Have You Ever Wondered What Is a Male Dog Called?
Have you ever thought about the word ‘dog’? Have you wondered if it’s a gender-specific term or a gender-neutral term?
Now, coming to the point, what actually is a male dog called? You might be confused because a female dog is called a ‘bitch’, but we don’t ever call her that because it is now used as a curse word by humans, and people would think twice before uttering it in front of someone. But is there any specific name for a male dog too? A quick answer for this question is that male dogs are only referred to as ‘dogs’ unless you are talking about a specific breed of dogs like canine, pooch, hound, etc.
You can mention different breed-specific names when you are talking to a breeder because they prefer to refer male and female dogs with representations according to their breeds. For example, a male dog that hasn’t made babies yet is called a stud, while a dog with an offspring is called a sire. This is the answer to the question ‘what are male dogs called?’ but we will discover more about male dog representations and names later in this article. So, stay tuned and walk through this article to explore more on this exciting topic!
Male dogs, which are called ‘dogs’, are actually those dogs that are not used for breeding purposes. Dogs that are used for breeding purposes are called ‘Sire’ and ‘Stud’. Another very rare term is used, which is called ‘gelding’. It is used for castrated (neutered) male dogs. These castrated dogs are also referred to as ‘Jerries’ (this sounds weird), and now you are probably wondering from where did all these names come from, right?
Some of these names originated in the nineteenth century, after the emergence of big dogs. The words we associate with male and female dogs emerged back in the 1800s. Some of them are outdated now and aren’t even used by some breeders and pet owners at all.
According to rumors only, it is said that male dogs are called ‘rude’, ‘bastard, and ‘mongrel’ in UK and Australia, respectively. However, all types of male dogs are just referred to as dogs outside of the breeding world.
Gendered Terms Aren’t Appreciated Anymore!
The world is changing rapidly, and people are embracing huge paradigm shifts. As a result, gendered terms aren’t appreciated anymore and are often looked upon as ‘sexist’ terms. This is why gendered terms (even in the case of dogs) are not appreciated in many places around the world. For example, ‘Cur’ was a term that was used for medium-sized hunting and working dogs to protect their owner’s farms and ranches! However, this term is obsolete now as it went through some sociolinguistic changes and is now considered to be offensive because it has a slightly negative connotation!
The word ‘cur’ is also used for a dog who belonged to an unidentified breed or was hostile and unattractive, and eventually, it was used as an offense and as a curse word for a human whom people hated!
Stud
Stud is the term that is used for dogs who don’t have any offspring. This term is used for a dog that can be used for breeding. The female counterpart of these dogs are referred to as ‘bitch’, and only breeders refer to this term. Stud is also commonly used for humans and horses!
Sire
Sire is the term that is used for dogs who have fathered. This term is used with respect to litters and not the fathering parent. For example, it is said that “this dog is a sire of this litter”. Similarly, ‘dam’ is the word that is used for female dogs who have given birth.
Why Is a Dog Referred to as a ‘Dog’?
Finally, after discovering the common names of male dogs used around the world, we answer the question of why a dog is only called a dog and from where did the term originate? The word ‘dog’ comes from the word ‘dogca’, which is an English word used for all kinds of dogs back in the days; after several years, the word ‘dogca’ was modified to dog and has become widely known since then.
It is ironic that nobody knows the origin of the word ‘dog’, yet it is so popular! Nobody could tell how it even came into existence. Was it accidentally spoken, or did someone mishear it? We will never know!
Final Thoughts?
Outside of the breeding world, a dog is only referred to as a dog and nothing else! But with breeders, you can casually use the terms ‘sire’, ‘stud’, ‘bitch’, and ‘jerry’, but be careful that you are using them appropriately and aren’t confusing one term with the other!
