I know male dogs mark their terrotrity, but do bitches do it too? The reason I ask is , recently clover has gone and pee'd over where another dog has just gone.. so it got me thinking lol

I believe they do.

In fact, i think most female animals do. Bit like a calling card in a phone box.

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I don't have any research of evidence to support this, but I think they do. I have a male dog now, but I grew up with a female dog and she certainly appeared to be marking her territory by doing things like peeing where another dog has just gone, or leaving small drops of pee here and there rather than one big pee in one place.

Someone said it's a sign of her maturing. She 18 months old now

Yes, Indie even cocks her leg to scent mark, mostly a half cock, but sometimes a full cock up a tree for example. Some bitches do it more than others, just depends on their character; Indie's spayed, but she is still in charge of everyone and everything that goes on, so her calling card gets left everywhere!

Marking in dogs seems to be a behaviour that has remained, but lost its real purpose, if you see what I mean

Male animals mark 'territory' in the sense of their breeding rights, and social status, whereas female animals will mark their breeding area.

But domestic dogs really do not have a need for any of these, to be quite honest. They seldom have a territory (you could class their home, but most dogs that guard their home have a socialisation issue) and females don't have den sites like in the wild. Marking is used for communication, but I personally don't think it has the same purposes as it would for wild canines or other wild animals.

So, in answer to your question, females do mark areas, but not necessarily for the purposes of territory. It has been hypothesised that females' urine includes information about their reproductive status, so maturing is a good shout.

I was told that bitches born into a predominantly male litter have more male hormones hence the scent marking
My bitch was the only girl out of 4 and she cocks her leg on things, marks where her mum has peed and also likes to hump piglet (the toy that is)

hi, while walking today with friends dog, female cairn terrier, which is at the end of her 'break' she 'scented' everywhere. it's the oldest dog in the square and still is acting like a pup, great natured. my friend also has a lhaso apso,(sorry if iv'e misspelled), male, which is getting driven crazy at moment. so i do believe they do scent as you were asking prev.

Heidi does it. Started around a year I think and she's 2 now.
Bit embarrassing occasionally, she will even dive in to leave her scent over another dog's pooh before the owner gets to it with a pooh bagD 3 legged ones as well. Not v lady like but she is a cross breed

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My OH's mothers female JRT does, she cocks her leg too!!
My male staff X doesn't and pees like a big girl!!

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