But first let's not confuse potty accidents with urine marking. If you come across a large puddle of pee, mostly likely that is a "I really had to Go" spot. Or your dog spritzes out pee while being greeted that is submissive urination. But when you come across a newly damp or dried, yellowed, sprinkling of urine on some piece of furniture or the corner of your bed that is marking.
A lot of times your dog would never consider peeing in the house. While outdoors we may deem it harmless that the dog leaves "Pee-Mail" on every tree you pass while on a walk. By allowing this to happen you are giving your dog permission to claim your property or the neighborhood as their own. And remember a good rule to live by is that a dog owns nothing. Besides, this also helps dogs get into the habit of peeing to mark becoming a learned behavior.
Marking is an Equal Opportunity activity. Both male and female dogs will mark. Have you ever seen this? One dog will pee then another dog will come along to pee on the same spot. Some times it's like a sandlot game of baseball, where the captains choose first pick by gripping the bat, hand over hand till one captain reaches the top.
Why do dogs Mark? Because they can. Dogs are territorial and protect/claim what they believe is theirs or want to be theirs. They use their urine with their scent to say this is "Mine". This isn't out of spite or because they are jealous. They are just saying I want it to smell like me.
Think about this picture....your dog has just relieved itself: a good healthy pee. Then trots along the perimeter of the yard, he stops to sniff, then lifts his leg. Only a squirt of pee comes out. Then he moves on to the next spot. Stop, Sniff, Squirt repeating this pattern until the dog is satisfied with a job well done. I bet you are thinking "How can he go that much?" Because he saves it as a reserve.
Prevention and Supervision will be the key to rehabbing this behavioral issue. It is totally up to you to stop this behavior that the dog thinks is just fine. But a leash will help and a Belly Band for indoor marking. A Belly Band is a piece of wide fabric that will Velcro around the dog's midsection covering the culprit. If your dog is a habitual marker this just may be the solution.
So before you head out for a walk give your dog a chance to potty at home in the potty spot. Make your dog walk next to you. Don't let your dog drag you along their Pee-Mail Trail.
Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070
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