Hello all,

Why is it that some dogs lift their leg to wee and some, especially pups don't?  I have a 6 month Old English Sheepdog and strangely enough I am intrigued by this question!  At present, he still wees likes a girl - kind of.

Sorry for this topic but if you don't ask you don't find out!

Some dogs cock their legs quite early (one of mine started at 5 months, but his brother waited till he was nearly 8 months). Some never cock at all (especially those who are castrated early). Some cock their legs to poo as well! Some bitches cock their legs too! It depends entirely on the dog ...

Yep I have a leg cocking bitch, started after her first litter, and in her case ans all the others I have met that so this the girls were high ranking.  My girl is as sweet as you like but is alpha of my five having just taken over the mantle willingly given up by her Granmother (her mother wasn't interested in being top).

with most boy dogs it is about letting the oposition know that they are around and as good as anybody.  Like quite a few men and boys really.  I remeber my brothers having peeiong competitions when they were young :D

The higher the dog can leave his scent the higher ranking he appears to be to others who pick up on his mark!

Some bitches do it to ensure their mark of coming into season is found by the biggest, strongest male - survival of the fittest syndrome at it's best.

Some don't bother - they're not that motivated, especially if, like Jeangenie said, they were castrated early.

I have 2 males - one cocked his leg at 4 months, the other is nearly 3 years and still doesn't.

When my pup started to cock his leg he first did it at ringcraft (outside) at 5 months, and he continued to do it when we were away from home where there were other dogs, ringcraft and shows but was over 9 months before he did it at home, even then it was in the field and only in the yard for the last couple of weeks. Decided that as I have other intact males the pup decided it would be best to keep a low profile within his own pack. Even now if he has been put in his place by one of the others, dogs or bitch, then the cocking in the yard stops and he will still roll on his back if challenged by one of his own pack but stands his ground if the dog is unknown.

Have always thought that the cocking behaviour is part of the complex body language that dogs have as well as a territorial marking system, my alpha dog will pee first followed by the others and then by the alpha again, he, the alpha dog is very calm and kind but he will lay and watch the others and then every so often will get up and cover all the pees that have taken place since his last round. The pack alpha is a bitch and if she pees it is covered by all the boys, but even though she does lift one leg she is not concerned to cover after the boys have finished, but she will join in the with the party pees and poos but allows the male alpha the privilege of covering when everyone has finished. LOL you can see what I spend my days doing, dog watching, too late to get a better life I fear.

LOL I must have some very mixed up dogs :D

Oldest cavalier has only once peed away from home(didn't cock his leg) & normally he does cock his leg
His half brother very occassionally cocks his leg away from home if he is desperate
Next youngest has never peed away from home, but started cocking his leg at home(outside ;))at 11 weeks & lifts his leg very high so misses his chest hair :)
Youngest cocks his leg & scent marks away from home as a"normal"dog would do, but doesn't cock his leg high enough & pees on his chest hair-not pleasant :(
My BC is a "normal"dog & does pee away from home like 99% of dogs do

At home they all do the scent marking bit which makes it easy to keep the dog paddock smelling sweet as they pee in the same places

Dogs eh who'd have 'em

Don't think they are mixed up just behave in a different manner to mine, which makes me wonder it the elder dogs set the patten for those that follow, but unless I have one of your breed or you one of mine we will not know

LOL I just think my two that never pee away from home are not very territorial Makes getting home fun tho' as they rush out & pee for England-one is very attractive to bitches(the younger of the two non pee'ers)they(bitches)won't leave him alone-reckon he is so self-confident about his powers over bitches he doesn't need to advertize his presence ?;)