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Help me understand.... What do people mean when they say "lifting the leg"? In many countless threads people always ask about whether or not having a boy is right for them and people always respond with "lifting their leg" is the biggest issue that they have with their males. I'm sorry if this sounds stupid, but I don't understand what that means. Are they referring to marking behaviors? Or do they really don't like that some boys lift their legs when they go pee pee? If it's the latter, why is that a problem? I've seen many girls lift their leg when they go pee pee, and no one ever mentions that. If it is marking issues, girls mark too, so why is that never brought up? Maybe I've just been lucky that Kaji doesn't mark, hump, or any other thing that people see as negatives towards boys. He did try to mark in the house the first 3 weeks he was home. He was already a year old, but with his neuter, training, and consistence he has not tried to mark inside the house, and after 6 months of having him, I have stopped using belly bands all together. So YT, help me understand. The only negative I see about having a boy is there aren't as many cute clothes for them. :D |
they are referring to marking behaviors . . .when they say 'lifting their leg". |
Then why do some respond to that, "my boy still squats when he pees"? Is squatting suppose to be better than standing when they are peeing? |
I always called it hiking their leg when they pee, but my girl does it and so do my boys. They don't mark anything they just think it is what you are suppose to do. My spayed female humps her bed to show it she is the boss, a lot more than my boys hump. |
Lifting the leg has to do with the amount of testosterone in the system. Even though dogs are neutered the adrenal glands still make a little in both males and females. It stays at a relatively low level unless the dogs are around other dogs, and this prompts the adrenal glands to make more testosterone. Contrary, to popular opinion, it's not seeing another dog left his leg that causes him to do it, it's just a scent from another dog that causes this behavior. |
Thanks Nancy, I didn't know that, thanks for the info! So the scent of another dog will cause my dog to essentially mark, correct? Or does it cause him to want to just lift his leg when peeing? I know there is a difference between peeing and marking, I just want to understand why "lifting the leg" is viewed so bad vs squatting. That's the general theme I see in many threads. |
I believe it's actually more sanitary for male dogs to lift their legs when relieving themselves. When Thor squats, more often than not, he ends up peeing on himself. However, the large majority of male dogs almost never lift JUST to pee. Even if they really need to pee, they usually mete it out over several spots. I walk dogs regularly, and I'd say the average male dog wants to mark every few minutes. Female dogs usually pee just once per walk. So I think when people talk about "lifting the leg", they mean they don't want a male that marks all over their house. Also, I guess I prefer that Thor squats on his pee pad. If I leave it too close to the wall, he lifts his leg and pees on the wall. So there's another con of leg lifting. :) |
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Well if they lift their leg while MARKING....and do this indoors....that's your sofa they're going on, or your coat, chair leg....you get the picture. |
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Yes, that a simple way to put it. Just like certain smells can affect humans, the smell of a live Christmas tree, can bring previous Christmas memories flooding back. Other smells can make you tummy rumble, an after shave lotion can . . . oh well, you get the point. :D Dogs have a much more sophisticated sense of smell, and they can tell many things about the other dog by smelling the urine. This is really wired into the survival instinct. I can't answer your question specifically, I know the two things are usually tied together, and I've seen dogs that never mark or lift their leg, and only when other dogs come into their home, they start doing this. I wasn't aware that people were upset about a dog lifting his leg to pee. I think it's the cutest thing ever. I was proud when Joey started doing it! I would not be proud if Joey was marking in the house. We do allow Joey to mark on walks, it just seems like it boosts his confidence, and he seems so proud of himself. |
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*names changed so as not offend anyone* |
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I think it's just that if a male dog is squatting, you know he's definitely peeing just to relieve himself, and not to mark. Again, once male dogs start lifting, they almost never pee just to pee. It's either purely marking (when there isn't even any liquid coming out, they're just waving their leg at something), or marking and peeing together. Yeah, it is interesting that you had a little girlie marker. I don't see a lot of female yorkies, so maybe this is more common in the breed. I actually almost never see females mark. |
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I think what you are asking about the lifting of the leg is that when they pee on there pad by lifting there leg they usually make a big mess because it go's all over the floor also. The last male I had did this. He peed half on his pad and half on the floor. :( |
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And to clarify, to me peeing to relieve themselves is when they pee a big puddle vs marking, all it takes is one little squirt and they move on to squirt on other things. I'm starting to think this thread is making me sound really dumb. :confused: |
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The first is referred to in QuickSilver's post above. If the male is lifting his leg to pee it may be more difficult to have them in-door only and exclusively pad trained because they can spray everywhere. Some people get those little hydrants to give them something to aim at. For Remy, I used to use people incontinence pads (the big ones) and I folded the pad up the wall so he could lift his leg and not cause a mess. Now he goes 100% outside so his technique no longer puts my walls at risk :D Second is marking potential |
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wow! what a topic I think I'll just be happy with my 5 month old boy that squats like a girl so far! at least he don't pee pee on the wall just on the pad, that is when he remembers to us the pad |
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Frankly, my dog Teddy was the first male dog I EVER saw squat while peeing. I always found it strange myself that he never lifted his leg. All of my family's other male dogs did, so I figured that was the correct way of peeing. So, for the longest time, I was concerned for NOTHING. When all it meant was that he just didn't mark. I said nothing remotely close to saying that it was "bad bad bad." |
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asking about marking behaviour I started the most recent thread asking this question...I wrote, "I'm wondering if he would lift his leg and pee on things in my house". I mean, will he be lifting his leg and peeing on things in my house!! :D I tried to search the topic, I am new here and couldn't find historical threads answering this question. The only thread I could find referred to what to do if a male dog's "lipstick" is out for too long. If my female pup were to have an accident in the house, the most I am contending with is mopping up a small puddle. I am trying to imagine having a boy and am asking will he mark, will he lift his leg and mark my couch, curtains, shoes, clothes, bed, everything. I am trying to learn what I can so I make the best choice regarding the next pup I bring into my home. I am trying to decide between knowing 2 girls are more likely to have problems and bringing in a boy that may have needs and/or behaviours beyond what I am willing to deal with. thanks! :) |
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But, your question is different than mine. I understand that dogs mark, I just never knew there was a difference between boys marking and girls marking. |
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Not a problem. I was actually made to feel negatively about my dog by others, who I now know just weren't knowledgeable about it. But I see your point. It's not really a "bad" thing, really just an unfavorable habit. And i definitely agree that it shouldn't be something with a huge stigma attached. Personally, I'd rather all of my dogs leg lift than do other things, such as bite or act aggressively toward other dogs, strangers or children. |
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