About Stop Indoor Dog Marking

Dog marking is a natural behavior, but it can mean ruined carpeting and more pet expenses. Dogs usually mark when they are claiming their territory. Because they rely heavily on their senses, they want to make sure that other dogs and animals know that a certain area belongs to them. Stopping your dog from marking indoors is a challenge, but if you follow some simple steps, you can prevent your dog from continuing this inappropriate behavior.

  1. Significance

    • To stop the indoor marking, you have to determine what caused this behavior to start in the first place. Did you bring another animal into the home? Or maybe you have a newborn and are unable to spend as much quality time with your pet. Sometimes if you have had a friend's animal over just to visit, it can make your dog feel threatened. So think about what has recently happened to cause this behavior. Although you cannot remove your new pet or baby from the household, you can find common ground.

    Time Frame

    • Once a certain smell is in your soft fabrics, your dog will almost always pick up on it. After you have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected your carpet, it could be a matter of minutes before your dog marks its territory again. For a temporary fix until you can determine why your dog has acquired a liking to this certain area, block the area with a baby gate so it's out of the dog's reach. If you are unable to do this, use a dog repellent instead. Dog repellent can be found at pet stores, and it comes in a spray bottle so you can spray a fine mist over the places that are off limits to your dog. For reinforcement, when your pet tries to check these areas out, make sure to say "no" so the dog gets used to avoiding these areas.

    Misconceptions

    • Indoor marking can be mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI). It could be that your dog has a UTI, which can easily be treated by your veterinarian. In cases that you're unsure whether the inappropriate behavior is territorial or accidental, seek a veterinarian's advice. Similar to people, dogs with a UTI will urinate frequently and sometimes will only be able to urinate in small amounts. In severe cases, you might notice blood in the urine.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Veterinarians may suggest a mood-enhancing drug to help your dog forget about marking. While this method is useful, you should consider healthier and natural ways to combat the issue first. Bach's Rescue Remedy is a safe alternative to drugs, and it can prevent your dog from feeling anxious, territorial and aggressive. If a new pet or person is in your home, you need to create a calm and peaceful environment. Using this flower essence mixture can alleviate the dog's stress and make it more comfortable. The dog should be introduced to the new pet or person only during supervised sessions for small amounts of time. These sessions should be positive by using treats and praising. After a while the dog will acquire a positive association with the new person or pet and will no longer have a need to mark its territory.

    Warning

    • If your dog has become aggressive toward the new pet or person, you need to combat this issue immediately before someone gets hurt. The dog needs to know that you are the pack leader, so you need to show your authority and not allow the dog to take over your home. Putting a muzzle on your dog during certain times of the day can help the dog remain calm and resist aggression. Also, always make sure you go outside first before your dog because this reinforces the fact that you are the pack leader.