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A lift of the leg has become a universal symbol of canine urination, seen in nature from the smallest chihuahua to the wildest wolf. But did you know that there is actually a biological reason why dogs do this?
While all dogs start out squatting to pee, as male dogs get older they will begin to lift their leg during urination. Male dogs lifting their leg to pee serves as a way of scent-marking, allowing them to reach higher points on their chosen pee-post, making their urine sit at nose level with other dogs.
In this blog we will take a closer look at why dogs will lift their leg to pee, what age they start exhibiting this behavior, as well as other fun facts about puppy peeing habits!
Urination in dogs serves two main purposes: to get rid of waste products and as a way to mark their scent and communicate with other dogs and animals. Scent-marking is a far more common practice in male dogs, and when you see a dog lifting his leg to pee, this is very likely what he is aiming to achieve.
By lifting their leg, male dogs are able to not only direct their urine stream upwards, and therefore ensure that their pee is at nose-level for other animals to smell; they are also able to cover a wider surface area, making a little pee go a long way.
Marking their territory with urine is a biological habit in dogs, which can communicate a multitude of things. They may scent-mark with the intention of warding off other dogs and claiming their territory, giving them a warning to stay away.
Or they may use this method as a way to say that it is a safe place to pee, giving them guidance like they would their pack in the wild. When scent marking occurs in female dogs, it can be used as a way of attracting a mate.
As we mentioned above, male dogs will often start out life squatting when they pee, as leg lifting is not necessarily a born habit.
Small breed puppies tend to reach maturity around 6 months, while medium-large breeds get there around 9 months. Around this time, a male dog may start to lift his leg to pee, however every dog is different and develops at different rates. Leg-lifting can often be a learned behavior; something which he will see and learn from other male dogs, either in the home or out and about.
While leg-lifting occurs in most male dogs as they reach sexual maturity, in some cases pups may choose not to lift their leg at all!
This can be for several reasons; they may find squatting generally more comfortable, or they may not have any other male dog influences in the house to learn from and therefore not develop this habit. Most dogs will see and learn from other dogs when socializing, and may be encouraged to scent-mark when picking up the scents of other dogs when out and about.
Some male dogs may never lift their leg to pee, while others may need to be discouraged from doing it in unwanted places. But no matter your dog’s peeing habits, as long as they are happy and healthy this shouldn’t be cause for concern.
In conclusion, dogs lifting their leg to pee is a way of spreading their scent and communicating with other dogs and animals that may pass by. The action of lifting the leg helps direct the stream of urine upwards to a higher level so that it will be more easily sniffed at by others, as well as helping to spread the urine over a greater surface area.
Scent-marking is one of a dog’s greatest tools to communicate in the wild, and while some may go a little overboard at times, proper toilet training will ensure that any marking behaviors are contained to the great outdoors.
At the end of the day, every dog is going to be different; there is no right or wrong way for a male or female dog to pee, whether they choose to squat, lift their leg or even stand on their front legs! As long as they seem happy and comfortable there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
Keep an eye on your dog’s peeing habits and any other symptoms that may occur, and if you are ever concerned then seek the guidance of your vet.
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