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Why Do Some Dogs Prefer Women to Men (and Vice-Versa)?

October 6, 2017 by Mary Telesz

pet-friendlyIf you’re a pet-friendly dog owner, you’ll know that dogs have very unique personalities. It’s common for certain breeds to display certain personality traits. For example, golden retrievers are known for their affectionate, placid demeanors; bulldogs are known for their laziness, and border collies are famed for their intelligence.

However, any dog lover who has ever owned multiple dogs of any breed will understand that breed alone doesn’t account for a dog’s personality—far from it. For example, in a home with two border collie labrador mixes, you can have one dog who barks at fireworks and thunder while the other prefers to hide under a table or a desk. Other factors can also determine a dog’s personality, like their environment. However, even dogs who share the exact same environment still have some divergence in personality.

Like humans, dogs have an essence of personality that doesn’t come from genetics or environment. This is why we encounter some dogs with eccentric habits, like sleeping on the bed with their head on the pillow just like a human. Other eccentric habits that a dog may adopt include sleeping in the most uncomfortable looking positions, howling when the phone rings, and rearranging their blanket when they’re about to get into bed. These are cute and lovable eccentricities, so it’s no wonder that over sixty million American households own a dog.

One of the strangest things about dogs is that some actually prefer one gender over the other. Here are some facts about dogs and gender that may surprise you:

Dogs and Gender

dogs prefer men pet-friendlyWhile it is not a hard and fast rule, some dogs prefer women to men (and vice-versa). It is difficult to broach this subject without drawing on gender stereotypes. Might we speculate that many women tend to be more soft-spoken than men? Some dogs prefer soft-spoken voices over loud, booming ones, so some behavioral characteristics like this may be to blame.

Submissive breeds who are more used to female company may become alarmed when they encounter a male stranger. Still, the same applies when we reverse the genders.

Conclusively, socialization is key. When the dog is a puppy, it bonds the strongest to whoever is its primary caregiver. This occurs up until the six month mark. This is why all dog owners are better off getting a dog when it is as young as possible. If you get a dog and it’s already a year old or more, you have no idea what its key socialization period was like. Its previous owner could’ve had some strange habits or there may have been abuse. Walking blind into dog ownership like this will often mean that you will have to work a lot harder to iron out bad behavior.

It should be noted that this is not to discourage dog lovers from adopting shelter dogs. If everyone out there only wanted a puppy, the shelters would be even more cluttered than they already are. Dogs are worth the effort, even if we have to work that bit harder to re-socialize and retrain them.

Dogs and Hair Color

Dogs don’t really have a preference for hair color, unless their experience has been severely limited and they have only encountered people with one hair color. This is unlikely, unless you never leave the house and your entire family has the same hair color.

If this is the case, then yes, your dog may become wary or frightened when they meet someone new who has brown hair instead of blonde. Still, this is not a strong determining factor with regards to a dog’s affection. They might also be wary of people with sunglasses or hats because both items hide the facial features to a degree. A dog assesses a face, so they may be wary when someone is unintentionally hiding theirs.

Dogs and Height

The height of a person can also impact a dog’s reaction to them. First and foremost, a very tall person may intimidate a dog. There are ways of getting around this, however (since you can’t help what height you are). When attempting to socialize with a dog who is a stranger to you, should should always kneel down and allow them to approach you. Some people wrongly assume that overbearing friendliness wins a dog over. In reality, looming over a dog, giving them eye contact, and spreading your arms open wide to give them a big cuddle will actually frighten them.

dogs and height pet-friendlyHeight isn’t everything, though. Children are small and many dogs are uncomfortable with the fast, erratic movements a child makes. They also tend to do annoying things like poke the dog’s eye or pat its head roughly. As a result, you should always be wary of dogs who haven’t been around children, as they may react aggressively if a child it meets invades its space.

Thus, height might be a factor in determining whether a dog will assess you positively, but there are men who are over six feet who are almost like Dr. Doolittle because every dog they meet loves them. The way you approach the dog, your general vibe or energy, and your general personality are stronger determining factors than height. It is a lot more difficult for a mean person to become amicable than a tall person to simply kneel down.

How to Discipline a Dog

While it is true that gender can affect a dog’s affection towards you, this doesn’t mean that you should give up on them completely just because they happen to be a breed who prefers the opposite gender. It doesn’t matter what gender you are. If you are consistent with your affection and disciplinary techniques, your dog will soon learn that you are it’s master and will develop a strong loyalty towards you.

Still, many dog owners don’t truly know how to discipline a dog. Bad behaviors set in when they are puppies, and when your dog is just a little ball of fluff it’s discipline to tell him or her to get off the furniture. When a dog is young, it assesses how firm you are. If you can’t discipline your dog without laughing, they’ll soon realize that they can pretty much get away with anything they want.

Yes, it can be difficult to discipline a dog consistently (especially a really cute one who likes to paw you right in the middle of your trying-to-be-angry mode), but it’s essential to realize that clear signals actually benefit your dog. If they do the same thing wrong twice and get two different reactions they won’t have a clue what is actually expected of them. Thus, even though you don’t want to be ‘mean’ to your dog, chastising them with a clearly authoritative voice will teach them that their behavior simply isn’t acceptable.

Best Pet-Friendly Places to Live

The best pet-friendly places to live in Northern Virginia are Fairfax, Chantilly, Centreville, and Arlington. All of these locations have communities that are pet-friendly. Some areas charge extra fees or have certain breed or size restrictions, but it’s wonderful to know that even single professionals looking to live in an apartment can bring their furry friend along with them!

Filed Under: Pet Advice

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Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
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Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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