Male VS Female
Male VS Female Pomeranians
Overview
Many potential owners want to know the pros and cons of owning either a male or a female Pomeranian. For others who already have a Pom, there will be the question of ‘Is it best to get another male for my male?’ or ‘Should I get another female to go along with my female?’ and of course many people may want to know if it is better to have one of each gender.
It’s a big decision and whether you are thinking about bringing the cutest toy breed into your home for the first time or if you are going to add another dog to into a household with an already established Pomeranian, there are some things to consider.
In this section we will look at:
- Elements to keep in mind if you will only have one Pomeranian and are wondering if it is better to have a male or a female
- What is the best choice if you already have a Pom and want to bring a second one into your home
- Myths regarding which gender is ‘best’
Bijou female, 7 months & Cavu, male, 1 year & 7 months
Photo courtesy of owner: Melissa Corrao
Myths
For any number of reasons, there are those who will say some rather surprising things about both males and females. Let’s cover the most common misunderstandings:
1) Coat quality.
Some will say that one gender has a better coat than the other. This is not true at all. The thickness and the quality of the fur will depend on:
A) genetics and B) how you care for the coat.
Unfixed females will shed more than males but that does not cause the coat to be thicker or thinner than a male’s. Unless, of course you are counting the times during the shed.
2) Color.
The Pomeranian comes in an astounding variety of colors that include solids, parti’s (2 colors) and tri-coats (3 colors).
Fur color is not related to gender at all. It is all due to the color gene of the sire and dam which will be passed to the puppies indiscriminate of gender.
For example, if a breeder were striving to produce blues, the blue gene will land in the resulting litter without any prejudice in regard to male or female pups.
3) Behavior.
In regard to behavior, there are some differences and as we move forward it is important to note that every behavior
and personality trait that separates male VS female Pomeranians are due to hormonal influences. When a puppy is spayed or neutered, this eliminates hormonal fluctuations that effect behavior.
Females
As noted above, a female may have some behavioral difference compared to males; however this is only relevant if she is not spayed. Once a female Pom puppy is spayed and does not enter heat cycles, she will not display certain traits. The most common ‘con’ to having a female Pomeranian is the effects of heat. This happens just about twice per year; therefore if she is not spayed the following will apply:
1) During the heat
cycle she may become moody and withdrawn. Some of this is due to hormones rapidly rising and dropping. It may also be caused by some discomfort due to abdominal cramping.
2) Heavy shedding after a cycle. The most notable grooming difference between male and female Poms comes into play with un-spayed females that will have a moderate to heavy shed after each heat season. While most Pomeranian already have a twice a year shed (spring and late fall), this ‘blowing of the coat’ can make shedding seem like a year round issue.
3) Hygiene and care – While discharge is usually quite light for toy breed dogs, a light flow for several days still warrants a doggie diaper. If not, discharge, whether clear, pink or red, will accumulate upon bedding, furniture and other surfaces.
Female Pomeranian, Chloe, Photo courtesy of owner Karen Lee-Christian
Tips to Know in Regard to Female Pomeranians
Females are given a bad reputation by some that say that they are moody and this is simply not true. Having hormonal moodiness for a few weeks out of an entire year is not enough to justify saying that males have better personalities.
It is always best to spay a female to keep her healthy (and safe from accidental pregnancy) and if you do that the above mentioned ‘cons’ are negated.
Males
Male Pomeranian may have some ‘cons’ that are generally null and void if he is neutered at a young age.
20 month old male Pomeranian, Moji. Photo courtesy of owner Madelaine Lopez
The reason that age is mentioned is because if an owner waits to have a male fixed, he may have some behavioral patterns established to the point of being hard-do-break habits. This can be avoided by having a male Pom fixed during puppyhood.
Un-neutered males are much more prone to:
1) Marking – All dogs are capable of marking; however males do this more than female and when a dog is intact, this behavior happens much more often. Marking is the light but repetitive spraying of urine to mark territory and can be hard to resolve.
2) Tendency to run away - Canines have an amazing sense of smell so it is not surprising that a male can detect a female in heat from up to 3 miles away. Not only can he smell her, he can pick up on the trace amounts of blood that are left behind when she urinated outside. This can trigger a ‘run response’, as hormones are in charge and telling the dog to escape and run to her at all costs.
