When a Puppy Becomes a “Man?”

This is not about a B-rated sci-fi movie where a dog becomes a man.  Actually, it’s about when a male pup matures into a dog.

All puppies squat to do their business.  At some magical, maturing moment, males typically learn to lift their leg.  Not all do.  They can learn it from being around other males; however, that’s not always necessary.  Why do they lift their leg?

My clients will say, “oh, I hope he never learns to lift his leg.”  What they are mostly referring to is the necessity to lift it on every leaf, twig, or object along their path. The dog is saying to everyone who cares, “I’ve been here, consider yourself warned!”

Female dogs “mark” as well, it just isn’t as compulsive as it is for the males.  At about two years of age, dogs have a shift in their hormones and mature into dogs and begin leaving puppy-hood behind.  So, if your dog doesn’t lift their leg prior to this, they may now.  They may begin to feel the need to mark their territory.  This territory may be in the home or things they had no possessive interest in until now.

You can’t stop their instinct, but you can redirect them and observe their sniffing around just prior to staking their claim.  Along with the hormonal shifts, they are more likely to mark if something in their environment has changed and they feel threatened.  (It’s not good to threaten or question a male’s masculinity – two or four-legged version).  Giving your dog focused attention and being aware of the changes, will go a long way in reducing unwanted marking.