Best pet.....male or female?

[Miss Mary]

I grew up with female cairn terriers. They were good pets, loving and gentle. About 8 or so years ago, we noticed our oldest daughter suddenly had a real fear of dogs. We couldn't trace it to any incident involving a dog chasing her. All we could come up with was she heard a dog she and kids walking to school would pass, was mean-mean. It would bark at the kids. Turns out that dog was all bark and no bite - the sweetest thing. But we couldn't convince Nina of that. She wouldn't go over friends houses with dogs, wouldn't step into any home with a dog. She'd sit in the car. People began telling us to get a dog. Finally we got a Golden Retriever puppy. My husband grew up with female samoyeds (sp?). He really wanted a female. From day one, Hope was extremely hyper. Very playful, full of energy. She's over 4 now and still this way with company. She has settled down with us, but it took almost 2 years! I would tell people who had Goldens about how challenging it was/still is to have company over with her underfoot and they'd say - ah, you didn't get a male Golden. That's the reason! Females are hyper. I don't know if there's any truth to that, but two male Goldens on our street alone, were quite calm. One is gone now, but he could have been a therapy dog, he was so calm. We all laugh - Hope would be rejected in a heartbeat, she could never be trained for such work! But I still love her like crazy, and wouldn't trade her for any other dog now.

Mary

PS - Nina outgrew her fear of dogs within 3 months of getting Hope. She dog sits a huge Husky on our street now! She even spent the night in the home, with this dog sleeping next to her on the floor. Neighbors are just amazed at this 180 turn she made. I'm proud too and glad she's no longer afraid of dogs. And all it took was getting a puppy.....