Marking can be triggered by hormonal changes as dogs reach puberty and dogs begin to communicate their availability for breeding. Social changes, such as a new dog in the neighborhood, a new person in the home, or a change in the relationship with another dog or person within the home, can trigger marking.
It's an instinctual, physical response called submissive urination, and it's normal in young dogs. Submissive urination typically happens whenever a dog feels excited, shy, anxious, or scared. It also happens when a dog wants to acknowledge another's dominance — like recognizing you as their owner.
For most dogs, urine marking usually begins around the time they reach sexual maturity, which can be between 6 and 12 months of age, depending on the size and breed of dog.
Scent marking is a very normal and common behavior, particularly in male dogs, but it becomes a big problem when marking occurs in your house. Dogs mark to advertise their presence and to claim territory and resources.
Your dog feels the need to assert his dominance or ease his anxiety by laying out his boundaries. He does this by depositing small amounts of urine on anything he feels belongs to him—the furniture, the walls, your socks, etc. Urine-marking is most often associated with male dogs, but females may do it, too.
Male dogs and some female dogs often lift a leg when they urine mark. Most urine marks contain only a small volume of urine. In contrast, routine urination is done to empty the bladder—we all need bathroom breaks.
In many cases, male dogs that are neutered stop urine marking within weeks to months of the procedure. Female dogs that are spayed almost always stop the behavior. However, behavior modification is often needed as well.
According to the North American Veterinary Community, as many as 50% of male dogs stop urine marking, or at least do it significantly less often, after being neutered. What is this? Dogs usually begin urine marking when they start to reach sexual maturity.
Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, just clean it up. Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking them to the spot and scolding them or any other punishment will only make them afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Punishment will do more harm than good.
Many (but not all) dogs hate the smell of citrus, so using citrus smells like citronella, lemongrass, lemon, and even bergamot can repel some dogs from an area. You can use these smells in scented candles or sprays to see if it keeps your dog away from an area where you don't want them peeing.
Sometimes dogs use urine to mark objects, including your bed. Studies have shown dogs don't mark to claim territory, it's more like graffiti that says, “I was here.” So, they aren't telling you the bed belongs to them but are more likely adding their scent to a communal space.
Neutering is a reasonably safe process; however, you can expect sharp changes in your dog's attitude right when you bring them home from the procedure. These side effects can range from increased aggression, depression, anxiety, or even clinginess; however, they only last for a short amount of time.
If you do catch them in the act of marking, you should make a loud noise to startle them and then take them outside and reward the correct behavior. If you do not catch your dog in the act and find the accident later, then it is extremely important that you do not punish your dog.
Your dog's instinct is to establish its dominance in its environment. The scent left by the dog's urine announces to other dogs that it has been in the area and staked a claim. When another dog finds the scent, that dog may mark the same spot with its own scent and cover up the earlier scent.
Please also bear in mind that marking is normal dog behaviour and we should never punish our dogs for it. Instead take steps to reduce it by ensuring your dog has a stress-free, healthy life and lots of opportunities for learning and fun.
Your pet may be urine-marking if:
The amount of urine is small and is found primarily on vertical surfaces. Dogs and cats do sometimes mark on horizontal surfaces. Leg-lifting and spraying are common versions of urine-marking, but even if your pet doesn't assume these postures, he may still be urine-marking.
Q: When I walk my dog, he seems to save up urine to mark his territory. Is this even possible? A: Not only is it possible, it's more than likely exactly what he's doing. I know it seems as though dogs shouldn't really be able to think like this, but our canine friends are remarkably wise – or at least instinctive.
Not only will a vinegar and water solution eliminate urine odor if your dog has already peed on the rug, but it will also deter them from urinating on the same carpet again. The acidic smell of vinegar is known to repel dogs from peeing on area rugs as they do not like the smell of vinegar.
Peroxide works well at removing the chance of a stain as well as the odor, but it should not be used on certain fabrics or dyes. A dab of dishwashing liquid (the kind you use in the sink, not the dishwasher) mixed with water can do a good job on these fresh marks as well.
Use an Enzymatic Cleaner to Stop Marking Inside
Use an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of all stains and odor, and prevent them from using a certain spot as their 'go-to' marking area. Preventing them from smelling their own urine is a simple way how to stop a dog from marking in the house.
The reason puppies hold on outside and then pee immediately once they get back in is that the house is their happy place and the yard is not. As soon as they come inside, their parasympathetic tone increases and only then do they feel the urge to urinate. Your job is simple in theory: make outside a happy place too.