Dog Marking Territory - Stop This Behavior

Before you can begin to correct dog marking territory behavior, you must first understand that this is not a potty training issue, but rather an instinct. Your pet can be completely house broken and still be prone to marking his territory. Know the difference. If you find a full puddle of urine, then you have a potty training issue. If on the other hand you only find a small spot of urine, then you have a marking issue.

So first lets look at why the dog marking territory is happening. Behaviorists have come up with a number of reasons, any and all of which can apply. If you are outside, some will tell you he's providing a path to find his way back home. Others will tell you that it's a ranking thing. Dogs, they say, can tell the age, sex and even rank of another animal simply by smelling his urine.

So if you normally take your dog on walks around the neighborhood, you'll quickly notice the ritual. There are spots that must be marked every time. In this way he is maintaining his rank in the neighborhood pack, a pack that is far reaching and included every other dog in the area that may cross your usual route. You'll be amazed at the number of times your dog can stop and start along the way. It's almost as if he has an endless supply.

This behavior is much more common in males, who will lift a leg to mark. Females will too, but not as often. In some ways, it's a contest. Your dog will want to leave his mark a little higher than the previous dog, which explains the leg lifting. It can also be quite funny when a Dachshund tries to outdo the neighborhood Great Dane.

Although annoying, this is normal behavior, albeit embarrassing at times. Especially when Fido decides to mark someone's leg. Annoying however becomes especially problematic when it happens inside a house.

There are certain cues to look out for. These are instances where this behavior is more likely to occur.

If you are visiting a friend's house with your dog, pay careful attention to him. Especially if that friend has a pet of his own. If you have more than one pet, this can be dogs, cats, or anything else, you also should be aware. Have you added new furniture or drapes to your home? Keep an eye on your dog until you're sure this won't happen. And always be aware of what he's doing if you've just moved to someplace new.

Stop Dog Marking Territory

The best way to stop this behavior is by having your dog neutered, and the younger the better. If prevention is the best cure, this will almost always prevent the problem from even getting started. And it certainly ups the odds of ending the behavior after it has started.

Sometimes however this is not an option. In this case you need to catch the dog in the act, then distract him by clapping your hands or making a noise. Give him a loud NO command. Then take him outside until he does his business. Stay with him and praise him when he does. Do not bring him back in until he is finished. This may seem like potty training 101 but it needs to be done. It can require anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks of close supervision to correct the behavior. You'll need to confine your pet to an area where he can be watched, or possibly keep him on a lead.

When you are out on a walk, let him mark all he wants. Even praise him when he does. In this way he'll learn where marking is OK and where it is not.

One final thing. If you do have a dog marking territory in house you'll need to clean the area well with a non-ammonia based cleaner. Ammonia is a scent in his urine, and cleaning with it can actually encourage him to return to the scene of the crime. We recommend using Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover (32 oz.).

And for the best information on stopping any and all of your dog's behavior problems, we highly recommend Daniel Stevens' SitStayFetch program. Simply put, there's no better program on the market today.