Male-When do they lift the leg

[Debbie and Thomas]

Sorry-but I have to ask. I had a male dog before and I remember the first time he lifted his leg to pee I was very excited but I forget how old he was. My Golden Doodle is almost 5 months old and hasn't even attempted this "big boy dog thing" Any comments on when they start to do this. Should they do this before they are neutered?

[Sandy (Rorie & Riley's Mom)]

Riley started lifting his leg when he turned 2 yrs. old. He was neutered at about 5-6 months old.

My neutered German Shepherd never lifted his leg.

[Stella]

My doodle was neutered at five months old and we were told that as a result of this he would always squat to pee. Imagine my shock when two days ago (at 14 months old) he began lifting his leg, although he is still squatting sometimes too. I was worried that maybe the neutering didn't work. But, after asking around I have been told that the more dominant dogs go on to lift their leg - neutered or not, and he a pretty dominat dog, so I guess this is right. I don't care if he squats or lifts his leg, I just wanted to be sure that he had been neutered successfully!!

[Linda and Murphy]

Okay, Murphy is 2.5 yrs, was neutered at 10 mos. Yesterday I would have said that I have never seen him lift his leg. But today he lifted his leg?! Amazing.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Isn't that funny that he did this today! What a coincidence. He probably will never do it again. LOL

[Linda and Murphy]

Yep, we are back to squatting, lol

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca started to lift his leg at 4 months. He started marking last week at 5 months. He still squats at times, usually in our yard and lifts when we are out walking. He is so funny to watch because he is still not stable in the leg lift department!! He gets neutered tomorrow.

[CHARLEY'S MOM]

Our Charley didn't even think about lifting his leg until maybe 2?? He almost fell over the first time! He is going on 5 now and has become fanatical about lifting at every tree when we walk.... He still squats in the yard, though...

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

I was told early on by a local dog expert that this is learned behavior. If they see another older dog that they respect doing this, they will imitate the behavior. Mine was neutereed at about 4 months before I got him, and he squatted until he noticed that his golden retriever friends (and bigger pals) lifted their leg to pee.

[Cam & Oski]

Oski was neutered at 4 months & is a squatter still at 16mo. Sometimes when he's standing on a incline, he'll raise the uphill leg but remains in the squatting position. I don't know why but it looks really cute to us, sort of dainty like he's raising his pinky finger to drink tea, LOL

I definitely learn something new everyday at DK. Starting to lift your leg at 10yo! Wow. Glad Oski's still a squatter cuz stopping at every tree/shrub/upright surface to mark territory would make walks very unfun :)

[Adina P]

I think they look sooo cute squatting. Rosco always looks like he's posing for a breed photo =)

[Debbie and Thomas]

They sure do look cute with the squatting-I just thought that males lifted their leg naturally by a certain age. It would seem that this is not true by the answers I have received !! Good for them-if it works, don't change it.

[Sandy]

Toby lifted his leg for the first time yesterday....just once. He's just over six months, and will be neutered next week. He looked at me while he did it like he was thinking "I don't know....I'm just doing it." It was kind of funny. :)