Boy vs Girl

Apr 30

Written By Ellisa .

Boy vs Girl Havapoo:

One of the most common questions I get from families is:

“Should we get a boy or a girl?”

Or sometimes it comes out a little stronger:

“We only want a girl.”
“We only want a boy.”

And that always leads me to ask… why?

Almost every time, the answer comes down to experience.

“Well, I’ve only ever had girls.”
“Boys mark everywhere.”
“Boys hump things.”

Let’s talk honestly about that for a minute. 😊

The Real Talk About Behavior

Yes — boys can mark if they are not neutered early enough. But when neutered young and trained properly, marking is usually very manageable- and probably not even there. What becomes difficult is keeping a male intact for years and then hoping the behavior magically disappears. Cowboy will wear diapers for the rest of his life 6 years being a stud doesn’t go away- he wants to always mark Maddie’s toys, but that’s ok- he’s worth it!

And the humping thing?
Here’s the funny truth — girls do it too.

Even spayed females can develop the habit. Why? I truly don’t know. Not all dogs do it, but when they do, it can be embarrassing and a little annoying. (Trust me — it used to drive my husband crazy when our first two did it constantly.)

Now they’re 5 and 7, spayed, living their most comfortable lives… and they still misbehave some days. And you just love them anyway. 💛

Girls, if not spayed, will have a heat cycle about every six months, which comes with its own responsibilities and potential health considerations. So truly, there is a lot to think about on both sides.

But here’s something interesting.

I’ve had families who swore they only wanted girls… until a little boy puppy “spoke” to them. One sweet lady did exactly that — chose a boy — and she now says he is better than perfect.

I’ve had families say, “There are too many girls in this house, we need one more boy!” — and that boy became Dad’s absolute best friend.

There is always a reason someone leans one direction. But the truth is… it almost always comes down to connection.

A Little About My Personal Experience

I’ve almost always had girl dogs growing up.

My mom was raised on a ranch, and she would always say, “Girl animals only — they’re the doers.” That ranch talk stuck with me.

Twice in my younger life I brought home boy dogs — and both times my mom wasn’t thrilled. But those boys spoke to me. And I loved them dearly.

I will say from my experience — boys are absolutely amazing. Those two stole my heart.

But the best dog I personally ever had was my Rascals — a girl. She was the daughter of one of those boys who passed far too young in an accident. Having her felt like having a piece of him still with me.

For 11 years she was my everything. She deserves her own blog someday.

Now let me tell you about her personality…

She was independent.
She had a big boss attitude.
She absolutely ran the house.
She kept our other dog in line.

She was the queen.

And yet… her dad would have never acted the way she did. I giggle thinking about how different they were. But they were both perfect in their own way.

So Let’s Talk Havapoos 💛

If you’re looking for a sweet little Havapoo to curl up on your lap at the end of the day, the good news is this:

You truly can’t go wrong.

At HavaLuv Puppies, temperament always comes first. Gender can influence personality slightly, but it is never more important than the individual puppy’s heart.

Let’s break it down simply.

💙 Boy Havapoos

Many families describe boys as extra affectionate and very people-focused.

In my experience, boys often:

Love being right next to their people
Crave cuddles and physical closeness
Have a slightly goofy, playful personality
Stay puppy-like a little longer (I personally love this part!)
Show deep loyalty — they just want to be with their people

Cowboy is the perfect example of this. He is everything listed above — the truest “boy dog” personality.

I lovingly call them “velcro dogs.”
If you move, they move.
If you sit, they sit on you.
If you’re cooking dinner, they’re supervising at your feet.

For families wanting a constant companion who adores being held and doted on, boys are often a wonderful fit.

💕 Girl Havapoos

Girls are just as loving — sometimes they simply show it differently.

In my experience, girls often:

Mature a little faster
Have a sweet, steady loyalty
Show affection in a calm, confident way
Can be slightly more independent
May have a little “oldest child” energy — not aggressive, just confident and sure they’re right

Some girls bond deeply with one person, while others love the entire family equally. They absolutely love to cuddle — they just may not demand it as much as some boys do.

They form incredibly deep bonds and can be devoted beyond words.

So… Which One Is the Better Lap Dog?

Honestly?

Both.

I’ve had cuddly girls who never wanted to leave my lap.
I’ve had gentle, calm boys who were total snuggle bugs.

💛 A Little Side Note About Girls (And Following Your Heart)

Since we’re talking about boys vs girls, I want to share something personal.

Most of the dogs in our program are either intact for breeding or spayed after retirement. But when it comes to our personal family dogs, I work very closely with my veterinarian.

I’ve noticed over the last 10 years that vets can have different opinions about when to spay or neuter. Most are in agreement that it’s important — but the timing can vary from vet to vet.

I have a vet that I completely trust. When we brought home our newest family dog — Hershy, our mini Australian Labradoodle (about 20 lbs) — I asked her directly what she recommended.

She suggested spaying between 4–6 months.

We chose to do it right at 6 months, before her first heat cycle. She did amazing. She healed quickly, bounced back beautifully, and everything went smoothly.

Now here’s the heart part.

When we went to pick out Hershy, I was honestly hoping we would choose a boy. We almost picked her brother, Jack. But Hershy kept speaking to me with her eyes. I can’t explain it any better than that.

She felt like the right dog.

She came home, and I was quickly attached — and she was too. Not just to me, but to our whole family. She has become the most incredible family dog.

She’s not a huge cuddler — she’ll snuggle for a few minutes, but then she prefers her bed with the Snuggle Puppy she absolutely loves. And that’s okay.

She is my front-seat, shotgun rider. She literally goes everywhere with me. She loves being with all of us — not just one person — and that has been such a gift.

My point in sharing this little offshoot story is this:

Sometimes we don’t get the dog we thought we would choose.

We get the dog we need.

I’m sure her brother Jack is amazing. But he isn’t our Hershy Buns. And she is exactly the dog our family needed.

I am so thankful my kids, my husband, and I have her.