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Urine Marking Behavior & How
To Stop It
Cynthia Edgerly – Bingo! Dog Training
Urine marking is a normal,
instinctive dog behavior that is most frequently exhibited by males but also
sometimes by females. And while humans often find this behavior upsetting, to
dogs it is something of great interest. Urine marking is one way dogs
communicate with each other.
Through urine marking alone
dogs can establish territory, social order or advertise mating availability.
There is even evidence that dogs get important health related information from
this practice.
Dogs that suddenly begin to
mark in the house, even if they’ve never done it before, often start due to
feelings of insecurity or a perceived threat. These feelings can result from the
introduction of new people, pets or objects into the home. Loud noises outside
of the home like neighborhood construction projects and storms may also increase
insecurity.
Some dogs never mark in their
own house but tend to mark anytime you go into a friend or relative's home.
Laying down familiar scent can make dogs feel more at home.
Below are some tips to
prevent or stop marking indoors
- Get a health check. Urinating in the house and other
inappropriate areas can also be a sign of urinary incontinence or illness. It
is always a good idea to rule out medical problems first.
- Spay or neuter your dog. Done at an early age, this
will stop or decrease marking behavior in most dogs and prevent the behavior
from ever becoming a bad habit. Older dogs also benefit from this procedure
but there is a very good chance you will also have to go through training and
management program to break the habit.
- Proper Cleanup is essential. You must thoroughly clean
areas where your dog has marked in the past to discourage your dog from
re-offending in the same place. Use a good enzymatic cleaner especially
designed for pet stains like Petastic or Natures Miracle.
- Restrict access to doors and windows through which your
dog can observe territorial intruders if this triggers marking behavior.
- Keep your dog on-leash when inside a friend or relatives
home.
- Keep objects likely to cause marking behavior out of
reach. Items such as guest belongings and new purchases can be placed in a
closet or cabinet.
- Follow a strict management program and only allow
freedom as your dogs behavior permits. Watch your dog when he is indoors. If
you can tell he is about to urinate, interrupt him with a loud noise and take
him outside. If he urinates outside, praise and give him a treat. When you're
unable to watch him, put your dog in a confinement area or tether him to you
with a leash. A bellyband may be a good option for those times when you don’t
want to confine your dog.
- Practice a ‘Earn and Learn’
program with your dog. This is a safe, non-confrontational way to establish
your leadership and requires your dog to work for anything he wants from you.
Have your dog obey at least one command (such as "sit") before you pet him,
give him dinner, put on his leash, or throw him a toy. Establishing yourself
as a strong leader can help stabilize the hierarchy and thus diminish your
dog's insecurity.
Cynthia Edgerly, owner of
Bingo! Dog Training in Watsonville, California, is a Professional Dog Trainer & Certified Dog
Behavior Consultant. To contact Cynthia please go to her website:
http://www.bingodogtraining.com
or Phone: (831) 768-9308 or (408) 335-8745.
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