Dog Community

Unusal question

Posted : 10/12/2006 8:51:47 AM

My dog, Shadow is pretty easy to read. I can usually tell most of her moods, and she's pretty predictable in her behavior. There is one thing she does that has me wondering "why"? When we go for walks, Shadow will pee here and there where ever she smells where a dog has been(sent marking, I'm sure) When I just take her outside to do her business, she will pace back and forth, sometimes for quiet a while, in the same spot before peeing. I know she has to go because of the length of time she's had to wait, like over-night. Why does she do this? I'm just very curious.

rwbeagles

Posted : 10/12/2006 8:55:37 AM

She is probably spreading the scent from between her paws...before she pees. Claiming this spot IOW. When marking over another spot there's really no need to do this because you are one of many....but if you are the "owner" of that pee then perhaps it's worth making an extra effort.

The pacing will also leave a visual signal in the bent grass or broken brush that there is a mark there...some dogs go further and actually scratch up the ground to accomplish the same.

Susan Chandler

Posted : 10/12/2006 9:23:27 AM

some dogs go further and actually scratch up the ground to accomplish the same.

My Jacks will do that! I didn't understand until now why! Neat!

dogslyfe

Posted : 10/12/2006 9:44:25 AM

some dogs go further and actually scratch up the ground to accomplish the same.

My two most dominant bitches do this, and so does Zippy (the Pap). DH calls it "spinning their wheels" which I find amusing. [

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houndlove

Posted : 10/12/2006 10:23:30 AM

We call that "flushing the toilet"!

Buster's Mom

Posted : 10/12/2006 11:46:02 AM

At my house one dog does that, the other doesn't.
I just thought she was being really picky !

ColleenC

Posted : 10/12/2006 12:29:42 PM

Rose always pees in numerous spots on our walk. Colton does now, but he just started. He will just go where ever Rose goes. Rose also does the scratching thing almost every time. But Colton does it once in a while. Hes a little clumsy, so as soon as hes done with his business, I have to jerk the lead really fast or else he gets his feet in the poop. Its either jerk the lead or have to wash a poop covered Colton and Rose since then he tries to play with her.

dogslyfe

Posted : 10/12/2006 1:24:49 PM

To make things even more interesting, Bree and Zippy will actually spin their wheels, and puff up while barking if they think they hear something outside the fence. [

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Xerxes

Posted : 10/12/2006 1:33:38 PM

Heck my girl Gaia will even hike her leg to mark a tree, she'll scratch the ground up afterwards, and she'll pace. What can I say, in her mind she "owns" everything she comes into contact with...much to the chagrin of Xerxes-who thought he was the owner.

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 10/12/2006 3:28:22 PM

~LOL~ Laura, I can just picture Zippy getting all poofed up.

Grady goes right to where he wants to pee. When he's done he'll thatch the yard by scratching. It's kinda cute to see how far he can stretch his long legs.

sue fitzpatrick FITZPATRICK

Posted : 10/13/2006 2:13:59 PM

My GSD does not lift his leg due to hip problems, and the IW doesn't either because he has modelled his behavior after the GSD, but the female coonhound does and it is the first female that I have ever seen to regularly lift her leg. She also has to pee over where the guys have gone-talk about the alpha female...she isn't giving an inch to anyone.