Nuffnang

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Squat or Lift???

You may think from the title of this post that this beagle has decided to go to the gym to do some exercises - squats and lifts. Far from it... In fact, this post is all about answering the call of nature - peeing!

My humans have always been perplexed about how I pee. Like the humans, female and male dogs have different pee positions. Female dogs "squat" to pee, whilst male dogs "lift" their hind paw to pee. In my puppy days, I used to squat whenever I peed. However, my humans noticed that as I grew older, I started to lift my hind paw, the same way male dogs do.

This happens regulary when we go for walks...


Trees and plants are my favourite pee-marking stops


But from time to time, I surprise my humans with a lady-like pee squat. This usually happens at home.


Some people say that a female dog who pees like a male may be exhibiting signs of dominance. However, my humans reckon that I am actually a submissive canine. In fact, whenever I meet other dogs, I tend to sit quietly and let the other dogs sniff me first, a far cry from dominant behaviour. So, my humans continue to remain puzzled by me. Personally I don't see what the big deal is. I just think that I'm a versatile female beagle that can do leg lifts, just as well as a male dog :-) What do you think?

13 comments:

Texas The Doxie said...

me and my mom thinks the whole dominance thing is a myth and all dogs mark whether male or female. Even my big sister bubbles marks stuffs!

Jake of Florida said...

We think every dog should be able to pee the way he or she wants to. I often squat when I have the urge and am in the middle of a green area with nothing to lift my leg against. And I definitely appreciate your "maverick" spirit!!!

Wirey woofs,

Jake (and Just Harry)

Martha said...

Well Kess, what an interesting post this was - now we know all about your peeing techniques!
We like to squat and then pee exactly on top of where the other one just peed!
We haven't tried lifting our leg but then again our legs are quite short!
Harry, our mum's last basset, never lifted his leg either!
love
Martha and Bailey xxx

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I'm in your khategory!

Mom always gets a chukhkle when she sees me eyeing up doing it via the up method!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: And let's not furget my mean kikhk and khover skills!

D.K. Wall said...

Kiska approves. She is forever lifting her leg and has been known to pee higher than any of the boys. Ok, so that may be a little dominance move, but she is quite submissive to Natasha.

Molly the Airedale said...

I used to do a leg lift like you do, Kess, when I was younger but now that I'm 12, I need to concentrate on raising myself out of my squat position!
Mitch sometimes pees like a girl!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Laura said...

Hehe Bella is exactly the same. Its super funny when she tries to angle up to a tree so she can pee on it!

Lorenza said...

Hi, Kess!
I guess you are versatile!
I only squat!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Sapphire said...

is it a beagle thing? sapphire squats on grass, and then (like bella) aims on to tree trunks. ;p

Unknown said...

Yes, I've heard that too - about more "dominant" females lifting their lesg to mark better. But I think it's actually confusion over the word "dominance" - just because a dog isn't fighting constantly with other dogs or trying to bully other dogs all the time doesn't mean they are not dominant. A truly dominant dog actually rarely gets into fights - they are quietly confident - and often stand still & wait for other dogs to come up to them. So Kess may be a "dominant" dog after all - even though not necessarily in the negative way people usually think of.

But having said that, it might not mean much either. Honey is what I could consider quite a "dominant" female in that she is very confident and won't be pushed around by other dogs - but she always squats to pee! :-)

Young male dogs will usually squat until they reach sexual maturity and then they will start lifting their hind legs to mark. So some male dogs that are spayed early will never learn to lift their legs.

Hsin-Yi

Tee said...

We have three furgirls and they all do squats. Mainly because I think they have bad balance ... haha.

Tee and the Dog Woods Pack

i said...

Hi Kess! Oh but you look so ladylike! I don't lift a leg but I do mark (to LS' horror) when I'm out. Guess it's the outdoor thing for some of us...

KEY WEST COLLIES said...

We don't think the only thing that matters is that you pee. It doesn't matter how you do it. Deacon has two methods, one is to stand & stretch; the other is to lift the leg.

Essex & Deacon

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