The male is larger and grander in size and usually carries a masculine ruff framing his head and neck.
 A male will hold his coat longer than a female, who typically sheds her coat between each heat period. The male tends to have only one major shed each year.
Neutered male and female Tervs carry a thicker coat and have less major sheds than intact dogs, but shed more steadily. A neutered male often loses the longer neck furnishings typical in the intact male, but will still look masculine.
Both male and female train very well and can do well in competition. The female usually has two heat periods per year. An intact female may show slight mood swings before each heat period, which can be frustrating to a competition trainer. Most AKC performance event rules do not allow a bitch in heat to compete.
An intact male can become love struck without much encouragement. This can be frustrating or a source of amusement to the owner, depending upon how one wishes to look at it. In some views, the male seems a bit more sensitive and gentle to those he loves. He works for you, while the female works in partnership with you, seemingly more as an equal, in her mind. A female knows what she is about and carries an inner confidence and air. Choose whichever sex would best fit into your household and expect equal enjoyment, be it for companionship or competition training. |
