Raising the paw to urinate is a behavior typical of male dogs, although surprisingly some females do it too. This body posture when it comes to doing their business is something that owners look forward to. It is common to hear at the vet's office "my dog does not urinate by lifting his leg, why?".
If you recently had your best friend at home and you've never had a puppy before, you may be surprised that after the passage of time, your little one still doesn't lift a paw. However, you should know that this is normal: some dogs take longer and others take less. At what age do dogs lift their paws to urinate? Find out below on our site.
Why do dogs lift their paws to pee?
Lifting your leg to urinate is not only useful for relieving yourself, it is also a very valuable tool for carrying outthe marking It is important to highlight that when the dog reaches puberty, changes in its behavior begin to appear: it is an "activating" effect caused by the sexual hormones and is then when we observe sexually dimorphic behaviors, in this case lifting the leg or urinating sitting down, for example.
From the age of 6 months, in general, the dog begins to secrete sexual hormones that will lead it to reach sexual maturity and coincides with the moment in which the dog begins to lift its paw to urinate.
At what age do dogs lift their paws to urinate?
Below we explain when dogs lift their paws to pee according to their adult size, but remember that this figure can vary, even if they are dogs of the same breed, size or age:
- Small dogs: between 6 and 8 months.
- Medium-sized dogs: between 7 and 9 months.
- Large dogs: between 8 and 10 months.
- Giant-sized dogs: between 8 and 14 months.
How do female dogs urinate?
If you've never had a female dog, you should know that they don't lift their paws to urinate, they continue to hold the same position as when they were puppy.
Generally males seek vertical surfaces on which to urinate, always trying to reach the top, and make small urines to mark. On the other hand, females usually urinate two or three times during the walk, usually without marking the territory.
Still, as we explained in the introduction, some females raise their leg to urinate. This is usually due to experimentation by a young female, learned and reinforced behavior, or when there is a hormonal imbalance. It is not abnormal behavior nor does it indicate any type of disorder.
Marking, essential for the language of dogs
The dog's territory is maintained thanks to an invisible line of urine, feces and other odorous substances that the dog naturally secretes. However, it also helps them to orient themselves, to identify other individuals, the status that other individuals have and also allows them to communicate sexually with nearby females.
Lifting the paw helps the dog to mark the territory, but it is also a way of expressing himself to the other males in the area. Many dogs strive to get higher and higher in their markings, in an attempt to look bigger.
Why won't my dog lift his paw to urinate?
"My German shepherd dog won't lift his paw to urinate, is he sick?" It is normal for a puppy to take a long time to lift its paw to urinate, if it is not over a year old and is small or medium in size, don't worry, it is normal.
"My dog lifts his front leg, why does he do it?" Some puppies experiment all sorts of postures before learning to lift their paw for good. Allow him to perform all the stunts he wants, it's good for his development.
