As a breeder, it is amazing the number of people who say they want a female. But when asked "Why?" most don't have a definitive answer.  Females have better temperaments? WRONG! Females make better family pets?  WRONG!  Females are always smaller? WRONG!  Females are better with children?  WRONG!

Females can be very demanding, pick a "favorite" family member as "their own", be temperamental and very possessive.......who would have figured!!!  If my males could have puppies, I wouldn't own a female!  OK, maybe that is a little drastic but overall males far outweigh the females as a family favorite.   

OK, so you don't like that MALES: Lift their legs to "potty"?  Chase all the females in the neighborhood that are in heat? Spray and mark their territories?  FEMALES: come in heat every 6 months for life!  Run the neighborhood in search of a male when in heat?  (Oh yeah...they are worse than a male looking for a female!!!!) .........All of our puppies are spayed/neutered before they leave my home or in the case of the Goldendoodles, you have the option of having having them spayed/neutered before you pick them up.  MALES:  Do not lift their legs, do not go "roaming" when a  female is in heat, do not "spray" or mark their territories.  FEMALES:  Do not have heats, do not roam looking for a male.  All of the "no so desirable" traits of dogs are eliminated.  There is absolutely no difference between male and female as far as bad habits are concerned. 

Do you have other dogs?  Males go fine with other males or females.  Two females are not such a good idea.  Ever heard of a "dog fight"?  My males never fight.  Put two females together and you have a "dog fight".

Singles and couples with no other dogs generally do not have issues with females.  Families on the other hand or people with other dogs are highly advised to get a male.  Is this a "firm rule", NO.  But for the majority, it works best.  

Now, to the color issue:

I DON'T WANT BLACK!  I have heard that over and over again.  "Why?"  I ask.  "I don't know"  or "I don't want black hair on my furniture"  or "Black is too hot for my climate".  WRONG ANSWERS! Number 1:  Black is the most popular color in both the Lab and the Poodle breeds.  It is the most prestigious color.  It is the color that is "shown" the most.  It is absolutely stunning in person.  Everyone that has come to my home to get a light colored puppy has gone home with a Black Ebony or Blue Velvet!  EVERY TIME.  Pictures do not do these dogs justice.  The Black Ebony's are "jet black" in color and do not fade. The Blue Velvet's take on a beautiful "Blue Sapphire" color in the sunlight and they have sapphire blue skin!  Both are extremely easy to care, stay clean and best of all have NO TEAR STAINING. Number 2: These dogs do not shed so there are no black hairs being left behind.  Number 3:  Black dogs do not get any hotter than white dogs!  Their coat color has nothing to do with their internal thermometer!  

I WANT A LIGHT COLOR!   Are you planning on bathing a lot? Or are you going to keep the dog off the grass?  Out of the dirt?  Out of the mud?  Do you like the eye staining?  Please give your grooming time and skills an honest look before choosing a light colored dog.  These things all come with the territory.  Here is a good example of one of my favorite dogs.  I love her to death and she is my customer's favorite.  Everyone wants one that looks "just like Brie!"   But here is what they don't see....

This is Brie before her bath and grooming!  She likes the grass when freshly cut!

Here she is in all her glory!   What a beautiful girl!

Seriously though, when choosing a puppy for your family, the very first thing you should consider is temperament, not gender or color! Part of my job as your breeder is to do my very best to match the perfect puppy with your family, your lifestyle, and your experience with dogs. 

If you want your dog to go jogging with every morning, go to the lake, take hiking trips or use for any athletic competitions, a laid-back puppy is not for you no matter the gender or color.  On the other hand if your family spends a lot of time traveling in the car, lying around on the couch and is primarily wanted as a companion then an energetic puppy is not the one for you regardless of sex or color.  If your family is one in between that is semi-active, wants the dog to play ball, swim in the pool and be a couch potato with you sometimes then you do not want the alpha, nor the shy one, but one that is in-between.  Again, regardless of sex or color.  

Your puppy is going to be a 10-15 year commitment and a member of your family.  Once in your home and a member of your family you will not care if the dog is male or female or is purple with pink polka dots!!! 

I personally breed for temperament and take whatever sex and colors the Good Lord gives me.  So, choose your puppy by personality, and not gender or color !