Dogs mark the territory with urine for many different reasons: to protect the territory, to attract companions or because they feel scared and anxious. It is not a reaction of anger, jealousy, spite or anything like that. Nor is it a problem of poor training in the use of the litter box or in respecting the times / places of pee; in reality it is an instinctive behavior that occurs when the animal reaches sexual maturity. It is very difficult to correct, precisely because it is an instinct. However, there are ways to reduce the number of episodes and sometimes eliminate them completely. You will have to reaffirm your position as "pack leader", implement preventive measures, reduce the dog's anxiety and try to understand the potential causes of this behavior.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Being Pack Leader
Step 1. Understand the territorial nature of the dog
The dog is an animal that by instinct binds itself to its territory, and one of its priorities is to structure and protect the herd, its properties and its space. Much of this "task" is done by claiming dominance through the demarcation with urine. Within its territory there are places that it wants to protect in a particular way, for example the place where it loves most to eat and the kennel. When "the dog animal" becomes domestic, it must find a compromise between its instinct to dominate the territory and the fact that its space is not nature, but a home. For this reason the dog's living space is your home, garden, park and all the other places where it goes regularly, even the road it usually takes with you on your walks.
- It is very common for a dog to "mark" a spot already marked by another dog to claim the territory as its own.
- The fact that he has territorial behavior in your home and that he marks it with urine means two things: a) the dog believes that the objects or places he bathes "belong" to him and / or b) he believes that such places or objects are in threatened or besieged, usually by a human or other pet.
- In addition, marking the space with urine is an effective means that the animal uses to delimit it, to claim and protect it without having to challenge any dog who sniffs or enters it.
- Another aspect to consider is that the dog bathes a new environment with urine so that it "feels like home" and to cover odors that are not familiar to him.
- Anticipate and block this behavior before it occurs when you see your dog lifting his paw to urinate, especially on vertical surfaces, new objects, or around doors and windows. Female dogs also raise their paws to mark their territory.
Step 2. Get to know the other functions of marking
It seems to be a means of strengthening the instinctive hierarchy within the herd and to make other individuals understand when they are ready to mate. The specimens that belong to a herd communicate with each other and with the other herds mainly through the sense of smell. The smell of urine is able to provide information on the sex of the dog, its identity and its reproductive status thanks to pheromones. Inside a house, the animal claims ownership of objects (especially new ones) and spaces by spraying them with urine. He also does this when he is feeling anxious, such as when a baby is born, a new pet arrives, or is in conflict with other animals.
- Males are more likely to define their own space than females, furthermore in non-castrated ones this behavior occurs with a frequency greater than 50-60% compared to castrates.
- Marking by a female dog is rarer and occurs mostly during heat. Despite this, even the sterilized ones sometimes wet the house with urine.
- Dominant or very active dogs tend to mark their territory a lot because, if they were in a pack, it would be their way of threatening an intruder. The more timid ones do it just as often, especially on the objects they are most attached to, to calm anxiety.
- Experts agree that the best method to limit this behavior is to castrate or sterilize the animal. In order for the surgery to be really effective in this sense, it should be performed before the dog reaches sexual maturity, that is, by six months of age.
- When the specimens that mark the territory a lot are not castrated until maturity, then it is also necessary to intervene with behavioral training.
Step 3. Become the pack leader
Aside from neutering or spaying your furry friend, this is the single most important thing you can do to make him stop getting wet in the house. Dogs need a strong leader who teaches them the right behaviors, rules, boundaries and boundaries so they can achieve mental balance. They need a leader to protect them. If you do not impose yourself as an "alpha animal", then you are telling your dog that the responsibility for protecting the territory you share with him is his; this increases his fear and insecurity and prompts him to urinate indoors.
- A pack leader establishes his authority over his space by demanding that the dog obey his commands, looking him in the eye and maintaining consistency in correcting his territorial behaviors.
- You must not punish him after he has marked an object with urine. The dog only lives in the present, so if you punish him for tampering earlier, he will think that you are berating him for the behavior he is having at that specific moment.
- You will need to know the members of his pack, as a friend, guide and guardian, so you can identify and meet the needs of your pet.
