How do I stop my dog from marking and peeing inside my home?

Hello, sorry to hear about Buddy. It sounds like he is indeed marking his territory when you're not home. I think the crate is a great idea, but if you need some time to get him used to this, a small room such as a bathroom or bedroom would also limit the areas where he marks in the house. Additionally, taking him out to go to the bathroom before you leave will also decrease the amount of urine he has to mark with. A dog urinating on objects, usually vertical, is a normal, instinctive social behavior. Dogs mark their territory by urinating on certain objects within their territory. The dog returns to these spots on occasion to renew this olfactory mark. Usually the amount of urine produced is a smaller amount than when the dog relieves himself. Marking often occurs in areas where other dogs have urine marked or left there odor. Although more commonly seen in intact males, neutered males and females also mark. What is inappropriate marking? Inappropriate marking is when an otherwise healthy, housetrained dog marks objects in an area that is not acceptable to the owner, such as inside a home. Why is my dog inappropriately marking? Causes of inappropriate urine marking can be hormonal or social. Social factors include situations that cause anxiety or territorial stimuli, such as other animals entering their “territory,” or the introduction of something new, such as grocery bags, people, or furniture. Dogs with other anxieties, such as separation anxiety or noise phobia, can also mark. What can I do to prevent inappropriate marking? • If your dog is intact, neuter your dog. One study found that 40% of male dogs castrated for marking drastically decreased their marking, regardless of age of castration. • Neuter all animals in household. Hormonal changes in other animals, like female dogs in heat, may trigger marking. • It is important to rule out underlying medical problems that may cause inappropriate urine marking. The stress of medical problems can be a contributing factor to marking. • Clean up residual odors of the urine with enzymatic cleaners. • Block or eliminate provoking stimuli, such as cover windows where your dog can see other dogs walking by, block access to room where dog may hear other dogs walking by. • Have a conversation with your veterinarian about separation anxiety or other anxieties to determine if this is the cause of inappropriate urine marking. Treat these underlying causes. • Do not place new objects on floor until your dog has gotten used to having them in the house. • During training, when your dog cannot be supervised, he should be confined to a smaller area so that he does not practice inappropriate urine marking when the owner is not home. He may subsequently learn that it is acceptable to mark when the owner is away. • Establish conspicuous objects outside the house where marking is acceptable, and reward for acceptable marking. • Change the emotional state of your dog around target areas to pleasurable areas of play or eating • In dogs with extreme anxiety, anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial. • Establish leadership from the owner and routine in the dog’s life by implementing non-confrontational leadership exercises.

If he is not neutered this can be a behavioral issue. I would recommend neutering him immediately to hopefully stop this behavior. I would also recommend crate training him. You must choose a crate that Hachi can stand up, sit down and turn around. A crate should only create a positive environment. Never use the crate for punishment. Despite what many people think do not line the crate with blankets or beds. Keeping Hachi in the crate when you cannot keep 100% eye on him is important. Every time you take him out of the crate take him on a walk to make sure they go to the bathroom and give positive reinforcement if he does. If they do not eliminate while you are outside then put Hachi back in the crate for another 20minutes. After 20 minutes take him out once again to try. If Hachi does go to the bathroom make sure you take time to play with him and when you have to turn your back again put them back in the crate. I hope this helps. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You are correct that this type of behavior is difficult to correct. The best way to correct it is to not allow it to happen. Easier said than done. The best way I have found to allow that is to either use a Belly Band (www.bellybands.net), keep the dog on a leash attached to you in the house or keep the dog in a crate when you are gone. The goal is that it he does not get the satisfaction of urinating on something (either because the belly band prevents it, because you are on the other end of the leash preventing it, or because he is in a crate), that the behavior is less likely to continue. However, it will be a work in progress and since it has been going on for over 3 years, it will not resolve quickly. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I would recommend bringing Charles to the veterinarian to be checked out. I would want to make sure he doesn't have anything medically going on with him because of what he is doing. If everything is ok then I would start crate training him. Here is some information on potty training: http://www.thejerseymoms.com/potty-train-your-puppy/ Thank you for using PetCoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Milo is adorable! Sadly there are some small breed dogs that will just not house train. But I think also that some owners give up because it is so hard. I think Milo needs to be crated when you aren't home due to his destructive nature and because he is not house trained. When you are home he should be leashed to you at all times and taken out very often. If he doesn't go when you think he should, he goes in the crate. All other rooms should be blocked by a door or gate so he can't wander off to eliminate in the house. Use special delicious treats, praise and play with him for 10 mins after he goes outside, even bring a favorite toy. He can never be out of the crate when you aren't home or when you are asleep. You can also train him to ring a bell when he needs to eliminate. It may take 2-3 months but if you are aggressive about it hopefully it will work. Also you may have to consider neutering him to fully eliminate marking behaviors. The destructive behavior will hopefully go away with age, but you can consider doggie daycare during the work week to decrease time in the crate. I hope this helps and I wish you and Milo the best!

I doubt that the behavior will stop on its own if you can't figure out what has started it. The first thing I would recommend would be to have your vet examine George and perform a urinalysis to make sure that there isn't a medical cause that has started this. If your vet can't find a medical cause then I would recommend figuring out a way to stop the behavior temporarily. I would use a Belly Band (https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-belly-bands-for-dogs/), so he does not have the opportunity to mark and ideally use baby gates, a crate or supervision to prevent him from having the opportunity to mark. 2 weeks after the last time he has marked (or attempted to mark if he has the belly band on), you can allow him more unsupervised time without the belly band on. Hopefully that will be enough to break this habit. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi there and thank you for using PetCoach to address your concern. Bo is still quite young and him urinating inside is something that he should eventually grow out with training. Positive reinforcement with treats whenever he urinates outside and defecates outside will help reinforce him going outside. I've had great success with recommending Fresh Patch. This is a patch of grass in a cardboard box with absorbent material underneath the grass and you place this in the house. Bo will use this real grass to go to the bathroom short term. I would recommend starting by placing the grass in the area where he has been urinating and then gradually moving the patch of grass closer and closer to the door to the outside until eventually the grass patch is outside of the house and he is using it there. Fresh Patch is a product that you buy online at their website ( https://www.freshpatch.com/ ) I hope this helps and best of luck with the training! It can be frustrating at times but patience and persistence usually end in success! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.