How Do I stop My Dog Marking Inside

Tuesday 17th September 2013 @ 10:07 AM. (NZST)

Jess Allsop

Jess Allsop - Trainer

Sharon milton sent the following question!

Hi was wondering how to stop my male dog from urinating in the house. I've got another male dog which were both fine, but I got a female 2 years ago and since then one male keeps weeing. I wasn't sure it was him so I couldn't doing anything but then caught him a couple of weeks ago. I tell him he's a bad boy and then put him in the garden for about an hour. Please help

Hi Sharon,

firstly, it is essential that you identify which dog is the culprit. This will take a keen watchful eye and possibly confining one whilst the other has some freedom, in order to catch them. It is entirely possible that both are responsible though, as when dogs are marking they leave their "pee-mail" on top of another dogs. This is why dogs revisit post boxes etc when out on walks, they leave messages about themselves to other dogs, and then other dogs leave their reply, well this is all hypothesized of course, we don't ever really know the full story! I would also ask if the dogs are neutered as entire males mark with urine far more frequently than their castrated counterparts. Any elimination indoors, marking or otherwise is still treated as a house training issue, so applying the same rules as when they were a puppy in training. So, restricted access to indoors unless under supervision, rewarding when they eliminate outdoors, and then if (and only if) you catch them in the act inside, they can be reprimanded with a firm"no" and ushered outdoors to continue. Ensure your dog knows that going in front of you in the right place earns praise so they understand that it is an 'indoor' problem, not going in front of you that is the issue! If there are specific problem areas then I suggest feeding them in that place and leaving the food bowl there so it becomes their dining table rather than toilet and ensure you clean any messes up with a good enzymatic cleaner. Dogs avoid eliminating in places they eat and sleep, so utilize this rule to make it harder to have enticing spaces indoors and ensure when your dogs are unsupervised they are either outdoors or in a confined space indoors.

Jess Allsop - Training Dogs For Life

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