How do I get my dog to lift his leg when he pees?

Question

My puppy is 10 months old and he pees on himself every time he goes because he does not lift his leg I have no other male dogs for him to learn from. Is there a way I can teach him to lift his leg? Will he learn on his own? If so, when? It drives me nutty to watch him pee on himself.

Answer 1

Maybe understanding why they lift their legs to tinkle might help. It's really a territorial issue. If there are no other male dogs around, he doesn't have a need to mark the territory as his. When they lift their leg, they're trying to pee higher. The higher they tinkle, the more territorial the dog. (or something like that) They will lift a leg to tinkle on a vehicle tire, a tree, a tall weed, anything that will go higher. It's like an intimidation technique for smaller dogs.

I have one Great Dane male that has tinkled way up high ever since I got him at two years old. There is a female that lives here, too, so when she's in heat, mutts come from around the neighborhood. If they tinkle anywhere on the 36 acres that is our 'yard', the male will find their spots and tinkle above them. When his son was a puppy, he would tinkle right over where the puppy went then scratch with his back feet to spread his scent.

When the male puppy that I kept from their litter got to be a big boy (after his testicles descended and before I got him neutered) he started lifting his leg, too. Until he had both testes descended, he squatted just like his mom. Now, even after being fixed he will sometimes squat and sometimes lift a leg.

Answer 2

Hi, I know the feeling. We adopted a three month old Husky/Beagle mix from our animal shelter about a year ago. He squatted to pee like a girl dog, and NEVER lifted his leg or marked anything like male dogs do. At the shelter, he was in a pen with three other puppies all female. As soon as he was old enough, he was neutered. We had no other dogs, so no male dogs around. My vet said all these things MIGHT have something to do with him peeing like that. Also, both the vet and our dog trainer said it is not common, but it is not TOO uncommon for young, male dogs to do this. I could think of nothing to change his behavior. He didn't pee on himself; however, while walking him if someone asked if he was a boy or girl and I would say boy, then he would squat and pee, people would sometimes ask if he was ok. ANYWAY, I would not worry about it because now he is approx a year old and he pees just like a "normal" male dog. He is now around two other male dogs, but he started peeing like a boy dog before the other two were here. So, my advice would be just give him some time to grow up. If that does not work, ask the vet. I had already resolve myself that he would never pee like a "boy" when he started one day. But I did not care, I loved him anyway; it was just a little weird.

Answer 3

There really isn't a way to show them to lift their leg. Not all male dogs do. My dog will be 5 in May and still does not lift his leg. The only time he did was when we had 18 inches of snow last week. Other than that he will barely lift one leg to the tip of his paw, as if he's standing on his tippy toes and that's it. He'll either pick it up on his own or he won't, just don't completely expect it. Keep a towel ready to wipe him down just in case. If he's a taller breed, he may not have a problem once he gets bigger. My dog is a giant breed, weighing 120 lbs. and doesn't pee on himself.

Answer 4

First of all, he may still pee on himself even if he does lift his leg. One of my males will pee on his chest when he lifts his leg, but he is fine when he squats. To answer you question, he will learn to lift his leg even without other males around it just takes longer. I would say that he should start lifting around 12-15 months. Just make sure that you teach him that doing it in the house is not allowed or else you will have problems.

Answer 5

Every male "puppy" I have seen squats and then eventually they start to lift their leg as they get older / become "adult" dogs, but my niece has a 3 year-old male Chihuahua, and he does a handstand when peeing. He is on his front legs with his back end up in the air, legs and all, and pees right down the front of himself. She has to wipe him off every time.

Answer 6

All puppies crouch when they pee, it is not until male puppies lift their leg till they get older.
He will grow out of it and it will become a natural instinct to lift his leg when marking or peeing.
This is natural for a pup just give him time.

Answer 7

I was told that it is a behavior that they learn from their biological mother. So I don't think you can teach it unless you wanna go pee on trees with your leg lifted so the dog can watch!

Answer 8

Not all males lift their legs, I have one who has never done so. the other guy sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. Even when lifting a leg, they sometimes pee on themselves, and there isn't much we humans can do about it.

Answer 9

No theory about the lifting the leg to pee yet i imagine that it really is stupid to make him an indoor in effortless words canines in effortless words because of flees. The flea meds they have at present like Frontline and this technique will save him one hundred% flea loose no count number how undesirable the fleas are outdoors. you should look into those that way you could enable him pee outdoors and convey up his leg as is his organic instinct. would you pick to stay interior for all time?

Answer 10

My boxer puppy didn't lift his leg until he was a little older then a year. Give him time :) I was supprised that my Male Dog squated like a female but he grew out of it. No Worries :) Good Luck .