Male vs Female Goldendoodle: Which is Right for You?
The process of searching for a Goldendoodle puppy can be an exciting yet stressful time. Like with any other important decision, there are lots of factors you should take into consideration…it can definitely feel overwhelming at times! One of the most common questions people ask when adding a Goldendoodle to their family is, “should I get a male vs female Goldendoodle?”
For such a simple question about whether a male or female Goldendoodle is better, you’ll get lots of varying answers! Many Goldendoodle owners have a preferred gender and will debate relentlessly that it is the superior choice. So, how do sort through the biased opinions and make the best decision for you? Luckily, it’s actually quite simple!
Let’s break down the differences between male vs female Goldendoodles…
NOTE: For the purposes of this article, we’re assuming that you’ll be spaying or neutering your Goldendoodle puppy in a timely manner as recommended by your veterinarian.
Male vs Female Goldendoodle Health Differences
While we all hope our dogs remain happy and healthy, there are plenty of Goldendoodle health issues that can be problematic throughout their lives. One factor that doesn’t play a huge role in this is gender. Both a male vs female Goldendoodle have the same estimated lifespans and are just as likely, on average, to have accidents or illnesses.
This is why, regardless of gender, I highly encourage all Goldendoodle owners to invest in quality pet insurance as early as possible. It can cover up to 90% of your dog’s medical bills which can easily rise into the thousands of dollars if something goes wrong!
While exceptions exist to every rule, in general, male Goldendoodles are going to grow up to be slightly bigger than female Goldendoodles when it comes to both weight and height. The average size difference between a male or female Goldendoodle is about 10%.
Many times, especially in smaller Toy or Mini Goldendoodle sizes, this height and weight difference is negligible and almost imperceivable. However, it your future Goldendoodle’s size is a priority to you, you may want to lean slightly towards the larger male Goldendoodle or the smaller female Goldendoodle.
Keep in mind, that while male Goldendoodles will likely end up larger than their female littermates, females tend to mature faster so they may achieve their full-grown size earlier.
Male vs Female Goldendoodle Grooming & Coat Differences
There are no known differences between the male vs female Goldendoodle when it comes to their coat and grooming. A Goldendoodle’s coat isn’t determined by gender, but rather by DNA and what generation of Goldendoodle they are.
There is no advantage to a particular gender when it comes to Goldendoodles shedding, being allergy-friendly, or having any other coat features. Regardless of whether you choose a male or female Goldendoodle, you’ll still need to devote a significant amount of time to brushing and grooming to ensure your dog’s coat remains free of tangles and matting.
I personally use and recommend the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush for Goldendoodles. It’s not cheap, but it makes keeping your dog free of matting 10x easier than a generic brush.
Male vs Female Goldendoodle Behavioral Differences
There are two main behavioral differences that people associate with a male or female Goldendoodle—humping and marking their territory.
Goldendoodle Humping
Humping, while sometimes comical, is an undesired behavior that is often associated with a male Goldendoodle vs female Goldendoodle. What many people don’t know is that both a male or female Goldendoodle can be equally guilty of this. Humping isn’t always a sexual act. It’s just as often used for play or posturing for dominance. This is something that you can easily work on when training your Goldendoodle.
Goldendoodle Territory Marking
Many prospective owners tend to prefer a female Goldendoodle due to the stigma of male Goldendoodles marking their territory. However, this isn’t a great assumption because not only can female Goldendoodles also mark their territory, but neutering a male will often eliminate or at least lessen this behavior.
The one obvious behavioral difference between a male vs female Goldendoodle is how they pee. Female Goldendoodles tend to squat while male Goldendoodles will lift their leg. Some people prefer female Goldendoodles due to personal preference on how “classy” these urination poses are. Keep in mind, however, that male Goldendoodles sometimes prefer to squat as well depending on how early they are neutered.
Male vs Female Goldendoodle Personality Differences
When it comes to personality differences between the male vs female Goldendoodle, there are more myths out there than facts.
Many people wonder, “are male Goldendoodles more aggressive?” or “do male Goldendoodles bite more?” While some studies have shown that more male dogs are more aggressive than female dogs, the consensus among professionals is that this can be chalked up far more to circumstances and training than gender.
More common misconceptions are that female Goldendoodles are friendlier and that male Goldendoodles are more independent. These personality traits entirely come down to the DNA of individual puppies and how they have been raised, not whether they’re a male or female Goldendoodle.
When it comes to male vs female Goldendoodle personalty, the simple answer is that while there may be tiny hints of truth in a few of these assumptions for Goldendoodles that are not fixed, if Goldendoodles are spayed or neutered in a timely manner there really won’t be any gender-related personality differences. Almost all “evidence” of significant differences in personality or temperament between fixed male or female Goldendoodles are anecdotal at best and you should take them with a grain of salt.
Should You Choose a Male or Female Goldendoodle?
There are many factors that you should take into consideration when adding a new puppy to your family. What breed of doodle you select is important, as different breeds have different characteristics and requirements that may fit better or worse with your lifestyle.
The next most important thing to consider is the reputation of the Goldendoodle breeder or the Goldendoodle rescue organization you choose. This should not be a quick decision, but rather one you think about carefully and put it some research to ensure you don’t get scammed or support an unethical Goldendoodle breeder.
Beyond those, consider what size of Goldendoodle you prefer and the puppy’s family history. Finally, the individual personality of your new Goldendoodle puppy is crucial which is why it’s so much better to select a puppy in person rather than via photos or videos alone.
In conclusion, it’s easy for us to personify Goldendoodles and portray our human gender stereotypes on them. It’s also easy to make an uninformed decision based on myths and anecdotal evidence rather than the true facts about a male vs female Goldendoodle.
In the long run, you and your new Goldendoodle puppy will be so much better off if you focus on individual personality and the other important factors we discussed rather than limiting your options by choosing specifically a male or female Goldendoodle.
