Keeping a puppy from litter

by Rachel
(Telford UK)

Hi there, my dog has just had a litter of pups and I wanted to keep one.

I think a male would be ok but my husband thinks a female would get along better.

Have you got any advice on which one would be better to keep?

Thanks Rachel






Hi Rachel
If you're adding a second dog to a family it's usually recommended that you choose one that is the opposite sex from the resident dog. So, in your case I'd suggest that keeping a male puppy would be your best bet.

This is because two adult dogs of the same sex are more likely to get into conflicts or even fight, than two dogs of the opposite sex. Having two females is no better in this respect than having two males as females may tend to be more serious about their disagreements than males.

Most dogs with sound temperaments who have been properly raised will be fine with puppies of either sex, but it's as the pup matures that problems can arise (this doesn't mean that the WILL though).

Dogs don't have the same 'family ties' that we humans do and your momma dog won't pay any attention to the fact that the pup you keep is her offspring once it's grown. It won't get special treatment or be protected from any aggression she may feel just because it's her baby!

Of course there are never any guarantees, and every dog is different. In many cases two, or even more, dogs of the same sex live together happily and without problems... and conversely two dogs of the opposite sex can dislike each other or have personality clashes. However, I'd suggest that to minimize any potential problems keep a boy puppy.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your litter.