Male vs. Female Doodle: Does Sex Really Matter?
Choosing your puppy
Male vs. Female Doodle: Does Sex Really Matter?
Choose the temperament first. Consider sex second.
Quick answer: Sex matters, but less than many families expect. In a study of 11,418 dogs, sex was linked to small average differences in six of seven personality traits, but for every trait except sociability with other dogs it was the least important variable in the researchers' analysis (Salonen et al., 2023). Males also tend to finish toward the upper end of a size band. For a family choosing one puppy, the individual's temperament tells you far more than sex, which is why Stokeshire Designer Doodles matches temperament first and treats sex as a preference, not a predictor.
What the research shows
A 2023 study from the University of Helsinki analyzed owner surveys for 11,418 dogs of many breeds across seven personality traits. Females had slightly higher average scores for insecurity, training focus, and human sociability. Males had slightly higher average scores for energy, aggressiveness/dominance, and sociability with other dogs. The differences were real in a statistical sense and small in a practical one: for every trait except dog sociability, sex was the least important variable in the analysis, and breed and age mattered more (Salonen et al., 2023).
Breed explains less than people assume, too. In a separate study of more than 2,000 genotyped dogs and 18,000 owner surveys, breed explained about 9 percent of the behavioral variation between individual dogs (Morrill et al., 2022). If breed is a modest predictor, sex is, for most traits, a smaller one. Most of what makes one dog different from another comes down to the individual.
One more finding matters for families. Dogs whose owners reported more socialization experiences between seven weeks and four months of age tended to score lower on insecurity and aggressiveness/dominance, and higher on training focus and sociability (Salonen et al., 2023). The study shows an association, not cause and effect, but early socialization is something a breeder and a family can shape. Sex is not.
| Trait | Average difference | What to weigh instead |
|---|---|---|
| Adult size | Males toward the upper end of a size band, females toward the lower | The parents, especially the Poodle parent (see Doodle sizes) |
| Energy | Males slightly higher | Temperament, daily exercise, and mental work |
| Training focus | Females slightly higher | Engagement, motivation, and training |
| Human sociability | Females slightly higher | The individual puppy's social temperament |
| Dog sociability | Males slightly higher; the one trait where sex was not the least important factor | Socialization and individual temperament |
| Aggressiveness/ | Males slightly higher | Early socialization and training |
| Insecurity | Females slightly higher | Early socialization and recovery from new experiences |
| Heat cycles | Intact females, most about twice a year | Spay timing, set with your veterinarian |
| Marking and mounting | Influenced by testosterone in males; neutering often reduces both | House training and neuter timing |
| Price at Stokeshire | No sex premium on our pricing page | Size class, coat, color and pattern, and evaluation |
Five myths, checked
“Male Doodles are more affectionate.”
The research does not show it. On human sociability, a related trait the study measured, females scored slightly higher on average (Salonen et al., 2023). Neither average tells you how the puppy in front of you will attach. Social temperament varies far more between individual dogs than between the sexes.
“Female Doodles are easier to train.”
Slightly, on average, in dogs generally. Females scored a little higher on training focus in the same study, which was not a study of Doodles. The gap is too small to choose on. What we watch for instead is engagement and motivation, which is part of what we observe in every litter before Match Day.
“Female Doodles are calmer.”
Males scored slightly higher on energy on average, but calm is not the same as low energy. We define calm by arousal threshold, off-switch, and how quickly a dog recovers after a startle or stress. Those belong to the individual. We do not judge calm by sex. We watch behavior.
“Female Doodles mature faster.”
We are not aware of good evidence that female Doodles mature faster in behavior. Physical timing varies with size: smaller dogs tend to have a first heat earlier, and large dogs may not until 18 months to two years (Weir et al., 2025). Skeletal maturity varies by dog and size.
“Male dogs bond better with women.”
We are not aware of research that shows it. Choose the individual puppy. The bond is yours to build.
Why we might suggest a male when you asked for a female
Families often arrive with a clear preference, and we respect it. Before Match Day we ask for your coat, color, gender, and temperament preferences. Sometimes the puppy who matches what you described is not the sex you named.
