Urine Marking
The act of urine marking is a normal form of communication among dogs. Both male and female dogs will mark, while un-neutered males and un-spayed females are more prone to this behavior. Dogs will mark territory for a variety of reasons including when they encounter other dogs or their scent in their territory, becoming overly aroused or stimulated in social situations, and even a dog that is experiencing high anxiety such as a conflict between dogs, people or other animals in the home, can and will mark. Whatever the reason, if not dealt with, this problem can become quite a nasty habit and a difficult issue to resolve.
If your dog has not been spayed or neutered yet, the easiest solution is to have the surgery done. Research has shown that neutering a male dog eliminates or greatly reduces household urine marking in 50 to 60% of cases. In addition to helping with this issue, it will also alleviate certain health issues intact dogs can develop and you will find increased focus during training with your dog, due to lack of hormonal stimuli.
*If you are resistant to spaying and neutering, you can focus your energy on the suggestions that follow, however, keep in mind that the likelihood of successfully eliminating or reducing urine marking is lower if your dog is still intact.
So here are some quick tips to help reduce urine marking:
- Don’t yell and scold. This rarely accomplishes anything but distrust and conflict, even if you caught them in the act.
- Don’t prevent your dog from marking outside. If he/she is completely cut off it would increase the likelihood of them going in your home.
- Don’t clean up with an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia and it could attract your dog back to the spot!
Best of luck and feel free to contact me any time if you have questions.
Kim Mayes, WLCCAR Training Advisor
If your dog has not been spayed or neutered yet, the easiest solution is to have the surgery done. Research has shown that neutering a male dog eliminates or greatly reduces household urine marking in 50 to 60% of cases. In addition to helping with this issue, it will also alleviate certain health issues intact dogs can develop and you will find increased focus during training with your dog, due to lack of hormonal stimuli.
*If you are resistant to spaying and neutering, you can focus your energy on the suggestions that follow, however, keep in mind that the likelihood of successfully eliminating or reducing urine marking is lower if your dog is still intact.
So here are some quick tips to help reduce urine marking:
- Restrict your dog’s access to things he is likely to mark. If I have an intact marking dog in my house, I actually keep the dog on a leash, with me at all times during this training process, so I can quickly catch and correct the behavior as needed. You MUST catch it every time to be successful! Once caught in the act, I quickly wisk them outside and direct them to a Pee Post outside in the yard. (The Pee Post is a product with an attractant smell for markers to go on, which you can stake in your yard.)
- If he predictably urine marks in certain areas (such as shoes, a suitcase, etc.) put treats in that area so he might see that place as a source of food rather than triggers for marking.
- Make sure any areas in the house that have been marked are cleaned thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner, to break down the smell to the dog. The Nature’s Miracle brand of cleaner makes a great stain and odor remover specifically for marking!
- Some dogs mark due to anxiousness about something- for instance a new pet, baby, furniture, etc. or a conflict with someone in the home. For this type of marking, it will be important to resolve any conflicts among family members to reduce stress. Talking with a canine behaviorist might be needed to resolve these issues.
- Don’t yell and scold. This rarely accomplishes anything but distrust and conflict, even if you caught them in the act.
- Don’t prevent your dog from marking outside. If he/she is completely cut off it would increase the likelihood of them going in your home.
- Don’t clean up with an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia and it could attract your dog back to the spot!
Best of luck and feel free to contact me any time if you have questions.
Kim Mayes, WLCCAR Training Advisor