If you have decided you want more than one Labrador retriever in your life, the decision doesn’t stop there. In addition to deciding which color you want, you will need to decide if you want two Labrador retriever dogs of the same sex or if you want the opposite sex. Most people often get one dog before they jump into two. This allows one dog to get used to your home and your life before you throw another Labrador retriever in the mix. However, the question still remains: same sex or opposite?
First Dog
The first dog you get can be either male or female, depending on your own personal preferences. While you may have heard that female dogs are gentler and a better option than male dogs, once a dog is fixed, male and female generally act very similar. Therefore, the decision to get a male or female is entirely up to you. Once you get your dog, allow him or her to remain your only dog for a while so you can complete training. In general, you should wait at least two years before you add another dog to the mix. Once you reach that point in time, you can decide to get the same sex or the opposite sex.
Adding a Second Dog
When you choose to add a second dog to the mix, you should take the sex of your first Labrador retriever into account. While the way your Labrador retriever dogs interact will rely majorily on their individual personalities, the sex of the dogs can have an impact. While you can certainly have success with two dogs of the same sex, the chances of getting territorial or aggressive increases when you have two dogs of the same sex. In general, females tend to be more aggressive than males so if you prefer to have two dogs of the same sex, you should consider males before females.
However, if you have one sex or the other, you may want to consider the opposite sex for your second dog. In general, most dogs of teh opposite sex are more likely to live in harmony with one another, especially if both animals are fixed. For instance, if you have a female that is dominant, you want to find a male that is nondominant to increase the chances of the two dogs getting along. When one dog is dominant and the other is subservient, you will have fewer problems between the two dogs.
Personalities
The most important thing to do when you are choosing your second dog is to take each dog’s personality into account. It is extremely important that the two dogs meet before you make the commitment to bring the second into your home. Like people, not all dogs will get along together. You haven’t liked everyone you have met in your life; your dog is no different. Making sure the two get along will help save everyone a lot of heartache.
Any two dogs can get along as long as their personalities do not clash. In general, you want to choose two Labrador retriever dogs that have opposite personalities so they are more likely to get along and less likely to clash. This often means getting dogs of the opposite sex so you have one male and one female. If one is dominant and the other is subservient, your home will be much more peaceful.
