Hi there,

Just wondering what thoughts people had about getting a second dog and whether or not it matters to get a dog of the opposite sex.

My roommate has a female dog and I want a female dog too, but my roommate (and the internet) are saying that I should get a boy for the second dog, so they will be more likely to get along.

My breeder says that it's more to do with the temperament of the dogs in question and less about gender. Especially since Havs are so laid back and loving, and generally not a dominant breed.

But I was wondering what experience you guys have -- for those of you with two dogs (or for those of you who have had two dogs), what were the genders, and what was it like?

I have two males. I wanted the second one to be a male and not dominant as my first is very laid back. I would have taken a female though if the personality was what I was after. I have always just gravitated to males as most females I have known have been a little more independent than the males. Just my experience, not saying this holds true.

I think your breeder is right. Temperament of the individual puppy matters way more than gender. I haven’t personally observed this yet but the advice I trust most, which is from people I respect with a lot of Havanese experience, have said the same thing. Particularly with regard to the average person and a pet dog; I imagine breeders and handlers observe some of the subtleties of Havanese gender.

Hey everyone, thank you for your replies. Good to know that gender isn't that big of a deal in choosing a second dog. I will definitely be thoughtful and careful when choosing the temperament of the second dog though.