Small dogs have a reputation for acting too big for their britches. Now, a new study suggests that their bravado carries into their bathroom habits, as well.
Researchers from Cornell University set out to study urine marking in male dogs. While walking a large variety of pups from two local shelters, they measured how high the dogs lifted their legs to pee (they did not study female dogs, who typically squat).
Small dogs, they found, lifted their legs disproportionately high, leading to higher urine markings. Some took their leg lifts to the extreme, almost toppling over while attempting to aim higher.
So, why the extra effort? It’s all about impressing the next dog that comes along. By leaving a higher mark, your Chihuahua may be hoping to signal that a larger dog patrols the territory.
“It might be uniquely beneficial for small dogs to exaggerate their body size and competitive abilities through relatively high scent marks,” says Dr. Betty McGuire, who led the study. “In contrast, large dogs, with greater competitive abilities, would have less incentive to avoid direct conflict.”
If you’re a dog, it makes more sense. For dogs, urine isn’t simply a bodily function—it’s a way of communicating with peers.
“During urination, dogs secrete pheromones. These pheromones provide information about a dog’s age, hormone status, genetics and current stress level,” says Dr. Lauren Jones, a veterinarian based in the Philadelphia area. “Other dogs can detect the pheromones distributed from urine marking, which may impact their response or behavior.”
Keep dreaming big, little guys.