One surprising thing I learned in rescue is that a sizeable number of people do not like male dogs, and will not consider welcoming one into the house. The most common reason is a fear of the “leg lift” — the dreaded marking.
So your dog has started marking, leaving pee in all sorts of places where it shouldn’t be… What can you do?
Marking Problems:
– Any life change can lead to bad potty habits, but the most likely causes are new people or animals in the house. (This can include guests.) This also means that moving can trigger the onset of marking, so keep a close eye as you’re unpacking those boxes.
– Marking can be a sign of stress, though marking does not necessarily mean the dog is stressed or unhappy. Some confident dogs love to spread their smell. Marking is a natural behavior. It is a way for dogs to share information. (Yeah, yeah, spam emails and those flyers jammed under my windshield wipers are also attempts to share information — I didn’t say marking was a method we need to appreciate.)
– If there are big puddles and/or piles of poo, consider that it might be a housetraining issue rather than just marking. For this, see our page on housetraining an adult dog.
– That said, according to Dr. Karen Overall, “Some dogs mark with feces, especially at edges of their property where other canids visit.” (Canids include dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and more.)
– This may explain why many dogs seem to have accidents right by the doggie door, and why doggies doors seem to worsen marking problems. (The dogs may be trying to make a vulnerable boundary more secure.)
– Neutering helps in a lot of cases. This is the closest thing to a “magic fix,” though it’s not guaranteed. Marking is also more likely if there are unfixed females around (particularly if they are in heat).
– A belly band/male wrap can limit the damage while training. For some dogs, this will also discourage the leg lifting (whereas others will just pee right on through it, completely undaunted).
– Females can also mark. I don’t have any great statistics on this, but anecdotally they seem to like things like cushions, pillows and beds. (If this occurs, it may take a couple soaks in enzymatic cleaner to get out the lingering smell.)
– A black light can help you find pee spots you’ve missed. Then clean any dirty areas thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner.
– You will likely need to restrict freedom while working on the issue. If there are any common pee spots or furniture “toilets”, block access to that area. Another way to limit access is to tether the dog to you, or place him in an exercise pen when you’re not able to observe directly.
– If you catch the dog in action, you can interrupt with something like ‘uh-uh.’ After the fact, it’s too late. It’s very difficult to “punish away” marking.
Other questions:
Why is he peeing all over my stuff?
Dr. Karen Overall again, “Anxious dogs may mark their own people, their clothes, possessions, and favored spots as a way to ‘claim’ or highlight their relationship with the people about whom they care.”
Is there a pill to fix it?
Anti-anxiety medications can help in conjunction with behavior modification plans.
How do I tell if he’s doing this because he’s anxious, or just because he likes marking?
Dr. Karen Overall advises clients to ask the following question, “Is the dog doing this because he/she wants to do it, or is the dog doing this because he/she must do it? Dogs who want to mark but are not compelled to do so are usually normal, but dogs who feel they must mark in a certain spot are likely anxious and would benefit from treatment” [of the anxiety].
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