Marking

[Genia]

Forgive me for being a novice at this, but I am so interested in everything my dogs do. When I take my boys out for a walk, Jeffrey, my basset/lab always leads. He'll come upon a spot and mark. Bandit, my pug, always comes behind and marks in the exact same spot. Is Bandit saying "no this is't your spot, its mine" or is it more like doggie graffti "Jeffrey was here!; Bandit was here too!"?

[KYS]

Not a novice question at all.
I also enjoy know why my dogs do a certain
behavior.

Territory marking (testosterone induced)
Helps reduce a dogs anxiety by masking any
other dogs odor by leaving their own scent.
Sort of like a calling card I guess.
It's kind of funny. Even though all my dogs are fixed.
If one dog urinates the other two will
take their turns peeing on the same spot.
They will also do a dance to spread their scent around more.
They also urinate/mark when under
stress such as passing an aggressive dog.
My top female does it as much as
my male does.
Fixing dogs usually helps curb the marking.

[This message has been edited by KYS (edited December 06, 2000).]

[ownerof3dogs]

A couple of times my dog Zues was so eager to mark his sent that he didn't what for Hercules ( my other dog)too finish and just peed on him. I felt so bad for him not to mention I had to give Herc a bath

[teena]

Does anyone else have a female that lifts her leg? My aussie only does then she's "peeing over" my male dog's spot. Her lack of "control" of where she's aiming is hilarious to watch (as long as you're not too close)!

[Karen]

The very first dog in my life, Sheba, was a female dog (shepherd mis) who definitely lifted her leg to mark her territory. She was THE alpha dog of the neighborhood, and led the "pack" on rounds every morning and afternoon, and would mark her territory along the way, with the "boys" marking behind her!

She was exceptional in many ways - no one needed to teach her "girl power!"

[Sudilar]

My female Great Pyrenees used to actually lift her leg on a tree. It was hilarious.

[carrie]

I've had many males that, although rather dominant in character, have never lifted a leg and many females - all dominant - who did. 75% were neutered.
Weird thing - neutering, over here, means the spaying ( speying) or castration of an animal. In the USA it seems to be gender specific. Is this the way it is or just the way I am interpreting it?

[Pam]

My standard poodle was a riot. I'd open the dooor and she'd run outside, squat down and start to pee and then continue walking in a "half squat" all over the yard. I think she was just so eager to explore the yard for all of the new smells since her last visit that she didn't want to have to wait to be finished! My miniature would remain in her squat and then have to run and catch up to her, almost as if to say "hey wait for me, what did I miss?" Also had a male toy poodle who squatted!

[Genia]

Jeffrey and Bandit are neutered. Jeffrey likes to squat except when he's marking. Bandit always lifts his leg, which is so funny. He lifts it so high, I keep waiting for him to tumble over!

[RachelJ]

My Tucker squats. It so endeared me to him because I really didn't want a male because of the obsessive marking that some males do. He rarely "goes" more than once during an outing. I really lucked out on my adopted boy.

[KYS]

Originally posted by ownerof3dogs:
A couple of times my dog Zues was so eager to mark his sent that he didn't what for Hercules ( my other dog)too finish and just peed on him. >>>>>

This is so funny.
My female has done the same thing
and has gotten her face peed on when
she runs over while the male is still peeing.
She also will lift her leg sometimes,
and my male will sometimes squat.
Have you ever notice that they never seem to run out of pee when they are marking.

[sammi]

Thanks for the information! Have been wondering about my lab cross Buddy - at 10 months he started lifting his leg the day before he was neutered. After he has not done it since. He just walks and keeps on peeing!!

[karen israel]

LOL! I would have never said a word to anyone but now that I've read this...(sorta like the famous Frito Feet). I can't believe either how much pee one dog can hold! Cody must mark..no joke..minimum 8 times in one walk! A little here, a little there! Esp on filthy dirty leaves! He goes on mid-lawn and usually changes legs. When he squats I usually tell him to be a man! I really didn't know male dogs squat! Learn something new on Pet Talk every day!

[This message has been edited by karen israel (edited December 08, 2000).]

[Pam]

True Confessions on Pet Talk Karen! Cody would be so mad if he knew you were talking about his "private moments!" I am amazed at how they can "turn it off" and save it for the next hydrant!!! This is something humans sure can't do!!!

[teena]

Carrie: Just to fill you in - when males are altered here it is called neutering and females are spayed. My border collie is neutered (at 4 months) and he would always squat to pee until he started hanging out with a friend's male who taught him to lift his leg. He still prefers to squat unless he needs to "announce his presence". One time we were on vacation and had stopped to let him out to pee. He found a nice pine tree, lifted his leg real high and promptly tipped over and fell into the tree. Thought we were gonna die laughing. The best part was the expression on his face. He seemed to look around to see if anyone noticed.