I too had a "females only" attitude as I have known nuetered male dogs owned by neighbors and friends that are obscessed with marking. I don't even know why I agreed to look at Tucker being he was a male, but when he was brought to our house and squatted to urinate, I had to give him a chance. He tried so hard to please and work his way into our routines that the very first day he was with us, it was if he had been our dog all along. Like your Perry, Jackie, Tucker is the most loving, cooperative little boy, while Hannah is the independent one who will decide when and if her love is to be bestowed. Tucker still squats 95 percent of the time, urinates all at one time as opposed to a little here or a little there and has never 'marked' anything indoors. And as far as the leg hugging, Hannah was the one that had to be deterred from that trait. She was crazed with it as a very small puppy, and every once in a while she will still try it, but knows it is not allowed! I think it is more a sign of dominance and she only tries it with me as I am the one she has issues with.

So if another dog should ever grace our lives, gender will not be an issue with me. I will keep my eyes open to personality traits and a dog that has to mark every two feet on a walk would have to be given a second thought.

[This message has been edited by RachelJ (edited February 18, 2001).]