There are hundreds of dog breeds to choose from when looking to bring a new pet into the family. Golden Retrievers are famously one of the best behaved breeds, who make excellent family dogs. You might be wondering whether it’s better to get a male or female golden retriever!
There are only a handful of differences when it comes to owning a male or female golden retriever. The pros and cons to having a male or female golden as a pet vary between behavioral issues, temperament, size, biological reproductive differences, and overall appearance.
To better assist in your search for the ideal pup, this article details the differences between both male and female golden retrievers, and which variants to expect with each gender.
Is it Better to Have a Male or Female Golden Retriever?
There are plenty of pros and cons to owning either a male or female golden retriever, though at the end of the day, the differences are not tremendously significant. Additionally, the answer is entirely subjective. Some people prefer the well-trained, dominant female dog. Others prefer a more affectionate, playful male dog. It’s up to you to decide which behaviors and traits are most important to you.
Are Male or Female Golden Retrievers Easier to Train?
Golden retrievers are an excellent breed of dog, not just because they tend toward friendliness and make great family pets, but also because they tend to train well. Many golden retriever pet parents and trainers report having easier training experiences with female goldens than with male goldens.
That being said, a golden retriever, whether male or female, is still likely to follow commands better than an overly hyperactive breed.
Temperament of Male/Female Golden Retrievers
Many Golden Retriever pet parents report that their male golden retrievers are little more wily, with more excess energy. If you are looking for a more mellow pet, you might consider a female. However, many golden owners have also said that Golden Retriever males seem to be more affectionate than female goldens.
Males tend to worship the ‘leader of their pack’ more so than females, as a means of evolutionary survival. Females, on the other hand, do not exhibit this behavior as much. Perhaps this is because female dogs tend to exhibit alpha behavior.
This does not mean that female golden retrievers are not loving or affectionate, they just might appear less affectionate compared with a male golden retriever.
The Cons of Owning a Male Golden
It is true that some behavioral issues are more prevalent with one sex compared to the other. If you are trying to narrow down which gender Golden Retriever you want, the following behavioral issues are worth considering:
Unwanted Urination
Like most K-9 breeds, male dogs tend to have more frustrating behavioral issues than do female dogs. Primarily, male dogs like to urinate to mark their territory, and untrained male dogs, golden retrievers included, will mark just about anything. Urination inside the home is the most common reason pet owners surrender their dogs or cats at shelters or adoption centers.
If you want to ensure your pet doesn’t mark their territory all over your home, the safest bet is to get a female golden retriever. However, some urination issues can be fixed with training and by neutering your dog. Neutering will not instantly fix the problem, but the smaller levels of hormones will help lessen the likelihood of it occurring as frequently.
Some female dogs urinate but do so less to mark their territory, and more as an act of defiance. Still, pet parents across the board report less urination in unwanted places when they have girl dogs, as opposed to boy dogs.
Humping
Both male and female dogs hump furniture, other dogs, and their humans sometimes. However, male dogs tend to exhibit this behavior more than female dogs, especially if the dog is not neutered. If you want to avoid excessive humping, you might want a female dog instead. However, you should expect your female dog to hump objects or people from time to time, as this is a way of exerting dominance and establishing territory.
The Cons of Owning a Female Golden Retriever
Female golden retrievers might still hump, but they mark their territory in the home significantly less than male dogs. However, there are certainly downsides to owning a female golden:
Female Golden Retrievers Go into Heat
One particular issue that can occur if you are looking to responsibly breed your golden retriever female, is that a non-spayed female dog will experience bleeds when they go into heat. This can be a messy affair and requires extra diligence on the part of the pet-parent to ensure your female dog is safe and away from male dogs who will smell her scent and want to mate.
Fortunately, the pet stores do sell solutions to this (doggy diapers) and bleeds can be manageable. The upside to having to care for a female dog in heat is that you can responsibly breed pups, which can be a joy to assist in.
Female Goldens are Reportedly Less Affectionate
Often when people decide to get a golden retriever, part of their reasoning is because they want a family-friendly dog who will be loving and playful. Female golden retrievers do fit this bill, however, they can be less cuddly than their male counterparts. As we mentioned above, this is in part due to evolutionary survival.
The Difference in Appearance Between Male and Female Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers do not vary greatly in their appearances based on their given sex. However, you’ll be surprised there are indeed subtle but noticeable differences for each gender.
Overall Appearance
While golden retrievers of both sexes possess varying shades of golden fur, the fur itself might appear different given the gender. Male goldens tend to have longer, more feathery hair, giving them a sort of ‘lion mane’ quality around their head and neck.
Some golden retriever females, for example, do not get that classic ‘feathered’ fur look until they are few years old, meaning in their puppy years they might resemble more closely to that of a golden-colored Labrador retriever. Male golden retrievers’ fur, on the other hand, tends to feather from the time they are a puppy.
Size
Golden retriever males tend to be larger overall than female golden retrievers. Male goldens have larger heads and bodies, giving them a very ‘handsome’ appearance. Female golden retrievers are typically smaller and sleeker looking than their male counterparts. Golden retriever males can grow to weigh as little as 65 lbs. to 75lbs. Whereas, female golden retrievers can grow to weigh between 55lbs and 65lbs.
The Key Take Away
Golden Retriever males and females do not differ that much, especially after they’ve been trained and spayed/neutered. However, if there are certain behavioral issues, like marking, you’d like to avoid, you now have the knowledge you need to make an educated decision as to what sex Golden Retriever to get.
Keep in mind that female golden retrievers, while possibly easier to train, might be slightly less affectionate and more reserved than a male golden retriever. Additionally, male golden retrievers often possess the classic ‘handsomeness’ of the breed, more so than the females. However, both genders will provide lots of love and happy memories for you and your family!
At the end of the day, it all depends on you and your families priorities and preferences. Though, if the small differences are so significant to you, it might be worth investing in a different kind of breed or animal all together.