All Maximal Toy Manchester Terrier applicants are given the option to choose a particular gender. When adding a new canine companion to the family, whether it be an adult or puppy, many pet owners have preferences for a specific gender. Here are the most common reasons people give for wanting male or female Manchester Terriers.

Reasons people prefer male dogs:

• Physical: No risk of accidental pregnancy or mess associated with a heat cycle
• Temperament: Viewed as more eager to please and/or loving
• Make a better watch dog/ more protective

Reasons people prefer female dogs:

• No risk of marking (urinating on objects) in the home
• Smarter/easier to train
• Temperament: Viewed as more loving, and accepting of other dogs/pets, nurturing/tolerant

Aside from the obvious physical benefits of owning a male dog (first bullet above) the rest of these attributes based on gender are false. Yes, even the marking behavior can happen with female dogs, especially terriers!

This is why it’s important to keep an open mind regarding gender. The most important consideration for pet owners, is the gender of any dogs already in the home. This is doubly important with terrier breeds who are often prone to fighting with dogs of the same sex. If your new Manchester Terrier will be an only dog, then gender is even less important.

The best pet is going to be a spayed or neutered pet. This eliminates many of the concerns pet owners have such as risks of accidental pregnancy, messes due to marking/urinating or heat cycles, or quarreling with other dogs in the home.

Most importantly, keeping an open mind about gender will help us to match you with the right dog for your family and lifestyle, and shorten the wait time.