Owner Guides
Male vs female Toller: does it actually matter?
It's one of the first questions every prospective owner asks, and the honest answer is: less than you think. Here's what actually differs — and what to base the choice on instead.
- Males ~1 in taller, few lb heavier
- Coat: males often showier
- Temperament varies by dog, not sex
- Let the breeder match the puppy
The quick answer
The differences are real but small: males run about an inch taller and a few pounds heavier, often carry a showier coat, and are frequently described by owners as goofier and more openly affectionate; females are often described as more self-contained and quicker to mature. But individual temperament swamps sex in this breed — the right answer is almost always "the puppy whose temperament fits your home," and a good breeder is far better at picking that than a preference for male or female is.
By the standard
Males: 18–21 in at the shoulder (ideal 19). Females: 17–20 in (ideal 18). Weight 35–50 lb, females typically at the lighter end.
What owners commonly report
Tendencies, not rules — every line and every dog varies.
Males
Often slower to mature, more openly clownish, more velcro-affectionate, and more likely to carry the dramatic neck ruff and heavier feathering. Intact males may mark and roam more; neutering timing is a vet conversation.
Females
Often earlier to mature and more businesslike — affection on their own schedule. Intact females cycle roughly twice a year with coat blow after seasons; spay timing also belongs to your vet.
Both, equally
The drive, the intelligence, the scream, the exercise bill, and the shedding are breed traits, not sex traits. Neither sex is 'easier to train' in any reliable way.
How to actually choose
Tell your breeder about your household — kids, other dogs, sports ambitions, noise tolerance — and let them match a puppy's observed temperament to it. Breeders watch litters for eight weeks; they know which puppy is the bold one, the thinker, the soft one. That knowledge beats sex-based generalizations every time.
Two cases where sex genuinely matters: if you already have a dog (opposite-sex pairs statistically get along more smoothly, and two intact females can be the hardest mix), and if you plan to compete in conformation (where coat and size presentation differ). Otherwise, hold your sex preference loosely.
Bottom line
Pick the breeder first, the temperament second, and the sex a distant third. A well-matched puppy of either sex will out-perform a poorly matched one of your preferred sex every single time.