Strange behavior?

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

It has been 20 years since I have had a female dog. This weekend I am taking care of Java, my sister’s female toy poodle. I just took her out to pee and she LIFTS HER LEG to pee and scratches the grass when finished. (Haley, incidentally, does not lift his leg to pee, ever.) How many of you with female doodles or other female dogs have one that exhibits such behavior?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The scratching after "going" is pretty common, and is instinctive. It goes back to the days when the dog packs lived outdoors. It's an attempt to bury their scents with dirt so that the wind wouldn't carry them and let other animals know where they were.

I had a female poodle who sort of lifted her leg when peeing; it wasn't a full leg lift, it was more that she squatted and tilted herself so that one foot was off the ground. That way the pee didn't hit her foot, lol.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Java appears to actually lift her leg (it is only about half way though).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Is she peeing up against something like a tree or bush? Or just hiking her leg in the middle of the yard?

If it's against something, Joanne is right, it will save the grass. Otherwise, if the urine hits the grass, it burns it, whether the dog's leg is lifted or not.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

No, she lifts it right out in the middle of the yard.  Perhaps it's grass blades she is lifting against.  Is female urine worse for grass than male?  Haley's only yellow grass sometimes otherwise we wouldn't have any grass in the areas he uses!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's an old wives' tale that females' urine burns the grass, but not males. It's completely untrue. Urine burns the grass. The reason people think it's worse with females is because a lot of male dogs do lift their legs and pee on the base of a bush, tree, hydrant, etc., so there isn't a pool of urine on the grass like there is with a female who just squats on the grass. I'm sure anyone who has a male that doesn't lift his leg will tell you the urine burns the grass, including me.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I had a foster who would walk over, lift her leg, and  pee on my doodle's head.  She lifted her leg and peed on rugs and furniture.  She was spayed at 4 months, so my experience with her was much after he spaying and had nothing to do with hormones.

She was a dominant female.  Nice dog, just very dominant. 

I think it's rare but Females do lift their legs and they do mark. 

In your case, thank goodness she is small!

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Think of it this way; you will have a lot less grass burning with leg lifting while she is staying with you.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

We just met a dog in the park who lifted his leg and attempted to pee on Riley's face!!! Yuk. I managed to avert peehead with a quick pull of the lead!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

That's absolutely disgusting.  Glad you had quick reflexes.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Clover our doodle does not, but both my female yorkies lift one leg while squatting.  Maybe this will make you feel bettor or at least laugh.  I have a male yorkie that when he goes poo will sometimes lift both rear legs at the same time balancing on his front legs.  He never started lifting his leg to go pee untill he was 8. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge is female and does scratch her legs after going potty. She does not lift her leg. Vern, my male dog, squats when he pees and never scratches. Go figure!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Maybe it's the trainer??