Dutch is marking again....

[Carina43]

...I thought he'd kicked that habit, haven't seen him do this in over a year. Just recently, he's starting to again, over the last month. I can't think of anything that's changed - he was mature/intact when I got him, he's mature/neutered now, almost five years old.

Here's the kicker though, he NEVER does it in front of us. I see the signs though....and I know for sure it's him. I've even tried setting him up, or sneakily following him so I can scare the living snot outta him if he even THINKS about hiking a leg in the house. So far no luck though. We've both been making sure he gets plenty of structured attention & little training sessions daily; I see no change in his attitude, he's been a very good boy. Apart from wanting to kill Cooper but that's been going on since we've had him, no change there.

So. Odor neutraliser. Start crating him when we're gone. Kick up the training a notch? Keep trying to catch him at it. I think if I did, I'd put such a fear of goD in him he wouldn't do it again. Maybe. Apart from this, he's VERY respectful of me.

I know I can manage it by crating, but I'd really like to disabuse him of the notion it's OK. Any other ideas? Thanks!

[spidey]

First, I'd get a vet check with a urinalysis - I'm a firm believer that any sudden behaviour change (even if it's reverting to old behaviour), especially if it's one of toilet habits, warrants ruling out a medical reason first. Assuming that checks out, in addition to what you're already doing, I'd go back to the umbilical cord for a while (crate when you're not home, umbilical cord when it's his turn to be out - I know you have to keep him and Cooper apart). I think at least one component of marking is simply habit. And sudden changes in the house? Stress can cause this, too.

[Judi W]

and.......... hang a bell or something noisy on his collar so you can hear exactly where he is at all time. Best bet for catching him sneaking off for a piss on your stuff!

[tilerspop]

Is he doing it in the same place all the time or different places all the time? If it's the same place at least most the time I can tell you how to make a scare crow that might help.

[DNeff]

First I would make sure it's not a health issue.

If it is not, I would try a pair of boys underwear. Just put them on him when ever he is loose in the house. A couple of attempts to try to mark in them will make him realize marking isn't a good option. It's usually pretty effective to cut down on the marking. Most dogs don't enjoy getting wet when they try to mark. In most cases it is pretty easy to wean off using them, but the experience sticks with them.
Good luck!

Dawn + Osa
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[Bruce Lanthier]

Syd marks if he is not supervised over long (hour) periods. Never does it when hanging out just when he's alone for a long period. The bell would work except when he walks you can hear him from where ever you are in the house LOL. I have no real solution other than supervision. I suspect, for Syd at least, even if I set him up and tried to scare him into stopping it wouldn't work. I have found that not much scares an old dog that has seen it all LMAO. So, we'll just keep an eye on him.

[Mojave's Mom]

Mojave was doing the same thing with a houseplant in front of our fireplace. Always on the plant, never anywhere else. I caught him in the middle of it one day and he saw the Lord like never before. Since the house remodel we've removed the plant but I'm still suspicious of him so I have chosen to just supervise him whenever he's out and put him up in the dog room (door closed) when I'm gone.

Dawn, your idea of the shorts is a good one. Mojave is a clean-freak about himself in that area :o So I think I might just give that AND the bell a try. Carina, thanks for asking this question...it helped me too! :D

[Carina43]

OK, so I'm going to dress Dutch up like a Christmas tree with bells & bloomers! :D :D

Seriously, some good ideas, and I am so glad I am not the only one with a boy deciding to start tinkling. Mike - it's on various objects and only in the dining room (sort of the main pass-through room in the house) but I'd love to hear the scarecrow tactic anyhow.

I never thought about it being a medical thing - I really do think he's just staking out the dining room but the dogs go in for their HW test shortly; I can bring in a weewee sample. It's not like there's a shortage of these around the house. :p

What colour undies look good on Rottweilers?

[spidey]

There's actually a thing called a "belly band" - it's a strip of material with velcro on the ends, and you wrap it around their belly, over the "offending area" ;), it keeps them from relieving themselves (lots of people in apartments use them on their dogs to avoid accidents in the elevator, and some people also use them for housetraining). They only work on males, obviously, but they're the same idea as underwear, only probably a bit easier to put on and take off. You could probably make one in five minutes. Here's a picture of one on a Yorkie.

[Carina43]

I've heard of those! I think I've actually seen them at Pets Supplies Plus.
Dutch would sulk for days...maybe he'd like a camo one. :) Funny, I've associated those with little bitty dogs who I understand can be much harder to housetrain. And these are on a Yorkie site. ;)

I'm going to try the underwear idea first...I'll see if Mick's will fit him. :D
I actually just let the dogs out for a nightime pee. I let Cooper & Daphne out first, then let Dutch into the rest of the house and lurked in the kitchen to see if he would hike his leg, but he didn't.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Sorry Carina, I have nothing to add...

But....

Originally Posted by Carina43

I'm going to try the underwear idea first...I'll see if Mick's will fit him. :D

Pictures please!!!

:D:D:D
Brooke

[ACERSMOM]

Great ideas! I have to remember these for future reference as I do not have this problem with my boy now, but you never know with the next one.

[mmilard]

I don't have that problem when at home. But when we go to..let's just say PetSmart...Jager goes nuts down the isles!! Especially the dog food isle! He is constantly tring to raise his leg on the bags of dog food..but never on the kind that he eats. Wonder why?

Anyways..where do you get one of those velcro thingies?? Would it work on them when you take them out of "their" enviornment?

[Brooke&Ryan]

Just search on Google under "belly bands." I found a lot of websites like this one: HERE

:)
Brooke

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by spidey

There's actually a thing called a "belly band" - it's a strip of material with velcro on the ends, and you wrap it around their belly, over the "offending area" ;), it keeps them from relieving themselves (lots of people in apartments use them on their dogs to avoid accidents in the elevator, and some people also use them for housetraining). They only work on males, obviously, but they're the same idea as underwear, only probably a bit easier to put on and take off. You could probably make one in five minutes. Here's a picture of one on a Yorkie.

I got one of these for one of the old men. I found them CHEAP on ebay from a woman who makes them. You put in a womans sanitary napkin, strap it on and no more marking. This old fart was a major pain to house break and now and then he will go into "its ok to mark the house mode" so we get this little beauty out and problem solved.
Good luck Carina, these boys can be so frustrating sometimes!