# Can you tell female from male dogs without seeing their genitals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936 "2011-05-06T06:06:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/1 "2011-05-06T06:06:55Z")
Just curious. Male and female dogs often seem almost identical to me. Are there various “tells” that would let you select out males and females without seeing their genitials? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/2 "2011-05-06T06:39:04Z")
Well, in General, i suppose they are usually smaller within the breed. Believe it or not, they have “sleeker” more “delicate” and feminine features. They just have some ineffable Female quality to them… estrogenic features. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/3 "2011-05-06T06:53:09Z")
Of course, that applies to more mature dogs. It is often difficult to sex puppies on sight. I suppose much as some human baby boys are mistaken for little girls or vice versa in infantile gender mix-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/4 "2011-05-06T07:10:43Z")
Wow, how did you get the title on your post different from the title on the thread? With dogs–no. However, their genitals are pretty easy to see. As to tells–well, some friends had a female dog who raised her leg when peeing. So most people would probably guess that dog was a male. (She was also known to hump things, apparently both before and after she was spayed.) Cats, on the other hand, I can usually tell without seeing their genitals. And in fact I own a cat whose genitals I myself have NEVER seen, although I’m all too familiar with his anus. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/5 "2011-05-06T07:16:26Z")
No. And everyone assumes dogs are male by default, just as cats are female. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/6 "2011-05-06T08:41:18Z")
[Mod mod]Changed "with’ to “without” in title.[/Mod mod] ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/7 "2011-05-06T08:57:34Z")
Yes. Female dogs tend to bark often when only one bark is required to communicate the message. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/8 "2011-05-06T12:47:12Z")
In a well-bred dog, yes, I can normally tell male from female just by body type & face. Males are supposed to look masculine, females feminine. Females are normally a tiny bit longer through the loin to give room to carry puppies, and the male normally has a more luxurious coat in long-haired breeds. The male’s head should be \*MALE \*looking. In the dog show world, a masculine looking female is known as a doggy bitch, and a feminine male is a bitchy dog. Yes, really. There was a well known show dog back in the 80’s who was gorgeous, but it was generally said ‘he would mak a gorgeous bitch’. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/9 "2011-05-06T13:03:23Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Well, in General, i suppose they are usually smaller within the breed. I can usually tell with yellow labs, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/10 "2011-05-06T13:04:05Z")
You’re _supposed_ to sniff their butts. We humans aren’t doing it right! Most people can’t distinguish male from female dogs without looking at the undercarriage. Some folks _still_ can’t. Some folks are really bad at it. My dog Simone is slightly under the median weight for her breed, and has delicate features. One time she was wearing a pink doggie shirt that said “Queen” on it in glittering letters. When I introduced her to someone who had expressed interest in her, I added, “Would you like to pet her?” While petting Simone, the person looked back up at me and asked, “So is he a boy or a girl?” Let’s review: [ul] [li]smallish for her breed[/li][li]delicate features[/li][li]wearing pink[/li][li]wearing the word “Queen” spelled in glitter[/li][li]named Simone, a French female name[/li][li]I’d already said, “Would you like to pet _her?_”[/li][/ul] I replied, “This may surprise you, but she’s female.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/11 "2011-05-06T13:46:08Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Let’s review: > > [ul] > [li]smallish for her breed[/li][li]delicate features[/li][li]wearing pink[/li][li]wearing the word “Queen” spelled in glitter[/li][li]named Simone, a French female name[/li][li]I’d already said, “Would you like to pet _her?_”[/li][/ul] So, is he… gay? ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/12 "2011-05-06T15:27:25Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Let’s review: > > [ul] > [li]smallish for her breed[/li][li]delicate features[/li][li]wearing the word “Queen” spelled in glitter [/li][li]named Simone, a French female name[/li][/ul] Well, to come to their defense: 1. Most people would not be able to recognize the first one. 2. I would consider “delicate features” to be a bit subjective. 3. Most people (in the US at least) don’t speak French and are not itimately familiar with French names. 4. And “queen”…well, that is a common term for a gay male. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/13 "2011-05-06T15:56:56Z")
I think male/female within a particular breed may be easier to tell. Mutt to mutt, no. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/14 "2011-05-06T16:12:54Z")
Captain squats to pee most of the time. I have to look at the equipment. **Hilarity** , have you ever been in a position where you’re TRYING to see the cat’s anus? Isn’t it amazing how suddenly shy they get? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/15 "2011-05-06T17:12:24Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > **Hilarity** , have you ever been in a position where you’re TRYING to see the cat’s anus? Isn’t it amazing how suddenly shy they get? [Nothing cuter than a cat anus](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdeAZCTwvI) ;). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/16 "2011-05-06T17:35:32Z")
**Can you tell female from male dogs without seeing their genitals?** Not always, but it’s not as critical to me as it is to the dog. 🙂 I have a pretty good idea with Labrador retrievers, since males’ heads tend to be squarer/stockier. If all else fails, a good butt sniff usually clarifies matters. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/17 "2011-05-06T20:49:18Z")
It’s easy, male dogs shave and women dogs say “You cut yourself.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/18 "2011-05-06T21:18:02Z")
Sometimes I can tell by how they kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/19 "2011-05-06T21:40:37Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to General Questions. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936/20 "2011-05-06T21:51:02Z")
It’s easy for collies: Male collies have that big magnificent mane, but females don’t. Which makes Lassie all the more puzzling: Why name an obviously male animal, of one of the few breeds where it _is_ obvious, “girl”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-tell-female-from-male-dogs-without-seeing-their-genitals/580936.md?page=2)