Most dominant dog gender

[sha]

Seems like answer to this would be male, just noticing with a lot of my locals dogs the opposite seems to be true.

At my local parks and training the regulars who stand over other dogs more or whatever dominant behaviour it is, or react more strongly when another tries to dominate them are all female.

I know everything comes down to the individual dog and there are no 100% rules, but I'm talking out or 30 regulars or something so seems significant.

That's about the sum total of my experience though which isn't much, what have you guys with more dog experience found as a general rule?

If you were picking one or the other from a littler, is male or female more likely to be dominant?

[Jack V]

What you have seen is that most males will not attack or get too nasty with a female but females need to protect themselves from all dogs so they are more assertive .

However if the fight actually breaks out then the male dog will usually be the one winning the fight .

When it comes to hunting the female can have very good hunting instincts and ability to track game but the male will usually be more aggressive at the point of kill or holding the game . Female dogs in many cases can be smarter than male dogs they have to be to survive and raise pups . Not that different to humans really most men would be flat broke if they did not have a wife to handle the budgeting .

It's quite common in the animal world for herd and pack leaders to be females , goats and deer do it . This is not because of aggression or strength it's because they are more attuned to danger and due to breeding cycles the males will not always be with the herd . So the most experienced female leads the herd all the time with the males usually at the rear . This is also a protection thing as the herds main enemy will usually chase from behind like wolves or dogs etc. When you hunt goats on cliff sides the Billies fall back to protect the rear and if you get too close they will even try to ram you off the cliff .

[VICHunter]

In a domestic setting, random one on one encounters or small groups of dogs meeting or whatever it's down to the individual.

In nature with a pack would obviously settle the pecking order through challenges and fights until one established themselves at the top which would always be a male.

Things don't get to be settled at the park though, people keep away un-socialised dogs, don't play with ones they don't know, stop fights before they are settled and all the other things you know.

Initially a dog or bitch can be every bit as submissive, dominant, passive, aggressive etc. as the opposite gender. Things are just not given a chance to be naturally settled in a domestic setting to see which of the individuals would come out on top.

[mikor]

When you hunt goats on cliff sides the Billies fall back to protect the rear and if you get too close they will even try to ram you off the cliff .

I think I'd be hunting from the opposite cliff with a long range rifle if that's the case

[The Brass]

One thing to remember too is that in nature a pack of dogs will all be roughly the same size, with males being the larger of the two giving them the physical advantage.

Domestic dogs are a different story when you've got everything from Chihuahuas to Mastiffs.

"the male dog will usually be the one winning the fight" works in a pack of similar dogs, 15kg kelpie boy vs 50kg Rottie girl isn't going to go that way though is it.