Note: Female dogs do not need to “learn” leg-lifting/marking behavior from male dogs. It comes naturally to more dominant females.
I think some dogs have to see another dog pee with his leg up in order to get that lightbulb moment. My boy was neutered when he was 5 months old, but I can’t remember if he started lifting before or after that. In any case, there was this Husky mix that lived in a backyard down the alley, and we loved to take a detour there on walks. It was a chainlink fence, so pretty easy visibility. I think the very first time Jake ever lifted his leg, was right after the Husky mix lifted his leg right after the initial greetings. Dog peed on the fence, Jake sniffed the pee and then tried it himself. I remember that he didn’t understand the balance portion, as he wobbled and then propped his knee on the fence to stay up. From that day forward, he tried out the leg-lifting method of peeing every time until he had the hang of it. Nowadays, he doesn’t squat, but if he’s been inside for a VERY long time between potty breaks, then he’ll park out like a horse when he pees. Back legs waaaaay out behind him as he lets the pee flow.
Agreed. Hubs and I don’t let our dogs mark on anyone’s mailbox/trashcans/telephone pole/bush/etc. They can mark all they want on public or communal property. Heck, we don’t even let them pee on the right of way grass that’s visually part of someone’s yard. Irked me to no end when I lived in neighborhood (as opposed to the boonies now lol) where everyone walking their dog let the pee AND poop in my yard right at the curb.
[quote=lovey1121;5791577]Note: Female dogs do not need to “learn” leg-lifting/marking behavior from male dogs. It comes naturally to more dominant females.
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That’s our girl-dog, a more dominant girl. She rarely lifts a leg but she does.
My old Collie used to pee by parking out like a horse. It was rare to see him either squat or leg lift. He was neutered by the time I aquired him, which was when he was a year old, but I’m not sure exactly how old he was when it was done.
Tessa, my current spayed female mutt, is mostly a squatter. Every once in a while she’ll actually lift one leg and squat at the same time, though, which always looks really ackward.
And I agree about the marking. When Tessa and I go for a walk, it’s for the purpose of walking. Not sniffing, marking, pooping on sidewalks, or any number of other rude toilet behaviors. Generally I run her around the yard before we go so she can empty her bladder and bowels before we walk. If I think she needs to go while we’re out and about, I’ll give her a command to let her know that she’s allowed to take a break from walking to do her business if she needs to.
I have never seen a hard rule that neutering as puppies will prevent hiking: in my experience some do, some don’t.
I have two males. One intact at 7yo (co-owned show dog) and one pound hound neutered after maturity.
The pound hound is short and will climb trees with his forelegs before he hikes a rear leg. Male dog sitters/friends get a real kick out of this little 10" 18lb dog getting as big as possible. He also scratches/kicks after peeing and has taught my mom’s Lab to do so. He will mark every 6ft if whoever holding the leash lets him. Drives me nuts. He doesn’t have to pee: he’s marking! :mad:
The show dog can hike his leg above parallel to the ground. I’ve never seen any dog get it so high!
Of course walking two boys like this, they each have to pee over the other. It would probably go on endlessly if I let it. Poor pound hound often gets his head peed on because while he’s methodically sniffing the spot of interest, show dog has already hiked. Happened on Roommate’s watch once and she apologized to me. :lol:
Wayside, I have seen our boy-dog park out too. Very occasionally it’s truly like a gelding/stallion, but mostly it’s a half squat half park.
I have 4 male dogs all of them lift their legs except the 21 month old Aussie. I had him neutered as young as possible (I think he was 4 months) and he has never lifted his leg for which I am grateful. He does a little puppy squat. He doesn’t seem interested in marking either. The 2 little yorkies will pee on anything and everything :mad:
My old Collie used to pee by parking out like a horse. It was rare to see him either squat or leg lift. He was neutered by the time I aquired him, which was when he was a year old, but I’m not sure exactly how old he was when it was done.
It might have something to do with the size of the dog too. Out of my three past & present male German Shepherds, two would consistantly park out (one neutered before 1 year of age when I got him already done; one neutered at 7 months) and the current GSD sometimes parks out, but usually lifts. I’m not sure when he got fixed as he was 6 when I got him. He does not mark in the house.
My male Bulldog (neutered when we got him at age 3) would generally squat (I think it was easier due to his body shape), but he did lift once in a while if there was a tall blonde female dog around. :lol:
My girls have all been squatters.
