Now if you thought when I titled this post – “leg lifts vs. squats” that I’d become some sort of gym rat, you’re mistaken #Ineedto
These particular leg lifts and squats would be about the Boys…
…they bark alike, they walk alike, but they don’t pee alike #pattydukedoodles
THE MYTH –
Are you one of those humans who thought male dogs lift their legs and females squat?
I was!
While some male dogs don’t lift their legs until after 12 months of age, there’s a group that may never lift.
I’m beginning to think this may be true for 23 month old Jaxson. #doodlesquatter…
I found three reasons why male dogs may decide not to lift their legs –
- Pawhaps they haven’t spent time among other male dogs – X
- Not territorial with other dogs- no motivation to scent mark – √
- Spending time with female dogs – X
Jaxson scored one out of three from this list.
WHY LEG LIFT? –
Marty Becker, DVM, author of “Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?” explains that lifting the leg enables the dog to spray his urine higher, where other dogs are more likely to notice it and a breeze can more easily disseminate it.
Others speculate that by leaving their scent high up, a male dog makes itself appear bigger than he actually is: not just another guy, but someone the others won’t want to mess with. Think about that the next time you see a pug balancing himself precariously on three legs, gamely reaching for the sky! Source: WebVet
Harley is not only a leg lifter…
He’s a squatter on occasion too! #ohmydoodle…
Even amongst the most seasoned of leg lifters, male dogs will sometimes on occasion still pee “the girly way,” as and when it suits them. Source: Pets4homes
DID YOU KNOW –
Leg lifters urinate more frequently. I can fist-bump somebody on that one! Harley “sprinkles and tinkles” on at least 4 bushes, 2 mailbox posts and at least one tree every morning.
My squatter Jaxson? One long squat and BAZINGA – he’s done.
EXCEPTIONS –
If your dog was cocking his leg the majority of the time then reverts to squatting instead, this may be indicative of a problem in the making. Please contact your veterinarian.
HOW DOES YOUR DOG PEE? –
Did you know there are several position in which a dog relieves himself? A dozen were found when two individuals studied a group of beagles. Eight postures in females and only four in males.
Wanna have some fun? Check out the chart below, then tell me – can you identify your dog?
Share your dog’s gender and the pattern number that best fits him/her in your comments below…
Harley = #4 AND #7
Jaxson = #6 #alldoodledaylongbaby
I’m sure this blog post has evoked many questions in your mind. The popular one probably being –
Why does she have photos of her doodles urinating?
I have no answer 🙁
We’re feeling Fridaylicious – join us ❤️
Great Read:
November 17, 2016
BOL! Okays, I knew right away what this postie was about, and Ma started chuckling! See, MOI, being the LADY that I am, always squat AT HOME. On my walkies..that’s a different story! I ALWAYS lift my leg! Yuppers! I pee like Mike! I gots to make sure I gets my pee on all the bestest pee mail bushes! (oh, and I likes poopin’ in the bushes too…makes for tricky poopie pick up…butts that’s Moms problem…☺
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
November 18, 2016
This is funny. Ziggy will be 3 years old in Jan and the Majority of the time he squats #6, and usually only once on our walk. Sometimes he’s a number 3. But the one that confuses me the most is #1. Usually he is captivated by whatever he is sniffing in the leaves or grass & he’ll just Stand there & let it flow. Usually all 3 types also wind up on his legs . SMH.
November 18, 2016
Katie was a lifter and squatter, and so am I, but Bailie only squats and Madison will most likely be a squatter too. Mom thinks girls should only squat, but I think the lift is helpful for marking. Main thing is dogs pee when needed!
November 18, 2016
Our granddoodle, Cody, is now an equal opportunity peeer. (How do you spell that word?) For the first 2 years of his life he was a squatter. Then out of the blue, on one of our walks, he lifted his leg! Woot,woot, party time, he became a “man”! Now he lifts his leg if there is a pole or bush around, if no he squats.
November 18, 2016
Who’d have thought there were so many options to pee-mail? The previous poodle boy to Sam was a leaner, Sam is ‘ambidextrous’ changing things up like he’s rearranging furniture! 😉
November 18, 2016
I do my yoga squats every morning
Lily (& Edward)
November 18, 2016
We have a girl that will try to lift her leg while peeing. Sort of like #12. 🙂
November 18, 2016
Rodrigo elevates most of the time (5), but when he’s in his own yard (not the property, but in the dog yard) he will just squat. Scout does a low leg raise (4).
I had a feeling it had to do with marking, because of when Rodrigo would raise his leg and when he won’t. When we’re on a walk, he’s elevating all over the place. Scout doesn’t seem to care.
Also, what I find interesting is that Sydney will wait for Zoey to pee, then go and pee over it.
November 18, 2016
As a pug momma, I can attest that the little guys can and do aim high for the sky when they pee. Liam has even lost his balance due to trying to reach just a little higher when he pees. And he wants to stop 8-ish times on each walk, stopping to sniff the peemail first. Gah.
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
November 21, 2016
Similar to what Kimberly wrote…Chloe will wait for LadyBug to pee…then pee on top of it! Very weird!!
November 22, 2016
Ha ha, I love this! We always thought it was odd when our beagle Kobi mostly squatted (though he would occasionally lift his leg). But what I thought was even odder was when our female beagle, Cricket, lifted her leg! Though not backwards but forward as in #3. Who knew there were so many positions for dogs to pee in? LOL
May 2, 2021
Casey my 17 month old Goldendoodle male has never lifted his leg, he has always been a leaner (#2)