why do dogs lift their leg to pee?

Question

and don't say so they don't pee on their legs, bc other animals don't lift their legs to pee (probably a good thing for giraffes)

Answer 1

To aim as high as possible with the stream, in order to give maximum scent.

It is marking a territory, and the higher you can mark, the bigger you must be. (In doggy logic).

Answer 2

A dog lifts his leg to mark territory, in the case of a car tire how does the dog know the car is leaving, it is in his territory and not marked he gets there first its now his territory. Most people do not know but dominate females will do this as well. In the case where a lot of familiar dogs collect together the most dominant females will mark the same as a male.

Answer 3

Dogs use urine as a way of marking their territory and, especially in male dogs, as a non-verbal communication form of dominance over other animals. By lifting their leg, male dogs are able to direct their urine higher up on the object that they're urinating on, making it less likely for the scent to seep into the ground and, thereby, allowing the scent to last longer.

I have 2 male dogs and sometimes they life their leg and other times they don't. I've never figured that one out!

Answer 4

Male dogs lift their legs to provide better aim when marking their territories. Female dogs and some male dogs, especially those that have been neutered squat, but I have also seen female dogs lift their legs, but most likely in imitation of male dogs since the females don't mark territory with urine.

Answer 5

Why, Silly, if they didn't lift their leg, they would pee on it! Then it would run down it! Sounds like you have too much time on your hands! Get a hobby.

Answer 6

I know you said not to say it, but a wet, dribbled-on thigh is a bit uncomfortable to say the least. But, seriously, a male dog lifts his leg instinctively to get a better aim to mark his terrority wherever he deigns fit. Otherwise, he'd have to be a magician to get his urine flowing out, up, and over to his target!

Answer 7

To spread the scent.And yes,,some dogs do pee on their front legs.

Answer 8

lol i dont know.i i heard of a myth about y dog lift their legs when it pee.here goes."long ago,dong does not lift their legs when they pee and 1 day,the king of dogs was peeing and a wall collapsed and crushed the king to death.and every dog was sad about that freak accident and 1 dog stood up and said that form today on,we must hold the wall with our legs so that it wont collapsed."the end lol just crap...

Answer 9

I have noticed that some dogs do not always lift there leg sometimes they lower their groin to the ground.

Answer 10

I certainly agree with the marking the territory theory, my little male schipperke lifts his leg so high that I have actually seen the little bogger lose his balance!