I'm just curious. I have a strong preference for males (regardless of breed but am asking specific to GSP/DK). I prefer the look of the males, the usually larger size, the deep chest, and something about the personality. Nothing I can really itemize.

For what reasons would you choose one over the other? (excluding breeding considerations)

Probably prefer the girls but think its a subconscious thing for both of us.  I grew up with many male german sheperd police dogs that were well trained but could be affectionate too.  The first was wonderful, a really loving dog who also managed to win national awards for tracking and catching some very nasty criminals.  We lost him when i was 8 years old. After him no other came close until the german wirehaired pointer explosives search dog who came along many years later when i was 19, the first bitch we had, she stole my heart and was my reason for really pushing for a pointer (but a shorthair this time).  My other half grew up with golden retriever bitches and feels the same, its the bitches we both associate affection with.  Just our experiences but i know the males are capable of the same.  I have also been traumatised by working at a boarding kennels where i had to clean up after certain dogs repeatedly and regularly marking the yard - obviously due to being in kennels with other dogs, but the worst culprits were 3 gsps from the same family (including the bitch)

I do think though that we maybe would consider a male as a second dog once we have trained Keely (only 12 days and 6 minutes til we get her )

I have two females and they could not be more different.  My older GSP will never settle down until she is about to pass out.  My other GSP does settle down and likes to snuggle.  Now the older GSP loves to be with you and will not go outside unless you go with her, but the one that likes to snuggle, if you open the door she is all for going outside, with our with you.  So they are totally different, even though two females.

But I will say that I chose a female because of the smaller size.

Plus 1

I've grown up with a three different Golden Retrievers, two males and one female, a female Yorkie, and a female shitzhu. All the females were content to do their own things and they only really sought out their one person, usually the person who fed them most. Both males followed us around the house and literally wanted to be touching you at all times! They didn't even care which person, they just wanted someone to love them.

My ex-boyfriend was the one who introduced me to GSP's and he insisted on a female because he wanted to breed her down the road. Though I fell in the love with the breed, her behaviour reflected the other females I had been around and was only further heightened by that "velcro-dog" attitude of the GSP. Nothing I said or did could interest her.

So this time around, I wanted a male. My boyfriend also wanted a male. Ryder is amazing and though he challenges us, I prefer his behaviour.  We will probably stick to males for all future dogs. We also want boys when we have kids, too bad we don't have control over that!