heres hoping it will with Izzy
To me training is training makes no difference about the sex, all Pups have there own little ways some easier some a bit harder but i guess when they grow up the usual problems regards coming into season will slow things down, that i have to meet yet, but it is a part of the being a female so we will get by it when it comes a part of nature,
As for working ability a female will work as hard as a male it may not look so dramatic, but there are some Females who bite harder than many males, Izzys Mother Babsi and Hetty have a really hard Bite and there is no slowing down on the attack they do not break stride straight in flat out, but both Dogs are social when not working they are adapatable
Stacy,
 Regards the ability to work i will be very suprised if your Pup lacks that it is bred into them a natural thing, and it will be fostered long before you get her she will know what it is all about at a very young age the breeder will see to that, he is a wizard with little Pups and will get them going
Steve