Should it be a boy...or a girl?

One easy way around the studding issue is to have the contract read that the breeder can do X number of collections for frozen semen or fresh chilled semen.  Then you never have to do a natural breeding and some of the brain cells that seem to disappear after that (whenever there is a hint of a bitch in season) will be less likely to be a problem in a performance dog. 

As to bitches and dogs.  If I could only live with one sex, it would be bitches, even after living with an intact bitch.  If you opt for a bitch and a breeding is part of the contract, spell out the particulars and especially but an age limit on the bitch for the litter.  I would also limit the litters.  One of my deal breakers, I do not have to return the bitch for breeding, whelping and raising.  I will turn over the litter but not my girl.

I find my boys are needier than my bitches.  Although it may be the animals I have ended up with, but my bitches have all had more courage (with the exception of one male dobe).  Courage is important to me. 
 
However,  I would ask for the best puppy to suit your goals and personality rather than a specific sex.

I think you'll have MUCh more fun showing a male. Not only the coat issue, but a female, you're going to lose 2 months out of every year (and they will inevitably be during the national specialty, your hometown show, your favorite 'away' show, etc) for performance events, as you can't show in anything other than breed while she's in season. The only reason I wanted a female rather than a male when I was hunting for Mal was to balance out Indy, who typically prefers female dogs over males. (Indy is now neutered, btw, so that wasn't a factor.)

I've really not found managing intact boys as bad as described. It *can* be, but typically isn't a huge deal. Plus, throwing Gizzy into the mix... I think you'd be better off with a boy, and you're more likely to get a really good dog to show- the breeder isn't going to hand a really amazing bitch to a novice who has no experience showing the breed, etc, could get bored and never finish the dog or breed her, etc.

You've spent so much time getting to know this breeder, and to me, that's a big part of determining whether you'd be willing to co-own with them. Co-ownerships can be a great way to get a really good dog, but they can also be absolutely miserable. It depends on the individuals, and even more on the contract.

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

If you want to show a coated breed...and be successful....best to get a male. Females will be bald after seasons...so twice a year...and after litters they will be REALLY bald...LOL! You will be spending a lot more time keeping your bitches coat THERE...let alone in good conditiion...than you will on maintaining the coat a dog has.
 
Males have more impressive and consistent coat. They often will have a more eye catching "show dog" attitude. There is a reason aside from sexism that most top dogs of coated breeds...are males.
 
Bitches are the bedrock of the house of the purebred dog....but dogs are the "glitter"....if you are wanting to mainly show...and win...then I would pick a male.
 
 

Oh yeah!!!  How could I have forgotten that one!?!?!  Rose blows her coat every time she's in heat.  After she had puppies, she looked AWFUL!  My first show on my own with her was while she was in heat...I did not do well at all!  Although, it did not help that my judge did not seem to understand that.  She was like "I think she might have thyroid problems because her coat is patchy."  I said "no, she is in heat and she blows coat during it."  The lady would not believe me.  Colton's coat is much easier to deal with because he never really blows it!  So, males are much better in that department!

despite how dog-awful it is, berserker is not nuetered yet, and i have not really had too many problems with him marking. new houses he will attempt it once but not after i get after him, and i have not noticed any spots in my own home after his initial marks when we first moved in. he does whine like a psycho if he is near a female in heat, which we try to avoid, but that was pretty much all he did was whine, no "funny business". he is not agressive at all, but he's a docile dog to begin with.

i would never want an intact female, beardies are big dogs, and the bigger the dog, the bigger the spotting. and with all that fur getting ucked up, not something i would want to deal with.

humm...lots to think about.  I know more about the dane then the sir, The dane reached her Ch. before she was even in full coat, this kinda has me worried about the pup having too much coat but I trust the breeder knows what she's doing and haven't been dissapointed with any of her responses to my questions.  She really said it's up to me on what I want and she will help if I have any questions.  The breeding will be done AI so thats got me a little worried, especialy since the sir lives in Canada.  I just hope everything goes as planed.  Oh, I don't know how any of you parents out there do your parent thing, it's nervwreaking enough waiting for my new puppy.
 
I've talked to two beardie owner at shows, one who only owns males and anouther who only owns females, one really good at confermation the other is one of the top in obedience...both seem to have dogs that do well in what they are breed to do regardles off their owners choice of sex.  I've enjoyed getting to know the beardie community which all seem to help eachother out.

Of corse like almost anything I do, I always ask a million questions just to make sure I'm headed in the right directions.  Thanks all for your responses.[]

ORIGINAL: Xebby

humm...lots to think about.  I know more about the dane then the sir, The dane reached her

Do you mean sire and dam? I keep reading it and thinking that you decided to get a Great Dane instead.

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

ORIGINAL: Xebby

humm...lots to think about.  I know more about the dane then the sir, The dane reached her

Do you mean sire and dam? I keep reading it and thinking that you decided to get a Great Dane instead.

 
ha ha[]  Yep, looks like a need a quick lession in dog lingo...I thought that didn't sound right...[&:]wow, where did my mind go...