Dog marking is a natural territorial statement which is helpful in a dog's world, but causes a lot of problems in ours, mainly because we detest the mess or the smell! Of course, we put up with our dogs marking the garden boundary, or the nearest lamppost when we take them out for a walk, but when they start doing it within our homes it's a different matter altogether.
In order to stop the marking, which dog owners often think is just their dog urinating in the house, we must understand why dog's mark to start with and then why our dogs think it necessary to do it in the house. Simply punishing your dog for making a mess won't solve the fundamental issue that is making them act in this fashion.
What Do Dogs Use Marking For?
In the wild, determining and defending territory is a vital part of a dog pack's survival method and using their urine to mark the boundaries of that territory is a very effective way of doing that.
Marking can be done by both female and male dogs, but usually is the task of the most dominant members of the pack because the pheromones in the wee also communicate the dog's status. This acts as a warning to outsiders and can also assist in avoiding fighting as the higher the status of the dog, the bigger the threat.
Dogs will mark the outer bounds of their territory as well as areas inside that territory that are particularly important, eg the den. It indicates to intruders the commitment of the pack to protecting the area.
Why do Dogs Mark in the House?
Dog marking is quite common when you move to a new house as everything smells different to a dog and they feel the need to both claim the territory and create familiar smells. Nonetheless this is most times a one off occurrence and generally this behavior won't continue.
It would seem the more assured your dog is, the less likely they'll feel the need to mark in the house and it appears the bigger the levels of stress of the dog, the more likely marking will happen.
Some dogs driven by separation anxiety will mark each time that their owners go out, regardless of whether it is only for 10 minutes and will generally do it by the door that you left by. In such cases they are not just indicating their commitment to give protection to the area while the owners are gone, they're also leaving a scent trail so the owners will know where to return to. They simply do not know that you don't have as good a sense of smell as they do!
In a lot of cases it appears that marking is linked with a dog assuming the role of pack leader, which automatically makes them have responsibility for the safety of their owners. This is a very impossible role for a dog to fulfil because they don't understand the human world and it can often cause dogs lots of anxiety.
(N.B. If not one of the above scenarios fit with your dog, make sure you check with your vet that there are no underlying health issues like a urinary tract infection.)
What To Do About the Issue
On a practical level, you need to manage the situation while you sort out the underlying issue of leadership. As I discussed earlier, punishment of any type will not help, in reality it may boost your dog's stress.
If you return home to a wet floor, simply put the dog in a different room while you clear up the mess. Don't say a word to your dog as they really won't know what they have done wrong. Similarly, don't feel sorry for your dog and try and comfort them either, as you might make it into a way of your dog getting your attention and they will carry on doing it.
If your dog has free run of the house while you are out, you might need to consider limiting their space to somewhere that's easy to wash down. Meanwhile, discover how you can show your dog that you are the pack leader and start some positive training to firmly establish your status as head of the pack. In contrast to what a lot of owners think this doesn't imply you must be dominant or rough towards your dog.
In order to stop the marking, which dog owners often think is just their dog urinating in the house, we must understand why dog's mark to start with and then why our dogs think it necessary to do it in the house. Simply punishing your dog for making a mess won't solve the fundamental issue that is making them act in this fashion.
What Do Dogs Use Marking For?
In the wild, determining and defending territory is a vital part of a dog pack's survival method and using their urine to mark the boundaries of that territory is a very effective way of doing that.
Marking can be done by both female and male dogs, but usually is the task of the most dominant members of the pack because the pheromones in the wee also communicate the dog's status. This acts as a warning to outsiders and can also assist in avoiding fighting as the higher the status of the dog, the bigger the threat.
Dogs will mark the outer bounds of their territory as well as areas inside that territory that are particularly important, eg the den. It indicates to intruders the commitment of the pack to protecting the area.
Why do Dogs Mark in the House?
Dog marking is quite common when you move to a new house as everything smells different to a dog and they feel the need to both claim the territory and create familiar smells. Nonetheless this is most times a one off occurrence and generally this behavior won't continue.
It would seem the more assured your dog is, the less likely they'll feel the need to mark in the house and it appears the bigger the levels of stress of the dog, the more likely marking will happen.
Some dogs driven by separation anxiety will mark each time that their owners go out, regardless of whether it is only for 10 minutes and will generally do it by the door that you left by. In such cases they are not just indicating their commitment to give protection to the area while the owners are gone, they're also leaving a scent trail so the owners will know where to return to. They simply do not know that you don't have as good a sense of smell as they do!
In a lot of cases it appears that marking is linked with a dog assuming the role of pack leader, which automatically makes them have responsibility for the safety of their owners. This is a very impossible role for a dog to fulfil because they don't understand the human world and it can often cause dogs lots of anxiety.
(N.B. If not one of the above scenarios fit with your dog, make sure you check with your vet that there are no underlying health issues like a urinary tract infection.)
What To Do About the Issue
On a practical level, you need to manage the situation while you sort out the underlying issue of leadership. As I discussed earlier, punishment of any type will not help, in reality it may boost your dog's stress.
If you return home to a wet floor, simply put the dog in a different room while you clear up the mess. Don't say a word to your dog as they really won't know what they have done wrong. Similarly, don't feel sorry for your dog and try and comfort them either, as you might make it into a way of your dog getting your attention and they will carry on doing it.
If your dog has free run of the house while you are out, you might need to consider limiting their space to somewhere that's easy to wash down. Meanwhile, discover how you can show your dog that you are the pack leader and start some positive training to firmly establish your status as head of the pack. In contrast to what a lot of owners think this doesn't imply you must be dominant or rough towards your dog.
About the Author:
The Author, Venice Marriott learnt about behaviour problems caused by dog anxiety with her own rescue dog, and dog marking is just one of them. Get free video training on all aspects of dog anxiety created by a world renowned dog training expert, available only on this site.
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