I'm not sure if this is a myth, but I've heard there are affection gender differences in dogs: male dogs choose one person to like, while female dogs just like everyone. And this is absolutely true in our house. See, Mr. B has the biggest crush on E.
He loves going for walks with E, and will even do so
wearing humiliating costumes:
When E leaves for the day, he will wait at the window for hours, fogging it up, until he gets home:
And when E's home, Mr. B is always following him around the house. Even if Mr. B is in a deep sleep, if he hears E leave the room, he pops right up to follow him. He only sleeps on E's side of the bed and if one of E's shirts or socks happens to fall on the floor, Mr. B will go over and curl up on top of it.
Meanwhile, Miss M loves everyone and I'm sure she would drop us at a moment's notice.
She is often finding new families and getting ready to go home with them:
So is this a myth? Or do most people find this true with their dogs?
41 comments:
I think it rings pretty true. Though Ollie likes everyone, he sticks pretty close to D when he is home. He very rarely hangs out with me, unless I'm home alone. Flash on the other hand loves EVERYONE and thinks she is their best friend!
In our house, Petey is the one who will go home with anyone, Roxy is strongly attached to her mom, with me as a second and Jordie favors Niece #1 (I think I come in second with him too, although that could just be because I give him lots of cookies).
I've only had female dogs but have not found this to be true. Maisie is bonded to me above all others, but in general is very selective about who she likes (but initially prefers females), while my previous dog Kaya only really cared for men and nearly knocked my dog walker down one time to get to a male friend she'd brought along. however, my good friend's dog Mr. Peepers loves everyone.
http://maisieme.blogspot.com/
Eh, not so much here. It's certainly true for Charlie who's an anxious and neurotic mess - his world literally revolves around me. Emma however, I guess because of her abusive past, is also only really comfortable with me and prefers my company to anyone else. When we meet strangers she'll sniff them and then turn and head for me. My friend's male dog, who is also a psycho who's bitten more than 30 people, is certainly most comfortable only with his human. And I haven't found my male dog clients to be less loving or sweet or attachable than the females. Though girls do tend to be more licky and boys more goofy. Fun question though!
I've found that male dogs gravitate toward women and females to men. HOWEVER, Nikki is definitely my girl because I do all her training. McIver and Calhoun are mamma's boys too. Lucy would run through me to get to her daddy!
Mamma Heartbeat
Definitely true with ours. But we learned something very interesting when we had a petsitter come in while we were gone for my sister's wedding.
Mayzie is MUCH more outgoing and friendly than Ranger. Ranger tends to need to warm up to people while Mayzie is the welcoming committee. Ranger is completely my hubby's dog and while Mayzie is more "mine," she still is crazy about him. Like you, we always figured that Mayzie would abandon us at the drop of a hat while Ranger would stay loyal to us.
So we were surprised to learn that Ranger very quickly bonded with the petsitter. Wherever she was, he was. He was always the one curled up on the couch or in bed with her. Mayzie, on the other hand, was friendly and kissey, she didn't bond with the petsitter in the same way Ranger did. So it appears while Mayzie makes friends quickly and easily, Ranger makes "family" much more readily.
Who woulda thought?
Definitely not true in our house. Chick, who is a boy despite his name, is much like Miss M. He is highly social with people and we always joke that we could leave and be replaced with a whole new family, and he may not even notice. When friends come over, he often acts so excited that it's like he hasn't seen a human in years. Gonzo is a little less social with strangers, but seems to like most people just about the same as well.
I have only had male dogs, so I have nothing to compare. Sherman tends to gravitate more towards me where Leroy goes more to my husband, but then again there has been some talk that Sherman acts more like a lady:)
Our dogs - both male and female - easily divide their attention among their adoring fans. They would quickly go home with whoever offers them the best food.
Wyatt is a big momma's boy. He is my shadow. Stanzie is timid, but loves everyone.
Wyatt's Mom
I've only ever had males dogs, so I don't have much to compare - but I have to agree! Zeus is 100% my boy. He follows me around and when I go upstairs/downstairs/to the bathroom- he gets up and follows me. He also sleeps on my side of the bed but I think that's just because his bed is there. My family dog growing up was a male, and he was ultimately my Dad's dog. He was absolutely perfect for my Dad, and was a terror for the rest of us. It's funny now, but it certainly was frustrating back then! Great question!
I'm not sure! Bunny definitely shows a preference towards me, but she's friendly with everyone. Hawk was our male grey, and he was definitely really my dog. He was always with me, but I thought it was somewhat due to taking him through obedience class. I really have to ponder this!
Funny that you're writing about this. We've recently had this conversation in our home. After we had to put our male down two years ago, we got a new male about 5 month later. My husband was sure Squirt was going to be his dog but he instead is the biggest mommas boy you could ever see. Our girl loves everyone.
Its the exact opposite for us. Laci is my girl all the way. She likes my bf, Sean, but its me she comes to for comfort and love. Last time I I took a trip she moped the whole time until I came home, having Sean there just wasn't the same. Apollo on the other hand, I think he would go off with anybody as long as he got pets and hugs. He almost left with the landlord the other day and I had to put a stop to the shenanigans.
Interesting post...very cute pictures! In my limited experience (Sophie being the first dog I have owned on my own)she is strongly attached to me, followed closely by an attachment to my dad.
On the other hand, my friend's lab (who I dogsit often) will go home with anyone who looks at her. She loves everyone!
I wouldn't doubt this being true. My parent's dog, harley, LOVES my dad, and always follows my uncles, grandpa and family's male friends around whenever they're over. Women? He pays attention to me at least, but not really to any other lady.
