#120 – Daddy’s Girls and Mommy’s Boys – Should you choose a boy, girl or does it matter?

A Unique Approach to Puppy Matching at Habibi Bears

Hey there, puppy lovers! It’s Julie from Habibi Bears, and I want to chat about something that makes us a bit different from other breeders. You know how most places have a pretty simple way of matching puppies? They usually just ask, “Boy or girl?” and “What color do you want?” Some even start pairing puppies with families right when they’re born!

Maybe you’ve been through this before. You might have even reached out to us saying something like, “I’d love a Chocolate Tuxedo Boy! When will you have one available?” Don’t worry, we love these questions! They’re a great way to start a fun conversation and get to know you better.

But here’s the thing – at Habibi Bears, we do things a little differently. We believe in letting our puppies grow and show us who they really are before we start matching them up. It’s kind of like watching a flower bloom – you don’t know exactly what it’ll look like until it opens up!

When you ask us about specific colors or genders, we use that as a chance to talk about why we wait to match our puppies. We love explaining how each pup develops their own unique personality over those first few weeks. It’s amazing to watch!

So, why do we do it this way? Well, it’s all about finding the perfect match between puppy and family. We want to make sure your new furry friend fits just right with your lifestyle and personality. It’s not just about looks – it’s about that special connection.

We take all things into consideration for each family’s situation.  Which factors do we prefer to consider in order when we are assessing pups and recommending them to families? 

Let’s dive in…..

Factor #1 : Temperament: Our Temperament Testing and Evaluation really deliver the Perfect Match to you! The best and most successful matches happen to be those Habibi Bear parents who take our decades-long experience into consideration when choosing their new puppy. Our primary goal is always going to be to recommend the best choices that will most likely make a heart connection with you, based on how they were evaluated in our Habibi Method Assessments and according to your responses in the Perfect Match Puppy Questionnaire.

Here are some of the points to consider when planning for puppy selection:

Not All Dogs Are Cut Out for Every Job

To that end, we like to remind our newest clients or those unfamiliar with our process, especially those searching for dogs who will serve as emotional support or psychiatric assistant animals, that not all dogs are suited to serve in those specialized capacities. Just like every little boy doesn’t want to be a fireman, not all dogs are suited to work closely in partnership with those needing support, even if in general, the majority of our Habibi Bear dogs are human-focused.  We strive to match the dogs who truly enjoy the work with those clients who have listed that need as a priority. Keeping that in mind, we always like to advise preference neutrality when it comes down to choosing that perfect match puppy dog and remaining open to fur color, eye color, fur texture, body shape, and the biggest one of all: gender.

Many of my clients will tell me that their little female Habibi Bear is in love with their husband, so she wants another female dog that will be as in love with her.  In this situation, we suggest a boy with the temperament suited for their unique home would be a great choice.  We certainly have evidence of that even within our own household! While Mama Bianca loved everyone and was indeed my partner in raising our pups here in Puppy Charm School, there was a special and unique type of joy that she exhibited whenever her dad came home, following him around the house and engaging in their evening after dinner dance session.  And I too have experienced that opposite attraction with my boy dogs.

“What I tell folks is if you are a woman, your female dog will love you, but your male dog will be IN LOVE with you.  Same goes for men and their female dogs.”  

Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Dogs

It was the strong bond of love between Honey (one of our Habibi Bear Heroines) and her dad that saved their entire family from a deadly explosion. And who can forget the other Hannah’s Heart donation pup Heaven, who bonded to  Olivia the moment they met, supporting her through a blood transfusion and making all her dreams come true. Heaven provided the deep love needed to ‘his’ Livi to help her transition peacefully.

These are just some of the stories that we hear that bring a smile to our heart and remind us why we do what we do. 

We love to encourage those with fixed gender preferences to remain open and receptive to our tried-and-true recommendations for switching it up. 

You may just find the match that will give you their heart and bring you the earth and stars. After all, by staying focused on either a female or male dog, you may automatically limit your options and potential dream match by 50%! Trust us, by focusing on the temperament, you will get the Habibi Bear of your dreams. It may be helpful to remember that some of the negative behaviors popularly attributed to male dogs, such as humping, marking, and territoriality, are present in both male and female dogs. These behaviors are commonly an attempt to establish dominance in a less than confident dog, rather than a gender trait.  Yep, we’ve had many girls who do this too!  The good news? With some gentle guidance, good boundaries, and reassurance, those nuisance behaviors will be a thing of the past and a distant memory.

Factor #3 Colors and Aesthetics

We offer over 25 patterns and colors, providing endless combinations for our adorable puppies. Families have their favorite colors, but the more open you are to different preferences, the shorter the wait will be. Even with the same parents, each litter produces entirely different color combinations due to our diverse gene pool. This is one of the unique aspects of Habibi Bears – we have countless options. When people ask me about my color preference, I always answer that it’s whatever pup I am holding at the moment because I love them all. Unlike many breeders who follow popular breeding trends to color first, focusing only on one color in their lines, we refuse to follow this trend. We believe that it restricts the gene pool and ultimately limits the breed, leading to a dead-end in breeding. At Habibi Bears, we are about health, temperament, and the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors we can create with our wonderfully diverse dogs!

The Ultimate Match – it’s all Up to You! So, when it comes to matching our families, we take all of these considerations into account when we recommend puppies to you.  We will discuss your unique needs, which helps us understand what you are looking for.   Most families want that perfect Emotional Support dog, and gender/color is irrelevant.  But for those who were quite specific, they have been patient in waiting for that unicorn puppy – and are forever thankful for it.  Take, for instance, our dear family, the Hodges, who waited two years for their little pup, who was the perfect temperament AND gender AND color.  It did happen, and we often hear from them about what a perfect girl she is.  She’s so special; we have three friends who joined the wait list after being enchanted by their special little Lola, and the Hodges are are planning to add a boy to the family next year!

Ultimately, every family has the right to make their own decision about their needs. If you have very specific preferences for things like color, gender, and temperament, it may take longer to find the perfect match. If that’s what you prefer, we fully support your choice!