Marking Territory

[nightwatch]

After I got my Charlie we took him to the vets and before I got a chance to stop him he marked his territory twice before we left. I know this was purely instinct so just tried to stop him and told him no. Rather embarrissing (sp?) for me. The vet told me maybe if we got him nutered he would be less inclined to do that. He doesn't pee in our home, I know it was just because he didn't reconise that other buildings are not the outside. Isn't there another way around this? I don't find this a good enough reason to nuter him. The question of whether we are going to stud him or not isn't important. The point is I want a different solution to stopping him marking his territory in places he shouldn't besides nutering him. Any suggestions?? Thanks ahead of time -

[TrinityRun]

Charlie sounds like any typical, intact male dog that goes to the vet. He was simply doing as many have done before him in the same spot. It's his, "Charlie was here" stamp. Completely understandable given the circumstances and nothing to worry over.

How old is he? And if you are not interested in breeding him (which is another subject in itself) then why not neuter him?

[MARYDVM]

I'd say this happens at least once a day in every clinic in the country. Since you know your dog will do this, next trip to the vet walk him around the parking lot a few times before going in so he can do some marking outside. Once inside, watch him like a hawk and as soon as he starts to turn sidewise to a wall or doorway, correct him forcefully. Although it may be normal canine behavior,it can be frustating for the clinic staff to watch a dog empty his bladder on the wall while the owner stands there oblivious to everything.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

I think the point is exactly is he stud quality or not. If the answer is no the best you can do for your dog is to have him neutered. When I first got my male my friend had a male also we would visit each other to social the dogs and finally I had to ask him to stop coming over because as soon as he came in the house he started marking and finally we stopped going to their house for the same reason. When we walked in the door his dog would mark the couch.

My male was neutered so we didn't have that problem. Plus their are health benefits that come with neutering.

[Carol Burke]

Training is definately the answer. I have an almost six years old intact dog who is used at stud. He marked in Pets Mart once and was so ashamed when I corrected him that the problem stopped. He doesn't mark my house, anyone else's house or any inappropriate place.

[Mick Trainer]

Lisa S, Great responce http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif.

I to feel that fixing these sort of problems is better fixed with training. If you don't want to neuter your dog then train him not do these things. As said before have him under your control when at the Vets.

Mick.

[Rrowl]

My Neutered male, still tries to mark territory at the vets and anywhere else! IE..Trees, telephone poles....He has never done it in my own home thankgoodness, nor at anyone elses.

[nightwatch]

Thank you for your opions and ideas. I just felt his marking his territory wasn't a good enough reason to get nutered. I did walk him around before we went in and he did go outside. It wasn't that he had to go. He was almost 2 at the time. I guess my training list of things to train got a little bit longer.
On the other note of why not just nuter him is getting rid of the symtom(sp)not the problem. I would like him to stay intact. I haven't traced his roots yet, but what if I want to show him. I have my personal reasons why I don't want to also. Things may change, but at this time I feel it isn't nessary.

[LisaS]

I don't care for neutering to fix this - neutering is to prevent pregnancies if your dog would otherwise be able to get to a female.
You can teach your dog a command like "not there" - practice it outside on walks - I try to teach no hard surfaces - no signs, poles, mailboxes, etc. Then when you are at the vet, or visiting, or at PetSmart - while watching your dog like a hawk you can curtail his instincts with "not there". Also at the vet - if you are taking care of business at the desk - he should be under a command like sit or down and not just standing around sniffing. If you are walking down the aisle, ask him to "heel" and not just walk--no marking while heeling. etc. he can learn when it is OK to mark and when it is not. You just have to teach him.

[Chuck]

It is interesting that many of the women, that responded, are in favour of neutering. Do you husbands/boyfriends now of these urges LOL?

I agree with Mick and Lisa that you need to keep your dog under control when walking in the vets office. You have to condition your dog to know that when he is working, which includes heeling, he is not allowed to go to the bathroom.

May vets really try to push spays and neuters. I told my vet that everyone spays and neuters that they would be unemployed. Do not let the the vet talk you into any thing you do not want to do. Neutering the males is not the answer to unwanted litters anyways because one male could conceivably be the father of every litter in town.

[AngelBunny]

Chuck:

I hardly find it surprising that many vets "really try to push spays and neuters".

I imagine that it quickly becomes dreadful, awful work to put down perfectly healthy, loving animals simply because they haven't had the good luck to find a forever home.

[SableMom]

AMEN, AngelBunny.

I work in a vet's office and I KNOW what happens to unwanted pets. The Vet at my office has a full blooded, AKC registered poodle that was brought in to be euthanized because the owners were told by their landlord that they had to get rid of him within 24 hours. She kept him and he has turned into a great pet. If you work in a vet's office and see the unhealthy, unfit dogs and cats (registered and unregistered) that reproduce like clockwork every 6 months you would "push" spays and neuters also.

PS If your dog is not A1 top quality stud with titles and OFA certifications, NEUTER him. How would you like to have it on your conscience that an entire litter of 10-12 rott mixed pups were euthanized at the local shelter because a female dog got close enought to your fence that they mated through it?

These comments are not directed at any person, just a few thoughts about WHY vets push these particular surgeries. As you can tell, I feel very strongly about it myself. I personally bottle raised and placed a litter of 4 husky mixed pups that someone dumped beside the road in a cardboard box before they even had their eyes opened! If I could get my hands on that person .....!

[SARK9Unit]

::raising hand:: Here's a man that recommends neutering!

Ty used to mark all over the place when we first got him (two months ago... he was intact, 11 months old.) He was fixed on his 1 year birthday (whatta gift!).

He's FINALLY stopped marking.. it took a month for the hormones to balance out, and now he doesn't do it anymore... Now keep in mind, he wasn't marking in terms of rainsing his leg with a quick squirt... he was full blown peeing in spots that he had before (even after being soaked in vinegar and completely cleaned up.)

I know there are a ton of people out there that don't want to fix their dogs because it isn't necessary (ie unnecessary surgery, etc.) I can relate to that. I had it done because we live in a small urban area, and the chance of him getting out of the back yard exists... let's face it, there are few backyards that are totally escape proof (I'm including owner error here.)

Another reason was controllabilty... I don't want him to become over-excited when a female is around.

oh... another thing... it was in the contract from the Humane Society that we had to. And since it was free, it all pointed to it being the wisest thing to do!

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Benjamin - New London, CT
Dad to Ty(Rottie)1year, Maggie(PitbullX)3years, and Cleo(GSD)11years.