My GSD is now 11 months old (nearly) and he still squats, rather than lift a hind leg....

Something about it doesn't look quite right when a 35kg male dog, squats to do his business....

I wonder if he has "issues" over his sexuality? lol

What age is the norm/average for a dog to start lifting a leg?

:)

Some never do. My old boy only ever cocked his leg when out, right to the day he died. It's scent marking so until he feels the urg to mark out his territory he possibly wont bother.

Regards, John

My mini wire dachsie was at least two before he started. My long haired roughly one and a half. Yet both still squat at times.

Hi,

My Golden 13 months just discovered he can do this and its his new hobby (outside) :-D

Briony

My bulldog is 11 months and he still does'nt lift his leg,well he has done it twice most other times he just lean's into a post and still sort of squats,i also was told he may never lift his leg.I just laugh and call him a big girllie.:D

Hi,

I had a hugh 40 kilo Gsd for 12 years and he never ever lifted his leg, yet he was territorial and had no issues about his sex, he sired 3 litters :D its just something he never felt the need to do, yet his son who I kept, lifted his leg from day one! I now have a Briard and he is 16 months and, believe me, it looks rediculous,he has never lifted his leg either :rolleyes:  he squats like a girl, we call him a big bitch, which is totally inaccurate as we also have a GSD bitch who could earn money for lifting her leg so frequently! IMO some do and some dont. I was once told that they have to learn it, but this doesn't make sense, cos I've had 2 dogs together, one that does and one that doesn't and the first one never caught on. And if they have to learn it, I for one, am not going out cocking my leg to teach my boy :D

Willis is 18 months and has never lifted his leg. Being a dane he would fall over if reduced to 3 legs. Willis has no issues with his sexuality - he's all male :D :D

Our hairy mutt is 2 years+ and still squats despite watching our older male leg-cock.

I have been wondering this too.  Mine is only 5 months, but I keep thinking on our all too regular toilet breaks when he will start cocking - was the only reason I got a male! (ONLY JOKING!!)  Seriously though, I do not intend to castrate, but is there still a possibility he will squat always?

I've read somewhere that if you have a male castrated before he reaches maturity and leg-cocks, then he may never leg cock.  Don't know how much truth there is in that. But have to say, mine was 12 months old but not leg cocking when we had him done and he still doesn't leg cock.

Both of mine were 4 when castrated, and sometimes they squat, sometimes they cock their legs. It hasn't made any difference to mine.

i was informed by my vet to wait for him cocking his leg untill getting castrated or he wouldnt learn how to do so and would squat for the rest of his life. at 9mths were still waiting ....lol

collette :0)

One of my dogs cocks his leg but his brother squats and they are 2. My friends terrier bitch cocks her leg most impressively!! I suppose it is whatever they find comfortable. lol

Today I was out with mine and a dalmation bitch - watching her cock her leg was like watching a woman at a urinal!

Kai was 6 months old when he learnt the leg lift. He wasn't very good at it to start with (and managed to get most of it on his coat I think) but he's getting much better and can now do a hand stand as well - see Pawstand for more info!!

My Boxer started when he was about 11mths old - but only if there was a bush or clump of high grass to pee on. Worst still he lifted his leg on a bag of shopping in the house - can you believe it - I can't trust him since he did that, I'm always watching him and following him. Also when out walking he stops every 100 yards to pee.

Hi Talizman

My boyfriend had a Golden Retriever years ago and he never ever cocked his leg his whole life, so not all dogs do by the sound of it and didn't have any trouble going to the loo and he was never castrated either.  We now have a Dobermann puppy of 13 weeks old and he has tried to lift his leg a couple of times when he went out to the loo but didn't really know what he was doing so it really seems to vary a lot.

Mandy

Toby is 1year old next thursday and he still doesnt cock his leg, when we go near lamp posts he sniffs then walks away.

Heidi

flynn 1st cocked his leg at 4months, & by 5months was doing it 95% of the time! saying that hes only tried to hump 3times (maybe hes picky!) & he didnt do that till he was 12months!

Cheers for all the varied and informative responses people! :)

I have a very masculine 6 y.o. Dobe who generally cocks his leg unless "covering" the (his?) bitches wee.  Then he stands like a stallion rather than squatting.

When I had his castrated brother here for rehoming last year I found that they both "cocked" higher and higher so they could cover each other (out one at a time).  By the time Zig left the damp patches were higher than their middles so they were aiming upwards :)

As soon as Zig left Rio started to cock his leg at the normal height again

my dog is only a year and a half i thought there was something wrong too but he was just over a year old when he started i was so proud

i have a 4 year old stafford who still wont cock his leg
gwen hasweth staffs