Here is how that can look. This is an illustration, not a real family.
What the family asked for
A female. Medium size. Calm. Good with three young children. Able to settle when the house gets busy.
Puppy A · Female
- Strong pull toward people
- Quick to excitement in busy play
- Slower to settle after a startle
- Follows closely and checks in often
Puppy B · Male
- Friendly, with a moderate pull toward people
- Stays loose in busy play
- Recovers quickly after a startle
- Engaged with people and comfortable settling on his own
For that family, Puppy B may be the closer match to what they meant when they said female: calm, steady with children, and able to settle. We would tell them what we recommend and why. Whether to proceed is the family's decision; which puppies we will place in their home is ours.
Preferences are not guaranteed. If your match is not in the litter, our purchase policy lets you transfer your deposit once, within 24 months of your original payment, to another Stokeshire litter. Your place on that litter's list dates from the transfer.
Male or female if you already have a dog?
Here, pairing does carry a signal. Veterinary guidance notes that the risk of aggression between dogs in the same household is highest in female-female pairs and lowest in male-female pairs (Borns-Weil, 2025).
That is a tendency, not a rule. Your current dog's temperament, age, and history with other dogs also matter, along with how carefully the two are introduced and how food, toys, and resting spots are managed. Research on whether neutering changes aggression between dogs is inconclusive (Borns-Weil, 2025).
If you are weighing timing, our guide on when to get a second Doodle covers it, and raising two puppies at once brings its own challenges.
Spay, neuter, and heat cycles
Some real differences between the sexes are hormonal. Intact females come into heat, most about twice a year (Weir et al., 2025). In males, testosterone influences urine marking, and neutering often reduces marking and mounting (Lindell et al., 2025).
The evidence on spaying, neutering, and temperament is mixed. In a study of more than 13,000 dogs, neither spay or neuter status nor the age it was done was associated with aggression toward familiar people or other dogs; dogs spayed or neutered at 7 to 12 months showed a small increase in aggression toward strangers (Farhoody et al., 2018). In the 11,418-dog study, neutered dogs scored slightly higher on insecurity and lower on training focus than intact dogs. The authors note that neutering may cause such changes, or that more insecure dogs may be more likely to be neutered (Salonen et al., 2023).
Timing is also a health decision, and it can differ by breed and size. Our guide on when to spay or neuter walks through it by breed. Unless we agree otherwise, our spay and neuter agreement requires you to spay or neuter at an age appropriate for the breed, in consultation with your veterinarian, and to email us proof by the second anniversary of adoption.
Does sex affect the price?
Our puppy pricing page lists no premium for sex. What moves a placement price includes size class, coat, color and pattern, evaluation, and whether a puppy is a Breeder's Choice release, one identified as a top candidate for our own breeding program.
How we use your preference
Our puppy application asks whether you prefer a male, a female, or have no preference, and we ask again before Match Day. Families later on the waitlist have fewer options for a specific sex, coat, or color, and choosing no preference widens the pool we can match from.
At Match Day, weeks of observation, the Volhard-based aptitude evaluation, and your household context come together in one match. Our Canine Recovery Index™ records how each puppy responds to and recovers from unfamiliar experiences. It describes what a puppy did. It does not predict the adult dog, and it is one input among several.
Tell us the dog you imagine.
You can tell us male or female. You can tell us size, color, and coat. More important, tell us how you want your dog to live alongside you. We evaluate the individual puppy behind those preferences to help find the companion whose temperament fits your family.
The quiz matches breed and coat. The application is where you tell us male, female, or no preference.
Frequently asked questions
Are male or female Doodles calmer?
Not reliably either way. In a study of 11,418 dogs, males scored slightly higher on energy on average, but the difference was small (Salonen et al., 2023). Calm depends on arousal threshold, off-switch, and recovery, which vary by individual. We choose calm puppies by watching behavior, not by sex.
Are female Doodles easier to train?
Possibly, by a little. In a study of dogs across many breeds, females scored slightly higher on training focus, but sex mattered less than breed and age, and we know of no study comparing male and female Doodles. The individual puppy's engagement and motivation tell you more.
