what to use to keep 5 yr old dog from "marking" in the house?
by
Deb C
+15
have tried bleach, vinegar-on his favorite spots not on him!!-- and scolding him but nothing has worked so far!!! He has a doggie door with access to it at all times.
18 answers
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Don't think scolding will do much, and dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than we do, as you know, so vinegar might not mask their smell as much as you think. I would get specially formulated pet odor eliminator from a pet supply store. Also, the Humane Society has a bunch of other good tips here: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/prevent_urine_marking.html
3po3
on Apr 21, 2012
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If you go to Petco or PetSmart (or probably any other large pet supply store like those), they carry sprays called (I think) "No Mark" or "No Spray" or something like that. You spray the stuff where he likes to mark his territory and he should stop. Also, has he been neutered? After a cat or dog has been Spayed or Neutered, they usually will stop marking. He is still relatively young, so if you haven't gotten him neutered yet, you should look into doing that. Not only will you help keep the population of strays down, but it may help your problem with your dogs marking. Him marking doesn't have anything with him having to go to the bathroom...the accessability to the doggie door isn't the problem. Marking is his way of claiming dominance and ownership. Good luck and keep us posted!
Nyomi R
on Apr 22, 2012
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you can also begin some "training" we found a squirt bottle to be an effective deterrent...with a big NO.
KMS Woodworks
on Apr 22, 2012
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Thanks for your suggestions Steve and Nyomi. He has been neutered since he was a puppy and I have tried all the sprays and suggestions from the humane society as well.....He is very dominant--we also have a 4 year old female--but they are the best of friends. Thanks for your suggestions anyway!!!
Deb C
on Apr 22, 2012
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Wow. Not sure what else to suggest. Good luck and let us know if something works for you.
3po3
on Apr 22, 2012
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What exactly is he marking? Is there any way to wash these items or if they are part of the house, sand them and repaint them to 100% get rid of his smell? If he can't smell is odor anymore, you may be able to start "fresh" in the training. Now knowing that there is a female in the house, it makes more sense. He is definitely claiming Alpha. Have you talked to your vet? He/she might have some suggestions too. Once you have removed his smell from all of his marking spots, you can try immedietely spraying the "No Mark" spray on them. But you have to follow the directions to a "T" for it to work. Good luck and keep us posted!
Nyomi R
on Apr 25, 2012
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Deb C, when my dog found a place to use as his personal pooping area I tried all types of powders & chemicals to keep him away but he kept going back to the same place even though the dogs had a doggy door. Luckily this was a large area rug that I had professionally cleaned and the problem stopped.
Sherrie S
on Apr 25, 2012
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Our dog is 6 years old and has never been properly potty-trained. We finally achieved 90% success by letting her out to pee very frequently -- like every two hours or even more often. She learned gradually that outside, not inside, was the place to pee. We let her out last thing before we leave and first thing when we come home, so that she knows to wait for us before she can pee. It's also important for us to watch for signs that she needs to go out -- whether it's scratching at the door or even just walking up to us with a look that we have learned to read as "I need to go out."
Melissa G
on Apr 25, 2012
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Melissa G, Deb C & I both have doggie doors which allow the dogs to go in and out as necessary or as they please. Training them to the door is simple but something else happened to a 5 year old dog with a doggie door than has now chosen the house as the potty.
Sherrie S
on Apr 25, 2012
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thanks Sherrie!! He does go out most of the time. Just his way of saying"i'm top dog" when he does mark. Thankfully it's always on a wipe and cleanable area!!! He does know when I get mad at him for doing it too cause he always slinks away.
Deb C
on Apr 27, 2012
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My daughters Yorkie is very stubborn.. he is old and set in his ways. he continues to mark my bathroom, my living room carpet and dining room. I want to strangle him since i have a little girl who plays on the ground all the time with her toys.. I too have tried everything but it seems it doesn't matter to this little creature....
Michal Teora
on Sep 30, 2013
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Try having him wear a belly band over his man parts. if he urinates, it will get on himself and he wont like that very much. The rescue I got my dog from suggested that if my boy dog wouldn't stop marking in the house, I lucked out and he did with lots of potty breaks. You can get them at PetCo and such or make your own, most are washable.
Katie
on Dec 11, 2013
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I was going to say the same thing as Katie...a belly band. But you need to use it as a training tool.
Sherrie
on Dec 11, 2013
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My chihuahuas were 6 months in training..our Doberman was around 9 weeks...I just had to watch him. He would go to the door without saying anything. If I did not watch he would do his business at the door. Then he would stand in front of you and stare...lol. By the time he was 3 months old he was going to the door and scratching. I have never seen a dog so easy to train...and no hollering or punishing. Just a Good Boy after he went out, and a treat. You have to be aware...take them out every couple hours and bring them right back in when they accomplish their business and lots of praise. Praise I think is the trick..hollering at dogs can only make them nervous which will only make them more apt to go in their house.
Terra Gazelle
on Feb 15, 2015
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My chihuahuas were 6 months in training, they have a pet door. Our Doberman was around 9 weeks...I just had to watch him. He would go to the door without saying anything. If I did not watch he would do his business at the door. Then he would stand in front of you and stare...lol. By the time he was 3 months old he was going to the door and scratching. I have never seen a dog so easy to train...and no hollering or punishing. Just a Good Boy after he went out, and a treat. He does not have a pet door, he is a Warlock Doberman and would use the size of our door.You have to be aware...take them out every couple hours and bring them right back in when they accomplish their business and lots of praise. Praise I think is the trick..hollering at dogs can only make them nervous which will only make them more apt to go in their house.
Terra Gazelle
on Feb 15, 2015
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By "marking" you do mean peeing everywhere? What kind of dog is it?
Grady
on Feb 17, 2015
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I have fostered rescue dogs for many years and my dog was a puppy mill stud for 9 years. Many wont stop marking, it is instinct with them. Belly bands, spray bottles and a can of pennies to shake when you catch them marking. It takes diligence and time. Others dogs in the house make it worse. They are dominate dogs and must show the other dogs. You might try some dominance behavior over him so he learns you are the leader of the pack (think Cesar Milan) As for my own 5lb maltese he is a pro. I never see him do it. I know he will never stop so I scrub his spots with Odor-ban. The only place I know you can get it is at Sams Club. Its cheap and works.
Margaret
on Apr 23, 2015
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I adopted a rescue dog that was over two yrs. old and not housebroken. For two months I slept on the floor and he slept in a chair. When he got up in the night I took him outside every time to pee. He still marked the same areas during the day and after trying every cleaner on the market, I used "Urine Gone" which worked. Yeah! No more marking.
Connie Phillips
on Apr 23, 2015
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