Have you ever thought about what is a male dog called?
Most of us grew up thinking that dog is a gendered term. We do call every dog the same without knowing their gender. This makes the word “dog” a gender-neutral term.
Of course, every animal has a name according to its gender. But, if you are thinking what do we call a male dog, we shall find out!
We call a male dog a “dog.” However, there is a disagreement between people whether it is a gendered term or not.
In most situations, the word “dog” goes for both males and females. But, breeders have specific names for every dog. They call them stud or sire.
This article will let you know the specific names of male dogs and their origin. It will also help you to find all the other information you are primarily looking for.
Read below to find out!
The Two Genders And The Same Name
Dogs aren’t an exception when it comes to the same name as the two genders. For example, we call both female and male cats “cats.” Although male cat has the name “tomcat.”
The same goes for horses. Some people call them male and female horses. While a few refers to them as horse and mare.
Till now, it seems that no one ever thought of naming the male and female dogs. Except for the breeders who thought of it. But it is not true. Back in olden times, there were specific terms for both genders. But, they aren’t common now.
1) Curs And Bitches:
The terms that people use in the olden days are now considered a bad term and carry a negative connotation. One such word is “cur,” which underwent sociolinguistic changes. People no longer refer to dogs as “cur” because of their negative meaning.
Around the 11th century, “cur” was a word used for a dog of mixed or unidentified breed. People used this term for any dog which was ugly or aggressive. Soon, this word became an insult and slang. People started using it to shame others. Hence, “cur” for a dog is no more used.
The same went wrong with the word “bitch. Bitch was commonly used for the female dog. Even though the word is technically correct.
People have twisted it into something else, which is quite not appreciable. Now, anyone would think before uttering this in front of others.
2) What Are The Different Terms For A Male Dog?
Living in this era, it isn’t okay to call a female dog a bitch. But, when it comes to breeding terminologies, there are different words to call a male dog.
Breeders and people who love dogs are the only people who use the terms like stud or sire. Below are the different terms used for male dogs. Even though these terms are for a male dog. But, we shall find out why aren’t they synonyms to a dog.
A) Stud:
A sexually mature male dog who hasn’t fathered litters is a stud. This word is for a specific pedigree. Those dogs which are suitable for mating is a stud.
The feminine word for stud is “bitch”. Common people like us will think twice before uttering this word. But breeders are professional and refer them to the female dog with their actual name.
The word “stud” isn’t only for dogs. Horses who can breed are also studs. Like every other term, people came with a different mean of this one as well. Men who are capable of enticing ladies, people call them studs too.
B) Sire:
When a male dog has fathered a litter, it is then a “sire.” This word is also for pedigree dogs. Instead of saying, “this dog’s a sire,” you must say, “This dog is the sire of this litter.“
The feminine word for sire is “dame.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, people first used the word in 1611. Most of the people who want to choose a puppy wish to know their dam and sire.
Most of the organizations have compiled large DNA catalogs. Which has samples from popular sires. In this way, the breeders can verify the dog’s ancestry.
C) Jerry:
This term is casually used for dogs who undergo neutering. This is not a technical term used by the breeders, though. There is a diversified opinion on this word.
Some people believe that it is a made-up term, and no breeder will ever use it. While others believe it is normal to call a neutered male dog a “jerry.”
3) What Is Popular Sire Syndrome?
This syndrome is worrisome for most dog breeders. This condition causes problems in the gene pool of different breeds. It refers to breeding one male to many female dogs.
When this condition occurs, the sire’s genes saturates the gene pool. In this way, other capable dogs are unable to sire puppies. This leads to the diversification of the gene pool.
The real danger comes when the male can pass the defective genes as well. This condition occurs when you overbreed a dog. For this, you must know how many times a male dog can mate in the day.
Male Dogs Names In Other Parts Of The World
Every country has terminologies related to gender. But, most of them might be unheard of in America.
In Australia, people call male dogs “mongrel.” While in the UK, people call them “rude.” But, these terms are not common across the country. You won’t see many Britons calling a dog “rude.”
These words are only used in certain areas. For example, people in rural areas of Australia use the word “mongrel.” Otherwise, it isn’t common.
Dog lovers and breeders don’t believe in the myth that calls a dog a “bastard.” This myth circles in some parts of Australia, but it isn’t true.
People may call an aggressive and disobedient dog a “bastard.” But, generally speaking, it makes abusive slang.
1) Nicknames For Dogs:
Naming your dog is solely your choice. There is no thumb rule related to it. Most people tend to keep gender-neutral nicknames such as “Good Boy.”
Some people keep nicks based on their appearance. For example, Big Boy, Fatty Boy, Fluff Ball, etc. Others like to address dogs as their friends. Such as “buddy,” “pal,” “dude.”
A few names have to do with their breed. People who have Goldendoodle love to call them “goldie.” Besides these words, there are also some commonly used words in a written language. Such as “pup,” “pooch,” “doggie,” or “doggo.”
If you keep a name for your dog, there are high chances they respond to it. Training them to be attentive to the specific nickname is a great way to enhance your bond with a canine.
2) Origin Of The Word “Dog”:
Till now, you know “what is a male dog called”. Some common questions arise in our mind, these can sound like “do Pitbulls have webbed feet“. While others might sometimes wonder where did the word “dog” come from.
The origin of the word is from the old English variant “docga.” But, the roots of this word are still unknown. We believe that the word “docga,” was a general term. And people used them for both genders and specific breeds.
The general term for every kind of dog was “hound.” This word originated from the Old English word “hund.” Throughout the years, “docga” got lost on the way and the word become “dog.”
To summarize, nobody knows the exact origin of the word “dog.” It can be some ancient Greek word or some gibberish. It can also be a mimicry of a dog’s mark. We can only guess because nobody knows the answer.
What Is A Male Dog Called? Conclusion:
The English language gives gendered names to all male and female animals. Even though these names vary from one country to another, they still have a male dog’s name.
You can call a male dog a “dog.” Unless you need to visit a breeder, you must make the right choice of words.
