Males & leg lifting?

[MrsGrace]

I have been wondering about this for a while. Colby is a squatter. Always has been, doesn't pee on every bush/shrub on our walks or do a lot of "marking".

Is this an instinctual behavior or is it learned? And is it something he might start to do as he gets older, or if he's a squatter now, will he always be a squatter? (and are most corgis squatters as opposed to leg lifters?)

[disraeli ears]

You know, I think it's pretty instinctual. Rhys didn't really have any male "role models" when he was growing up....regardless, he started hiking his leg at about 5 months old. I was surprised, actually. :SHOCKED:

Hopefully, if Colby's still squatting now, he'll stay a squatter.

[ColColt]

Bubba's three years old and sometimes he'll barely get that back leg up-maybe a couple of inches and then has to walk through it!! Other times, he'll stretch forward like he's going to do pushups and squat. He doesn't seem to do that when other males are around though.:LAUGH: This morning I didn't get him outside soon enough but, I had the pads already down in the kitchen and when my back was turned, he squated and hit it dead center. Of course, he had to walk through it."NO:":

[CorgiMum]

Dylan was a squatter for a little while as a pup, but Danny was has been lifting his leg since he was 8 wks old.

I believe that it's instinct.

[MrsGrace]

So it might be something Colby will start doing? Just curious if he'll forever squat or some day randomly he'll start lifting.

Thanks for the replies! I've been curious about this for a while.

[Jespah]

It took Rupe several months to lift his leg - the first time was hilarious! He tentantively lifted it off the ground with a look of awe on his face - in about three days he was practically flipping himself over from the force of the flinging leg!! He's come to a happy medium now - although he wiped out yesterday on ice - so a squat was necessary!

[Fluffypants]

he wiped out yesterday on ice

Now that's what I call enthusiasm! :BIGLAUGH:

[mtoy]

Link does the long squat thing for a regular pee in the backyard, but will lift his leg when he pees on a tree trunk if there's a squirrel up in the tree. On walks he will lift his leg.

[Jespah]

Now that's what I call enthusiasm! :BIGLAUGH:

Yeah, Rupe's motto is go big or go home!! I swear he has three reserve tinkle tanks!!!

[MVons]

Chester lifts his legs on walks. Unless we are rushing to go to school and he quick squats in the street. My favorite is him lifting his leg on the soft iced over snow and I watch him sink, kind of tricky getting out at a slant.

And yes you have to look carefully to not miss that 1/2 inch leg lift:LAUGH:

[disraeli ears]

It took Rupe several months to lift his leg - the first time was hilarious! He tentantively lifted it off the ground with a look of awe on his face - in about three days he was practically flipping himself over from the force of the flinging leg!! !

OMG - that reminds me of when Rhys started doing it!! His little raised leg would be raised as high as he could get it without tipping. I think he was amazed at his newfound talent!! :BIGLAUGH:

[LaRositaMonita]

If it's helpful, MrsGrace...Mac doesn't lift his leg yet, either! I wonder if it has something to do with instinct not kicking in before we had him neuered...? I often wonder the same thing you just did.

[disraeli ears]

Maybe it also depends on the dog's personality. Rhys is on the dominant side - I would think a dominant personality male would start marking earlier than a more submissive one.

Knowing Mac, he doesn't strike me as dominant...he's very laid-back.

[taflar]

I have been wondering about this for a while. Colby is a squatter. Always has been, doesn't pee on every bush/shrub on our walks or do a lot of "marking".

Is this an instinctual behavior or is it learned? And is it something he might start to do as he gets older, or if he's a squatter now, will he always be a squatter? (and are most corgis squatters as opposed to leg lifters?)

From what I've learned over the years it's not totally instinct, much of it is a learned behavior. I know people who never take thier intact male dogs near anything up right and they never learn to lift their legs.

Some dogs will mark more than others. My males will mark a lot but then many of them are intact and the ones that aren't weren't neutered as puppies. And they live with intact females that come in season. All that encourages a dog to mark.

A neutered male without intact dogs living with him might not feel the need to mark as much.

How old is he now?

Peggy

[MrsGrace]

How old is he now? Peggy

Thanks Peggy! :SMILE:

Colby will be 8 months old Dec. 27th. So he's still really young.

I wondered if it's like his face rubbing thing. He NEVER did that until we started hanging out with my friend whose dog does that incessantly.

So what I'm gathering is, Colby may never end up lifting his leg if he doesn't really see other dogs do it? But it could be instinctual maybe and he COULD start but isn't as likely to?

[taflar]

Thanks Peggy! :SMILE:

Colby will be 8 months old Dec. 27th. So he's still really young.

I wondered if it's like his face rubbing thing. He NEVER did that until we started hanging out with my friend whose dog does that incessantly.

So what I'm gathering is, Colby may never end up lifting his leg if he doesn't really see other dogs do it? But it could be instinctual maybe and he COULD start but isn't as likely to?

He might and he might not. If he's around other dogs chances are he will catch on.

You know, IMO, it's not such a bad thing, it makes walking the boys easier, I think. I take them to something upright and they pee. Some of my girls have to find the right spot and welll, when it's cold or raining, I like the faster boys!!

