Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

　　 We often see dogs especially like to urinate in certain corners, at walls, on tree trunks, tires, utility poles, etc., especially male dogs. It is little known that dogs’ urine carries their own scent, and dogs can transmit information through the special scent of their urine.

　　 1. Reasons Why Dogs Like to Urinate on Utility Poles

　　 Some owners think that dogs urinate on utility poles mainly to leave scent marks on landmark buildings or objects. The purpose of doing this mainly has three points: first, to help dogs find their way; second, to help dogs divide their territory; third, to leave their own scent so that other dogs can smell it and know the "owner's" gender and other information.

　　 Male dogs always like to lift their leg to urinate near utility poles. Some say that male dogs lift their legs mainly to attract female dogs, showing their gender by leg-lifting. Of course, lifting the leg to urinate also helps to avoid wetting themselves.

　　 Of course, male dogs like to lift their leg to urinate on utility poles mainly to compete for territory and leave their own scent. Dogs usually sniff before urinating to determine if there is another male dog’s urine scent. If there is, they will quickly lift their leg to urinate, spraying urine over the largest possible range to cover the scent of the other male dog's urine, which is like putting up a sign: private territory, no "dogs" allowed. Sometimes when the territory is very large, the dog will urinate in stages and batches. Even when it can no longer urinate, it will habitually make the urinating motion, trying to drip out a few drops.

Pug (Detailed Introduction)

　　 2. Reasons Why Dogs Like to Urinate on Tree Trunks

　　 Dogs urinate on tree trunks not because of a physiological need to relieve themselves, but as a way to mark routes. We know dogs have an acute sense of smell and can recognize the scent of their own urine. When out, dogs will urinate on roadside trees or around cornered walls to mark the path. This way, no matter how far they go, they can follow the scent of their urine back home. You may wonder where they get so much urine; in fact, they only urinate a small amount each time. The scent alone is enough; it's not always a large amount.

　　 3. Reasons Why Dogs Like to Urinate on Tires

　　 Dogs like to "mark" around tires because tires can carry the scent over distances as cars drive, spreading their scent to more places and expanding their territory.

　　 Thus, urinating on car tires is a natural instinct for dogs.

　　 Dogs evolved from wolves and inherited the territorial awareness of wolves. Therefore, dogs like to urinate on trees, utility poles, and other places when they go out. This behavior is called "marking."

　　 Dogs use these "marks," the scent of their urine, to identify their own or other dogs’ territories. This behavior is especially prominent in male dogs, who lift their hind legs to mark places higher than the ground, aiming to get their scent closer to the noses of other dogs so that others can more easily detect it.

　　 This hormonal information can only be recognized by the same species. However, for civilized consideration, it is recommended that dogs with indiscriminate urinating habits change this behavior. Proper training or covering the scent is advised, and neutering surgery can also be performed.