The classic picture of a dog peeing (is there a classic picture?) shows them lifting a leg. Whether it is up against a tree, a tire, or the leg of the postman a dog will generally lift one leg and urinate to the side. However, while we have seen many dogs do this in real life there is plenty of dogs that never do it. Is there is something wrong with these other dogs? Do dogs really need to lift their legs or are they just exhibitionists? Read on to find out all the details of this strange act.
First of all, if your dog doesn’t lift his or her leg, don’t panic. This is perfectly normal. While you may be conditioned to believe that dogs should pee a certain way they don’t have to lift their legs. Dogs have so many different personalities that they, like people, will do many different things in unique ways so don’t worry if your dog has his own special routine.
There are reasons why a dog chooses to lift a leg though and understanding these reasons may help to understand why your dog doesn’t lift. The truth is that this behavior comes all the way from when dogs were wild animals. Back then they traveled as pack animals like wolves. It was important for these dogs to mark their territory and show other animals who was the leader of the area.
While a dog could just pee on the ground or on the base of a tree by lifting their leg it allows them to pee a little higher and reach the same height that most dogs’ noses are at. Thus when another dog is walking past they will smell the other dog’s urine immediately. A clever tactic.
This is why male dogs are the most common to see peeing with a leg standing and why many female dogs don’t lift their leg. However, don’t be surprised to see a female dog lift either. When a female dog is in heat her urine will smell different thanks to some pheromones. A female dog will lift her leg to aim higher as well. However, her hope is that male dogs will smell this different urine and realize she is in heat. It helps her to attract a mate.
Many male dogs who are not a dominant animal will not lift their leg, they just don’t see themselves as the leader of the pack. Many females will not lift their legs if they are not in heat. It is also common to see a female stop lifting her leg once she is neutered, she knows there is no longer a reason.
The final reason a dog stops lifting its leg is due to old joints. They may want to still lift a leg but it can be painful for older dogs. If you notice this happening it is a great indication that their joints are starting to get sore. Start giving them a cod liver oil tablet once a day and it will get their joints moving properly again. You will be amazed at how your old dog starts to act like a pup again after a few weeks of taking cod liver oil. While it is expensive it is worth it.
There you have it. It is perfectly normal for a dog to lift its leg to pee but there are many great reasons why they may not do it as well. If your dog has a strange peeing habit it may be a characteristic they have gained from some ancient disposition or it may just be a strange character quirk.
