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Dog Marking - Help!Dog marking in the house can be a very annoying habit of your furry friend. But first - is he marking, or peeing? As similar as these might sound, before you can find a solution you need to know which one to pin on your dog. 
Dog MarkingOn the other hand, if your dog (usually a male) lifts his leg and urinates on an object, he is marking. This is done to an upright object most often, such as a chair leg, furniture, or doorway. To a dog, peeing in the house and marking are two different things. Just because he is house-trained doesn't mean that he understands that marking in the house is unacceptable as well. Many people incorrectly think that their dog is angry or getting back at them for something. Guess what? Dogs are not vindictive - they don't do things for revenge or hold grudges! This sort of complicated thinking is reserved for humans and monkeys. Reasons Behind It Since it's not out of anger or revenge, why do dogs mark? ~ seeking attention (bad attention is better than no attention) ~ it's a territorial, social and sexual behavior ~ anxiety or stress ~ fear ~ excitement ~ show dominance ~ claim territory ~ builds dog's confidence Probably one of the largest reasons is feelings of insecurity or a perceived threat. "Perceived threat" being: a new baby, a new pet, visitor, new furniture, or even the smell of other animals on your shoes or clothing. Even a change in routine can bring anxiety (demonstrated by... you guessed it). Solutions to Dog Marking Before you try any of these methods, take your dog to the vet for a check-up to rule out infection (i.e. bladder) or of him being senile (in an older dog). 1) Neutering - can help, but is not a magic "fix" for the problem. If your dog is older, chances are that this habit will still be there if you neuter him. Unaltered males have a tendency to this behavior more so than neutered males. 2) Break the Habit - supervise your dog closely and constantly, even if it means tethering him to you or setting up some baby gates. You want to catch him in the act! It might take a couple weeks, or it might only take a few days. 3) Training Shaker or Air horn - pop can with a few pennies in it, with the hole taped over. Watch dog for any signs of him getting ready (sniffing, circling), and as soon as he lifts his leg, shake the can behind your back (or press the air horn button for 3 seconds). DON'T SAY ANYTHING! You want him to associate the startling sound with the behavior, not with you. If he starts to lift his leg again, repeat. Redirect him to something positive - a game, going outside. 4) If you don't have a shaker handy, interrupt with a loud hand clap or verbal "EH!" 5) Praise for marking in an appropriate place (outside). 6) Crate your dog when unsupervised or you're away from home. 7) If he has a "favorite" spot to lift his leg, try putting his food/water bowl there. 8) Clean up - if he can smell the urine still, he will attempt to mark there again. Clean the area really good with an enzyme cleaner (no ammonia - it will trigger him to go again). Odour-Out works great (Walmart, about $8). As far as dominance control goes, obedience training is the best way to show your dog that you are the one in control. Check out our options in training for you and your dog or puppy! Remember, the best way to avoid any bad behavior is prevention. While dog marking is a nuisance, it can be controlled and the habit of doing so in the house can be broken.
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