Mary Allen
Scent markings are an important part of dogs’ communication with each other. But did you know that both female and male dogs can lift their legs when urinating?
The vast majority of gender mature male dogs lift their legs when they urinate. Why they do this is usually explained by the fact that they want to spread their scent to the maximum and that the higher up they set their scent mark, the greater they give the impression of being. A study by Dr. Betty McGuire at Cornell University, who has studied dog urine markings in dog kennels, also said that small dogs are more likely to mark high up than large dogs. Therefore, some people like to pee and poop, for example on a rock or other object that rises above the ground. But the explanation may just as well be that if the marking ends up a bit up, it is easier to perceive because it comes more at nose height for more dogs.
There are also those who believe that dogs with good self-confidence are more likely to set their scent markings “high” than those who are a little more cautious and insecure. It is difficult to find scientific evidence for this, but that scent markings are an important way of communicating is unequivocal.
Female Dogs Lifting on the Leg
But not only do male dogs lift their legs, but some female dogs also do too. It is more common in unneutered bitches and especially when they run. But some do it more or less always and can “save on urine” during the walk to be able to splash often, just like a male dog.
Some lift only a little on one hind leg, others can back in towards, for example, a tree and lift the butt against it to mark high or even stand on the front legs and pee backward! It is not uncommon for them to lift the leg quite as high and clear as male dogs, but it does occur.
Probably the reasons why female dogs lift the leg are the same for bitches as for male dogs, but why some do it and not others do not seem really investigated yet. Maybe they are just simply more interested in communicating?