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Research has revealed that female dogs "judge their owners far more than males". When selecting a dog, many people prioritise breed over gender, as it's often seen as more
significant than the pet's sex. There are countless dog breeds, each with unique traits - from physical characteristics to personality quirks. Yet, there are also distinctions between
male and female canines that go beyond the obvious, and some are so subtle you might not even notice them. Dr Alex Crow, a UK-based animal vet who produces pet-related content on social
media, including advice, tips and educational videos, is the chief veterinary officer at The Net Vet, offering pet care services, and the official vet for Pooch and Mutt, a pet supplies
firm, so he brings a wealth of expertise to the subject of dogs. He posted a TikTok video to share an intriguing insight about female dogs. In the clip, he cites a 2022 study which found
that female dogs tend to judge their owner's competence more critically than male dogs. Dr Crow shared in the video: "A study in 2022 was done that looked into how dogs view
different human behaviours and their ability to recognise competence, but it also looked into whether they change their own behaviour depending on that person's level of competence and
what's really interesting is that they found that female dogs are far better at recognising competence in us humans than males." In the research, dogs observed two people trying to
open containers with food or treats inside. One consistently succeeded in opening the containers, while the other deliberately appeared to struggle. The team assessed the dogs'
responses and discovered that male dogs showed no preference for either individual, but female dogs opted to approach the "more competent person" in 83 per cent of the trials. Dr
Crow went on to say: "The study also showed that female dogs looked at the person attempting to open the container for longer, indicating that they're far more perceptive and pay
far more attention. "So, the moral of the story [is] if you've got a female dog make sure you're always on your A game because they are watching and, apparently, they're
judging." Research has indicated that there are notable gender differences in how dogs welcome one another, as highlighted by Positively. The website states: "When dogs first greet
each other, males are more likely to greet another male or female dog by smelling the behind first before moving to the face, while females tend to greet face first before gathering more
information from behind. "Both genders will scent mark or leave urine, feces, or other bodily fluids on an object, in the air, or on the ground. "Male dogs tend to lift a leg and
mark vertical surfaces while female dogs mostly squat and leave a dribble of urine on the ground."