pack dynamics

[silhouettestable]

I have just been starting to think about getting another dog, and I'm wondering whether it would be better to choose a male or female to fit in with our "pack". We currently have 4 dogs, all neutered males, ranging in age from 1-6 years. I have 2 of them trained for dogsledding, and I'm working with another but he's a bit timid, not sure if he'll really be able to make a decent sled dog. (Don't worry, I'm not trading him in on a newer model, this is his home whether he wants to sled or not ) I'm not quite ready for a new puppy yet, but I'm thinking about it, and whichever I get will be spayed or neutered, so hopefully will fit in with the 4 boys either way. In one way I'd kind of like to have a girl around again, on the other hand, the 2 dogs I've got trained to sled are not purebred BC's and so they're larger than the average BC. Seeing as males are generally larger than females, a male might fit in with my team better from a size standpoint. Of course, if it works out anything like the last 3 we've gotten, choosing the dog may be a moot point, it may choose us. We adopted the two rescue puppies, neither one of which I would say turned out to be the BC/aussie that they were listed as, and when I got Lightning (BC/lab) I thought I wanted a rough coated female pup but my daughter was set on him, a smooth coat male. He's turned out to be the best dog we've ever had. He's my velcro dog, always at my side, at my feet, in my bed or on my lap, and up for any kind of activities or challenges I offer him. My daughter's entered a bunch of kid & mutt races with him and they've done extremely well, and then I entered him and Thunder into a 2-dog sportsman class a couple of weeks ago. We placed 2nd and had a blast. It's really gotten me thinking that I'd like to take it a step further and try to put together a 4-dog team to race, or at least a 3-dog (the minimum # for entering the 4-dog class), in the event that my shy boy Flash doesn't work out. My own 4th dog Noah (my rough coat collie) is just not up to it. He doesn't have the speed or stamina to go the distance. When I put him on the sled with Lightning and Thunder he just tries to keep up and doesn't do any real amount of pulling. I know that in a big racing kennel Noah and Flash wouldn't last, they'd end up being rehomed, but they're my boys and they're not going anywhere, so now I'm thinking of becoming a 5-dog household Any input as to my original question re: male vs. female is appreciated.

[kelpiegirl]

I would look into the pack dynamics you have now. What ages/sexes do you have? How do they all get along? If there are any issues, like a dog who likes to "posess" you, work on that before you get another dog. If there is any snarkiness between any of them- look seriously at why/when that is, and see if you can work out of it. Basically, a male can be less of a stress to pack order if your dogs defer to a female. But, if you have a dominant, or wanna be dominant male, you need to be sure that the male you bring in is not. When I got my most recent dog, a female, I strongly considered a male, but it was not to be. With all the females in the house there can be tenuous moments, but by and large, they are caused by dogs trying to "posess" me to the other dogs- and jumping in when I chastise someone. When you get bigger numbers you get lots more dynamics/inner workings, and lots of communication between the dogs that you need to stay on top of. My one and only male dog is the best behaved- never gets into spats. I think the biggest thing here is that you really need to step up as the pack leader at all times, and harmony can reign.

Julie