Peggy

[MrsGrace]

He might and he might not. If he's around other dogs chances are he will catch on.

You know, IMO, it's not such a bad thing, it makes walking the boys easier, I think. I take them to something upright and they pee. Some of my girls have to find the right spot and welll, when it's cold or raining, I like the faster boys!!

Peggy

Oh goodness! I hope I didn't come across as minding that he squats!! It's super fast to take him potty since he doesn't mark at all and I don't mind that he doesn't lift his leg. Really! :SMILE:

[taflar]

Oh goodness! I hope I didn't come across as minding that he squats!! It's super fast to take him potty since he doesn't mark at all and I don't mind that he doesn't lift his leg. Really! :SMILE:

Oh, no, the opposite, I thought you didn't want him to lift his leg.

Peggy

[MrsGrace]

Oh, no, the opposite, I thought you didn't want him to lift his leg.

Peggy

Oh. Well, I just want him to be Colby. :SMILE:

Thanks again, Peggy. I know I always look forward to reading your posts & appreciate your insight. +WUBCLUB+

[taflar]

Oh. Well, I just want him to be Colby. :SMILE:

Good, I think he can handle that. :SMILE:

Thanks again, Peggy. I know I always look forward to reading your posts & appreciate your insight. +WUBCLUB+

And thank you. :BIGGRIN"

Peggy

[ZdogZ]

Zeke doesn't lift his leg either and he's 10 months old. Zip lifts his leg up so high that I'm afraid he'll tip over.

[LaRositaMonita]

Oh. Well, I just want him to be Colby. :SMILE:

I have to say it... we told Mac a little while ago, while having this same conversation at home... "Mac, you know, we'll always love you, even if you pee like a girl!"

[colbycorgi]

Our Colby didnt start lifting right away either...and i cant remember if it started after neuter or not but hes only 1 yr 1 month old and he does it...more for marking when we go walking and not usually in our yard...we did spend quite a bit of time at the dog park and with other leg lifter boys, so i dont know if that rubbed off at all.....but he does do a funny thing..its like a lifty-squat if you will...he stands like hes gonna squat and then he just lifts the back right leg up, almost curling it under and pees like that....its very funny to watch....describing it doesnt do it justice....i'd try for a video...but i doubt anyone really wants to see it...so just use your imagination....

[taflar]

Our Colby didnt start lifting right away either...and i cant remember if it started after neuter or not but hes only 1 yr 1 month old and he does it...more for marking when we go walking and not usually in our yard...we did spend quite a bit of time at the dog park and with other leg lifter boys, so i dont know if that rubbed off at all.....but he does do a funny thing..its like a lifty-squat if you will...he stands like hes gonna squat and then he just lifts the back right leg up, almost curling it under and pees like that....its very funny to watch....describing it doesnt do it justice....i'd try for a video...but i doubt anyone really wants to see it...so just use your imagination....

I've seen that stance. In both males and females.

Peggy

[mtoy]

Millie went through a phase when she was 1-2 yrs old - she lifted her leg! No kidding! Then all of a sudden she stopped. I don't think it had anything to do with neutering as she was spayed at 6 months.

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Dale lifted his leg at 8 weeks and has continued although sometimes he still squats.

[Kassie]

I always thought it had to do with dominance. our last 2 dogs, Costello was very submissive and never once in 16 years did he lift a leg. Jest squated...and always waited till Megan went first...until the old age started in.

[taflar]

I always thought it had to do with dominance. our last 2 dogs, Costello was very submissive and never once in 16 years did he lift a leg. Jest squated...and always waited till Megan went first...until the old age started in.

Nope, not at all. Most male dogs will leg lift irregardless of their pack status.

It's a marking behavior. Marking up right things puts the scent closer to the nose of the intruders. It's just marking thier territory.

Peggy

[disraeli ears]

Our Colby didnt start lifting right away either...and i cant remember if it started after neuter or not but hes only 1 yr 1 month old and he does it...more for marking when we go walking and not usually in our yard...we did spend quite a bit of time at the dog park and with other leg lifter boys, so i dont know if that rubbed off at all.....but he does do a funny thing..its like a lifty-squat if you will...he stands like hes gonna squat and then he just lifts the back right leg up, almost curling it under and pees like that....its very funny to watch....describing it doesnt do it justice....i'd try for a video...but i doubt anyone really wants to see it...so just use your imagination....

One of our female border collies did that...she basically would go into a "sitting" type posture, then balance on three legs and pee. :BIGLAUGH: And she would always follow my Lab, let the Lab go first, and pee right on that spot. She always had this look on her face like "oh, Tess (the Lab) went here...must be safe."

[Fluffypants]

Jackie does that too - squats & lifts one leg. It's kinda cute. :CUTE:

[Milosmom]

Milo didn't start leg lifting until he was about 3. Mostly he squats. What is comical is when he starts lifting his leg and then kind of "waves" it while he is peeing!!
Sometimes he gets as close to a pole or tree as he can and then can't lift his leg because it is up against the tree, so he squats and pees on the tree. What a silly corgi.