Even if you don't have a dog, you probably know that these animals urinate by lifting their leg. But have you ever wondered how many times a dog lifts its leg in a day? And most importantly — why?
It may surprise you, but the reason lies in how dogs communicate with each other. For them, the process of urination serves as a way to mark their territory. However, it is important to understand how exactly they carry out this 'marking'. By lifting their leg, a dog can more easily direct the stream of urine onto a vertical surface, where the scent lingers longer. If a dog squats or stretches its hind legs back, the urine lands on the ground, where it quickly absorbs into the soil.
Lifting the leg is especially significant for small dogs. For them, it is an opportunity to 'look bigger', effectively claiming and marking territory more efficiently. It is a kind of canine bluff that helps deter larger counterparts!
Male dogs lift their leg, but sometimes females do it as well. It makes sense that males find it more important to mark their territory, and it is simply more convenient for them. Nevertheless, sometimes females lift their leg too. Usually, they use a combined 'squat-lift' position, which does not spray urine as high.
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