Will my baby boy pup every learn to lift his leg to go pee?

Question

I know it sounds funny, and people makes jokes cause he's still squatting to pee. My boyfriend says he learns it from an older male dog, but he has been around them and either doesn't watch them lift their leg, or just doesn't care... is this really a learned trait or is he going to forever be made fun of? The thing is, when my little girl Rylee pees, her butt is almost on the ground, but when Bailey goes, he just kind of bends his legs.... just a silly question, but I'm very curious! Thank you

Answer 1

Hi there. I know that you are concerned about how your dog's behavior makes you feel, but consider that he feels that he's doing what comes naturally. In my experience, leg-lifting is a learned behavior, and is also linked with territorial and marking behavior. For instance, both my neighbor's dogs lift their legs - one is male and one is female - and they never did this until they saw other dogs doing it.

So don't worry - your dog will catch on soon enough. It's all a part of his learning new things and growing up. And when people make fun of your little friend, ask them if they sat down when they were a baby :)

Answer 2

My dog did the same thing until he was about 10 or 11months old he now lifts his leg most of the time depending on what he is trying to pee on....if he is marking over where my female pees he often only bends his legs a little without lifting them. No they do not learn from an older male dog because I know my dog was never around another male dog but he learned anyway. The habit of lifting the leg usually comes with sexual maturity when they start thinking they are really cool and try to be more macho....LOL sounds stupid but it is true, also they often start doing thier little burn outs (scratching the ground with the back legs after urinating) when they are about 12 months or older. The more sexually mature they get the more they perform elaborate marking rituals. Just wait it is sooo funny watching a dog trying to poop on a small tree and then ripping up the ground after looks ridiculous....haha lol my dog does it.

Answer 3

A male dog's tendency to lift the leg to pee is instinctive, not learned from other dogs. When or whether a dog starts doing this depends mainly on the dog's body type and coordination. Some very big dogs are late learning this because it takes them longer to develop the coordination. Some take well over a year. I actually have one dog, a male corgi mix, who has never done this because he can't maintain his balance on three legs. His body is large and his legs are very short, so although he is strong and healthy, he is not built for lifting his leg.

Answer 4

If he is still a pup he will squat for a while. If you have a girl dog, he might not learn. If he is a lab with an increased risk of hip displacia or other hip problems he may not. Also weiner dogs and other small dogs don't. Sometimes it is better if they don't to avoid the inevitable marking of territory higher on a wall. Being around older males is correct. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Hi he will eventually do this as they kind of grow into doing this, i have dogs and 4 of them are male dogs and only one doesnt do it but he is still a young dog, all the others eventually did it on there own, in there own time. Thing is if he has been bought up with a female dog he might think that he has to pee like her its like my youngest dog he doentt put his leg up and he was bought up by 5 dogs 3 of them male and older, but i think because he is closer to my second youngest dog which is female i think he just copys off her and i think sometimes he thinks hes a small as what she is she is a miniture jack russel and hes a labador cross and he is 3 years old and i havent once see him put his leg up. Dont worry bout it too much just love your dog for who he is even if he doesnt ever do it

Answer 6

He will lift his leg as soon as his male hormones kick in. He will not learn it from other male dogs though. If you get him neutered before he hikes his leg to pee, it is very unlikely he ever will. Don't worry about it too much though. If people are making fun of how your dogs pees, they REALLY need to grow up and get a life!!

Answer 7

Dogs do learn from other dogs. He may never lift his leg but then again he might. But if he is learning from the girl than chances are he won't. The male dogs in my family that learned from each other do not hike their leg (some of my dogs are rescued so they learned from males). I had a female dog when I got a male lab puppy and he never hiked his leg and then I got another male dog and he doesn't hike his.

Answer 8

My pup didn't start lifting his leg until he was about 6 mos old. We have a female dog so she didn't teach him. Like most things it comes to them by instinct or naturally. My female sometimes will lift her leg to pee on a tree or long grass. Give him time. I wouldn't mind if mine stayed squatting to pee....then it would be more contained, especially when inside on the pee pads.

Answer 9

I had a Siberian Husky once who never did learn the leg lift thing. He always squatted. I'm not sure why they do or don't do it.

Maybe it's a good thing though... I have a boy chihuahua who lifts his leg, but his little thingy is actually big compared to his body so half the time his pee hits his chest. We use baby wipes and regular baths. Sad, I know. We call him "Stinkys". :-)

Answer 10

They don't need a mentor to learn, though they will start it sooner if they do. Male dogs lift their legs to mark territory so once he reaches maturity, he'll desire to mark his territory. My oldest dog didn't have any males around to copy and he didn't start until he was about a year old, but my Mom's dog got to see mine so he was trying to be like "Uncle Sham" before he even had the balance to succeed (which is another thing that effects it, they have to be coordinated enough to lift their leg without falling over).