We have two female dogs - a pittie and a border collie mix. The pittie girl would go home with anyone while the border collie is much more selective. So while I can't comment on gender differences I definitely see breed differences between my two girls.
Our were the opposite... Tank was very selective about who she let in her circle of trust... Havok on the other hand would love anything shiny and new...
I have always had female dogs; with the exception of 1, they have all been very friendly to everyone equally. To the exception, no one else existed unless I was not home.
Darwin is definitely a social butterfly. I think it's due to being raised around a lot of people (our office) when she was a tiny puppy. She'll eagerly greet people a lot quicker than other (strange) dogs.
I think it's funny how many people admit to worrying that their dogs would easily run off and live with another family---because I have often wondered the very same thing. I only have girl dogs and they are both very social with people!
We love the photo with Mr B with his hat on.
I do not know it has made no difference with male or female the only two we have fosterd that took more to Brenda was Jock and Pipin.
But I think they just did not trust men.
haha that is so adorable.
Winnie also looks for families to go home with haha. Bruno on the other hand hates strangers and loves us completely- I'd like to think I'm his favorite but I can't be sure if he swtiches teams when I'm not around :)
My (girl) dog would leave me in a heartbeat- especially for a man. And of course he wouldn't even need to have a car, or a job.
Nope, that one is definitely a myth. My female dog Jessie lived only for me. Lucky on the other hand - a male - I'm pretty sure he'd go home with anyone. Your post today made me go "awwwww" (Mr. B waiting at the window) and giggle in the same post (Miss M ready to go home with a new family). Love it!
Okay, you might find this crazy, but some of the boys in our current pack are partial to Mom and a couple of the girls are total Daddy's girls! No kidding.
The Road Dogs
hysterical..we love everyone. BOL
Benny & Lily
We have the exact opposite in our house. Jazz only loves me (I suppose my mom and dad too since she spent her first year with them). But Ben adores the world and will cuddle with basically anybody that lets him. He's the lover of the house :)
Awwww... Mr. B's crush on Mr. E is so sweet. I think Tommy is more like Miss M; he loves everyone.
Big Carl really loves me best!
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
I enjoyed your article and it explained something that has bothered me. My last dog was a boy and followed me everywhere was very devoted, our new dog is a girl Pit Bull and altho she loves me and my friends as family she lacks the devotion I was used to with a boy dog. Now I know shes just being natural and its not me !!
These are some fabulous pics as usual, esp that 1st one. Frame-able!
I love your home space, too - you are very good at creating clean, elegant, and modern style.
Having 2 girls, I can't compare what a boy pup would be like, but my 2 are definitely mama's girls. Arwen does the Mr B thing completely. Nyxie is more up for whoever in the pack is most interesting at the time. But both are definitely mama's girls.
At the practice, I find people telling me that male dogs are more affectionate whereas the females tend to be more one family or person souls. Biologically this makes sense, I guess, as males can be less "selective" of their mates and would benefit more from being more "friendly".
Hello 'deres-
me's been away for a while butt ketchup on me furiends-
me sissy Josie loves everyone- hu hu's
me is a Momma's boy for sure!
Laters,
Anakin Man
pee-s
we's suppose to get flakes of 'da snows tomorrow :(
I have one of each. Anouk, my girl, is more reserved and less outwardly affectionate than Ziggy. While she will be friendly with other people, she definitely wouldn't abandon me for a new family. I'm her 'person'. Ziggy is more exhuberant and tends to like everyone! He is also far more snuggly and likes to sit on peoples' laps (he's also around 20 kilos, so he's a large lap dog)
completely true in our household the boys especially brinks and guero with the gramma are extremely attached to us girls brinks with me and guero with my mom.the girls could care less and sleep on their own in the ottomans. the boys MUST sleep curled right behind our knees or right on our neck lol. the girls dont even bother to tell us goodbye when we go to work but the boys follow us all the way to the door. brinsk even waits outside the restroom door when i go in for a shower or what not. i've always found it quite curious.
I think that is pretty true in our house! Mickey follows me around and John always comments on how much he loves me and while Kayloo loves John and I (I think she is especially fond of John) she would pick up and live with anyone.
Our girl Millie loves everyone, especially who ever is newest to her. But my childhood dog, Sas, was a girl and she was attached at the hip to my mom. She could take or leave the rest of us! So, who knows?
Ugh, Levi is totally like that with Jason. They are in loooooooove and it's gross. I might be the tiniest bit jealous. Not of the attention Jason gives Levi, but that Levi gives Jason. It's funny too because Levi is uncertain of some men and took longer to warm up to Jason when we adopted him. But now they braid each other's hair and share hamburgers. Neptune truly loves everyone, so at least I can tell myself he likes me best. Oh well, the birds prefer me. That's something, right?
Roadie is crazy about both of his humans and we find him consistently spending time with each of us equally if we are at opposite ends of the house. Though his favorite cuddling spot is next to mama on the couch. And when it comes to people he's all about making new friends. His motto is anyone who has leg to lean against and give pets is good.
I didn't know that about boy dogs. Our boy dog who died last August was pretty glued to me, it made it even harder to say goodbye. Sienna is like Ms M, she could easily ditch us. I thought it was a pit bull thing!
My husband has always joked that our male Akita is "my" dog because he's so attached to me. Lately, though, he's gotten to where he mainly wants attention from my husband. I think it's partly due to the fact that I'm home with him all the time, that Chaos wants to spend time with the person he doesn't see all day long!
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