The degree to which a male will try to escape will vary from dog to dog and can change with age. This is just another reason for owners to be responsible in having males fixed.
Health Issues
Health issues
that this breed is prone to such as luxating patella and collapsed trachea are seen just as often with both sexes. However, gender specific diseases are risks for both male and female Pomeranians.
Females –
Girls have the risk of developing breast cancer and uterine cancer. The former can be greatly reduced and the latter can be eliminated once she is spayed.
Males –
Boy Poms are at risk for prostate problems and testicular cancer. The former can be reduced and the latter can be eliminated if he is neutered.
Which Should You Choose for a One-Dog Household
The matter of choosing a male or female Pom is very personal. Both are beautiful, cuddly, happy, sometimes shy, sometimes vocal, always amazingly amusing, loving creatures. One way to help you decide is to think about what role you see your dog playing in your life. Will you see your puppy (and then matured dog) as a child? If so, would you prefer to think of your Pom as your daughter or your son?
Or do you see yourself thinking of your Pomeranian as becoming your best friend? If so, do you envision that bff as being a boy or a girl?
In some cases, you will not know which puppy is right for you until you see a litter and one touches your heart just-so.
Please keep in mind that some breeders may have ulterior motives for trying to push a certain gender and that really is a shame since it is such a personal choice.
Same Gender VS Opposite in Multi-Dog Household
The question of a male VS female Pomeranian comes up the most with those who already have one Pom and want to bring another into the household. Many owners do this simply because of a love for the breed, while others also consider that bringing in another dog may ease the loneliness and Separation Anxiety that the established dog may be experiencing. But what if you choose wrong and the two dogs don’t get along?
Is it better to keep the gender the same? Or would opposite genders get along better? When all is said and done, if this had to be answered, it is best to have opposite gender Pomeranians. This is not to say that two males can’t get along or that two females will fight. However, when you have two males there will be a stronger struggle for dominance.
There will need to be a leader among the dogs; that is canine fact.
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Pisco (male, 2.5 years old) & Tequila (female 2.5 years old)
Photo courtesy of owner: Mara Pasquali
Two males often have a harder time figuring this out than a male and a female. The same is true for two females; though often to a lesser degree. They will also have a deep canine need to know which one of them is the alpha dog and this can create some tension.
If you do choose to have two males or two females, it will almost always be the older, established dog that is the ‘top dog’.
A male and a female Pomeranian will still need to work out the hierarchy issue but this is often resolved much faster. It is usually going to be the male. However, if the female is the first pet, older and/or has a strong personality, she may just hold her ground.
An exception may be with a much older female (3 or 4 years older than the new dog); it may not make sense in the canine world for a young male to be introduced.
Lilah
Photo courtesy of owner: Joan Robinson
She may stay in charge, taking care of him as a ‘son’ and have mothering tendencies toward him or he may try to take charge in a house where the Queen ruled for years, which can cause tension. However, the older female Pom will do just as well with a young female puppy.
Poms that tend to be jealous often do better with the opposite sex in regard to adding another dog.
Senior dogs of either gender may need extra time to get used to having an energetic puppy running around the home. They do best when they are given a personal space to retreat to if they feel that there is too much commotion and activity.
It can help to keep a close eye on your dog to see how he/she interacts with other dogs and if he/she has a tendency to get along better or be more tolerant with either gender.
Final Thoughts
The Pomeranian breed is known for being very tolerant of other dogs; both of other Poms and with other breeds whether toy, medium or large. Having another Pom sibling often does help with anxiety issues that develop when being left home alone; though this should not be the only reason that a new dog is brought into a family.
Before adding another pet into the household fold, do give it some thought to make sure that it is not only the right decision for you, but for your dog as well.
Be sure that you understand the costs in both purchase and care over the years and time (brushing,
grooming, training, etc.) that is involved.
Even if both dogs get along extremely well, do keep food and water bowls separate. Give each their own bed - while they may like to sleep together, each Pom will appreciate having their own personal space for times that they wish to retreat and rest.
There is nothing cuter than a small pack of Poms bouncing around and whether they are all males, all females or a mixture of both, it is sure to be a happy, joyful atmosphere.
