We have a male 3½ yr old lab cross and we're planning on getting another dog soon - will hopefully help with being some company for him and also to help him with not being quite so hyper on meeting every other dog - he obviously thinks he's abit of a socialite!

He's been castrated as we had him as a rescue dog 2yrs ago.

Would we be better looking for another male dog - or would this be dodgy with any dominance issues? Or would a female be better?

We're looking at a lab or retriever

A lot of people have a preference for a sex so will always have bitches or always have dogs. I prefer bitches.
If you have no preference then you might be better to get a bitch just in case you were one of the unlucky ones to run into a problem

I prefer my boys, a lot easier than girls IMO, but I think if I am ever to bring in a dog atm it would be a girl.

We have a neutered male who is DA, he got on fine with my bitch and then we brought in a male pup - of whom we have kept entire. However it is always the neutered one that starts the stand off and always my entire one that walks away with the look "whats that all about".

But each and every dog is different - if you are rescuing ask if you can have a trial - not only does it get that dog out of kennels for a week or two but it gives you chance to see how your boys gets on.. of course you have to pass the home checks first.

I would only bring in another girl because of our eldest boy - any boys I have unless I rescue will be kept entire and I think if I bring in another entire boy, my eldest one will pack his own bags and leave

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This is a training issue, and not something that can easily be rectified by having another dog around. I completely understand the companionship thing, but just be aware that your new dog could just as easily pick up your current dog's habits

I agree with Blitz; if you don't particularly have a preference for a dog or a bitch then get a bitch. Although I personally prefer bitches and have two, I do feel that a dog and a bitch can form a closer bond.

Are you looking into rescuing or would you be getting your new dog as a puppy?

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We'd either get a rescue or rehome a dog who's anything from about 6 months plus. Our current dog is very active so ideally one that'd fit straight in would be fab!

If you're rescuing and you don't have a preference I wouldn't have a particular sex in mind; I'd chose a dog based on temperament and how it got on with my current dog. You may find a dog that gets on great with your current dog and to rule him out just because he wasn't a bitch would be a shame.

I have two dogs and a bitch, I started with a neutered dog, then got an entire dog (then had him neutered), then over a year later added a bitch to the family and they all live in harmony as did the two dogs when it was just to two of them

Like someone else has already said though, don't bank on the new dog teaching your current dog how to great other dogs properly, especially if it's a young dog you're getting, you may well just end up with two dogs that don't know how to great others calmly! That is something you need to work on with your current dog.

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