Why do dogs lift one leg?

there are 3 reasons why a dog lifts it's leg when going for a pee. 1. for all male dogs that have not been neutered, they like to scent the area in which they live to attract female dogs. 2. male dogs do this so they don't pee on themselves (a little like when a man goes to the loo, they tend to stand rather than sit) 3. it is learned behaviour, my mums female dog lifts one leg because she was with my dog for 2 years (my dog was my mothers before she moved and i took him on) my mums dog "copied" my male dogs behaviour. hope that helps clear it up for you :)

WEll with a male human they can hold it so to use the toilet but with a dog they cannot so they tip to one side to tilt slightly and lift the leg so they do not wee on it. Pretty clever hey?

I have always assumed it was just to keep from getting their leg wet. That reminds me this morning I caught my dog lifting his leg at the door of one of my other dog's crate. It was kind of funny but I don't think my other dog thought so.

So they don't their other leg wet? LOL Sorry so short but that is really the only thing that comes to mind.

Well I think as a male myself I can say if I was a dog I would lift my leg also to show off what I got to all the females...just kidding.

I can tell you why male dogs lift their legs. Now that my old dog is too arthritic to do it anymore, suddenly he is peeing all over his own back feet. I guess male dogs aren't meant to squat because it is just too messy. They are too high off the ground. And if he is peeing on an incline it is even worse becase it all puddles around his feet if it is a long pee.

I think because they don't want to piss on themselves when they urinate that's why they lift one leg and adjust the angle a bit and whallah!

The reason dogs lift there leg when they pee is because so they dont pee on there leg. Some dogs dont want to get there leg wet so they lift it up.

Yes I know the answer. Dogs lift one leg because if they lift them both they would fall. Besides I cannot imagine a dog peeing standing like a bear. It would be ugly. Just think about it.