how do female dogs know to squat to pee and male dogs know to lift their leg to pee?

Answer 1

I agree with both the instinct on this for sure. They approach "puberty" or whatever it is in dogs they start this. I think that they have to build up leg strength and muscle when they are very small which is why you don't see this from birth. One note on this that gave us a laugh some years back. We have always had Collies and some years ago had two at the same time. A male and a female. I used to walk both of them everyday at least once on long walks around the neighborhood. The male wanted to "mark" everything and sniff, etc. as you can expect, The female simply wanted to look around walk and every once in awhile stop and pee. Well after a couple of years of doing this and her watching the male raise his leg and pee on stuff she started marking some things as well. She didn't raise her leg, but would make a half hearted attempt and sniff behind where he had pee'd and then squat and tinkle. In other words instead of her usual "enjoying the scenery" she went from going twice on a walk to going 6-7 times depending on how much "interesting stuff" she smelled. Was so obvious that she was imitating him to watch her manner. I suspect as in this case that you can simply learn a different way of doing things, but instinct gets my vote for knowing how to do it in the first place.

Answer 2

Actually, all dogs should squat for pees and poos every time. Males who lift their leg are marking their spot, and it can be trained out of them. I have 4 males and none of them lift their legs. They all squat every time. You train this at puppyhood by praising the dog each time he squats. If he sees another male lifting, you discourage him if he tries it. That is the only way males learn to mark, from seeing other dogs do it. If they learn NOT to be territorial in all situations, they will just do their business as nature intended. Marking territory is NOT an attractive trait in ANY dog, and it should be avioded. I hate seeing males running around a dog park lifting their leg on every possible post or tree. It is a bad habit and it can actually turn to real aggression if the dog spots another dog marking the spot he just marked.

Answer 3

Actually cocking the leg has to do with marking territory. The higher the pee the bigger the dog....that is what the theory is. So if a little doggy can cock his leg and get the pee higher...then the next big doggy that comes along might think he is coming into a big dogs territority. My german shepherd male starting cocking his leg at about 2 years of age. It is co ordination not learned behavioured.

Answer 4

Male dogs begin lifting their legs to mark territory or pass their sent. In many cases (like in my boxer) if you neuter them before the sexual hormones kick in they will still squat to pee.

Answer 5

male dogs lift their legs to stop from peeing on themselves, and they might squash their little soilders. females dont need to lift their leg and they squat to prevent from peeing on themeselves to. so basically because of their "equipment"

Answer 6

It is a comfort thing. Although I have a dog nicknamed Freak (for a reason) she pisses like she's a boy, even though I have three other girl dogs and two boys.

Answer 7

It's their instinct. but if you notice male dogs sqaut to pee until they get older as well

Answer 8

actually male dogs squat until they get older, and I guess they just see other dogs and people standing up so they do it too!

Answer 9

They all don'y I have a female that lifts its leg.

Answer 10

i believe it has to do with their genitals maybe they get in the way which causes them to lift their leg