Etiquette - Allowed Activities

This maybe already somewhere, but I'm thinking this situation may be different. But I travel with my police dog partner and he is almost always at my side. When he "goes", he lifts his leg and waters a tree. He is trained not to go on leash, as most likely that would be a "pubic use area". so he is let off leash and he goes into the bushes or woods away from main thoroughfares and assembly points. Is it acceptable for me to follow the same etiquette when I need to "Go", or must I search high and low for a bathroom? I know its rude to just pee anywhere, but moving to a out of the way place is peeing allowed, or if someone saw another person peeing , would that be a freak out moment?? What is your opinion or belief?