Are male Doodles more affectionate?
The research does not show it. In a study of dogs across many breeds, females scored slightly higher on human sociability, a related trait. Sociability varies far more between individual dogs than between the sexes.
Are male Doodles bigger?
Usually a little. As our Doodle sizes guide notes, females tend toward the lower end of a size band and males toward the upper end. The parents, especially the Poodle parent, shape adult size more. Adult weight is an estimate rather than a guarantee.
Is a male or female Bernedoodle or Goldendoodle better?
Neither sex is better. We are not aware of research comparing male and female Bernedoodles, Goldendoodles, or other Doodle crosses specifically. The large studies that exist show small average differences, so choose the individual puppy's temperament first.
Do male Doodles mark in the house?
Some may. Testosterone influences urine marking in males, and neutering often reduces it (Lindell et al., 2025). Indoors, treat it like any accident: a potty schedule, supervision, and confinement when you cannot watch. If marking starts suddenly, talk with your veterinarian.
Should my second dog be male or female?
On average, an opposite-sex pair is the lower-risk choice. Veterinary guidance notes that the risk of aggression between dogs in the same household is lowest in male-female pairs and highest in female-female pairs (Borns-Weil, 2025). Your current dog's temperament and a careful introduction still matter.
Does spaying or neutering change temperament?
The evidence is mixed. In a study of more than 13,000 dogs, spay or neuter status and its timing were not associated with aggression toward familiar people or other dogs, though dogs spayed or neutered at 7 to 12 months showed a small increase in aggression toward strangers (Farhoody et al., 2018). Another large study found neutered dogs slightly more insecure and less focused on training, without showing which came first (Salonen et al., 2023). Neutering often reduces marking and mounting in males. Timing is also a health decision, so read our spay and neuter guide and talk with your veterinarian.
Which sex makes a better therapy dog?
Neither sex is known to make a better therapy dog. A good therapy candidate is calm and steady, unfazed by noise and sudden movement, and resilient, and we look for those qualities in either sex. Our guide on what makes a good therapy dog covers the rest.
Are female dogs better with children?
Neither sex is a reliable guide. For homes with young children we look for tolerance of handling, noise, and movement, and quick recovery after a startle, in either sex. Supervision still matters with any dog.
Why do some breeders charge more for female puppies?
Each program sets its own pricing. Our puppy pricing page lists no premium for sex.
Keep reading
- Which Doodle is right for me?
- Calmest Doodle breeds, and what calm actually means
- Doodle Temperament Comparison: seven traits across ten breeds
- How Stokeshire matches puppies to families
- Match Day
- Doodle sizes
References
- Borns-Weil, S. (2025). Behavior problems of dogs. In Merck Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/behavior-of-dogs/behavior-problems-of-dogs
- Farhoody, P., Mallawaarachchi, I., Tarwater, P. M., Serpell, J. A., Duffy, D. L., & Zink, C. (2018). Aggression toward familiar people, strangers, and conspecifics in gonadectomized and intact dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00018
- Lindell, E., Feyrecilde, M., Horwitz, D., & Landsberg, G. (2025, September 12). Dog behavior and training: Neutering and behavior. VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-neutering-and-behavior
- Morrill, K., Hekman, J., Li, X., McClure, J., Logan, B., Goodman, L., Gao, M., Dong, Y., Alonso, M., Carmichael, E., Snyder-Mackler, N., Alonso, J., Noh, H. J., Johnson, J., Koltookian, M., Lieu, C., Megquier, K., Swofford, R., Turner-Maier, J., . . . Karlsson, E. K. (2022). Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science, 376(6592), eabk0639. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
- Salonen, M., Mikkola, S., Niskanen, J. E., Hakanen, E., Sulkama, S., Puurunen, J., & Lohi, H. (2023). Breed, age, and social environment are associated with personality traits in dogs. iScience, 26(5), 106691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106691
- Weir, M., Llera, R., & Yuill, C. (2025, June 13). Estrous cycles in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-dogs
This page is educational and does not replace veterinary advice. Talk with your veterinarian about spay and neuter timing and about any change in behavior.
