I’m not pet owner and I don’t spend much time around animals in general. (Don’t get me wrong, I love them, It’s just I know I would be a terrible pet owner.)
How common it is for people to see, let’s say, a dog and immediately just know whether it’s “she” or “him”? If two dog owners meet in a park, would it be awkward for one of them to misgender the other’s dog?
Of course, I mean without looking at the “obvious” traits.
Are there behaviors that are typical for male/female pets outside the one directly related to mating?
I recognize that within the animal kingdom, the traits are not always clear, and I guess gender is quite more flexible than sex. I would be interested in both aspects.
What about cats or other animals?
I’m only ever sure if I see the twig and/or berries. Not seeing those, doesn’t mean the dog is female, however, because they can be easy to miss on some breeds.
So, I just guess, and don’t worry at all if I’m wrong. The dog doesn’t care.
Cats are even harder to distinguish. I can’t tell the difference between a fixed male cat and a female cat, even when they’re sitting on me.