Almost all dog owners, at one time or another, have to deal with an “accident” in the house.  There are several reasons dogs pee in the house and with the proper understanding, most can be eliminated.

First, there’s the new puppy that hasn’t learned why peeing in the house is bad. Then there’s the old girl who just can’t hold it like she used to. Next is the excited or submissive urinating. Finally there is the marking.

We’re going to look at marking because it can happen anywhere, any time.  Marking is usually done by a male dog, although some females have been known to mark as well. Marking is a way that dogs communicate to other dogs.  The fresh mark says a lot. It’s most common in male dogs and even more so with intact males. Marking is different from urinating.  Urinating is when a dog empties his bladder. Marking is a means of communication using the urine as the medium. A dog will mark to claim his territory. He will mark to show dominance. He will mark to let females know he is around and available. The most frustrating thing about marking is once a spot has been marked, it will most likely be marked again. Even dogs who have never marked before will find it hard to resist marking over an old spot. Cleaning it up with household cleaners might look and smell good to us, but the smell usually lingers and that’s enough for another dog to justify marking over it.  There are a few products on the market that do a decent job of reducing the smell but we have found one that seems to do a better job.  It’s called SHOUT For Pet Stains. This can be applied on old, dried, urine stains and we’ve found removes the stain and the smell. We are now stocking this in our store.

 

So, how do you stop a dog from marking?  The number one way is to make sure there are no previously marked spot in the house.

If your dog is intact, and if it’s something you feel you can do, then neutering will remove most of the urges to mark.

Sometimes anxiety can be the cause for marking. Moving, new furniture, added house guests or workers in the house can trigger marking as well.

If you catch your dog marking the worst thing you can do is punish the dog.  It’s best to issue a firm NO and take him outside. If he urinates outside, praise and a cookie will go a long way.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your dog doesn’t have a medical issue like a urinary tract infection. If this is a new behavior, it might be a good idea to talk to your vet.

Finally there is confinement. While you’re training, it might be helpful to keep the dog from the scene of the crime, at least when you’re not around.

Hopefully, these tips may help keep your house odor and stain free.

http://www.vetstreet.com/canine-urine-marking-indoors