- You have to be steadfast, firm, calm and confident; all of which will help the dog feel safe.
- You will need to strengthen your position by satisfying his need to be active. Since dogs were bred to hunt and protect the flock, you need to give your dog something to do, like play fetch or Frisbee, go for a walk and so on.
- You must emphasize your authority by requiring the dog to wait for you with a calm and submissive attitude before eating, before going out for a walk, before a game, etc.
Method 2 of 4: Exclude Other Reasons
Step 1. Check for a health problem
Dogs tend to mark the territory even when they are not well, for example your four-legged friend could have a urinary or bladder infection; it could also be a reaction to drugs, an incontinence problem or other medical conditions. If you notice that your pet urinates very quickly or more frequently than normal, take him to the vet.
Step 2. Address behavioral problems
The dog may have a problem with arousal or submission, especially if he urinates during play, physical contact, greetings, or during reprimands and corrective attitudes. If this is the case with your pet, then you will notice that it often curls up and shivers, rolls onto its stomach, tucks its head between its shoulders, looks away and lowers its ears. Manage this behavior problem by greeting your dog outside the home and then ignoring him until he calms down when he enters the house. Finally order him to sit down while you look to the side and crouch down to greet him.
Also, caress him only under the chin or on the chest, keep the excitement level of the game low and prefer contact with toys and objects to physical contact
Step 3. Determine if he has been properly trained in home life
His behavior could be generated by the fact that he does not know how and when to fulfill his needs. If this is your dog's problem, start feeding him on a specific schedule and don't leave him food available outside meals. Take it out often and never lose sight of it when you are at home to avoid accidents. Remember to always take him to the same place outdoors to make him fulfill his physiological needs, and reward him for evacuating outside the house.
- Clap your hands hard to surprise him - but without frightening him - if you catch him urinating in the house.
- You can also teach him to do his toilet in a dog litter box or on paper if he is a dog with mobility problems.
Step 4. Determine if you have separation anxiety
Sometimes, the dog marks the territory because he suffers from this behavioral problem; you can tell if he shows nervousness or agitation just before you leave the house. To help him, use a "reverse conditioning" approach, so as to create a positive association with the fact that you leave. For example, you can give him a challenging toy or treat before going out. You should also decrease the time you leave it alone, at first, and then gradually dilate it. You can also teach him that when you take your keys, purse and briefcase or wear your coat (all clues that you are leaving), in reality you are not always leaving the house.
- You can demonstrate it: a) by carrying out one of these actions (for example taking the keys) and then staying at home, b) by implementing a virtual "separation" in which you do not physically leave the house, but move to an area of the house where the dog cannot see or reach you (for example, leave him in a room with the door closed for a while), c) keeping calm when you leave or come home.
- You can also desensitize him to fear by making him feel low impact feelings of loneliness, for example you can take him to work with you, ask someone to dog-sit while you are away, take him to a daycare for dogs or provide him with lots of physical stimulation. and mental through exercise, play, toys and so on. These are all strategies that reduce his stress.
- If that doesn't work, he may need to be given anxiolytics.
Method 3 of 4: Take Preventive Measures
Step 1. Use positive reinforcement
When you "catch him in the act", interrupt him with a firm "no" or clap your hands, take him outside and praise him for having fulfilled his needs outside the home. Surprising him during wrong behavior and correcting it immediately is very effective. Remember that punishments do not work because you cannot scold the dog until the damage is done (so it becomes a past act) and the animal is unable to associate your reaction with an event that has now ended, for this reason it will believe that you are. punishing not for having marked the territory, but for what he is doing at that precise moment. Furthermore, his is not a behavior of disobedience or spite.
Step 2. Reduce social causes
Exciting social situations lead the dog to define its territory with urine. Try to avoid contact between males and females in heat, as well as not go to friends' houses where there are other male dogs that have marked their space.
Step 3. Restrict access to objects that he often wets
Keep hanging the objects that push him to mark the territory; they could be new purchases, the personal items of a visiting stranger, or things that you own that he associates with negative feelings. Also, do not allow access to the house and garden to other dogs that may urinate: this would stimulate yours to claim the whole territory again.
Step 4. Prevent him from getting to doors and windows
A dog often urinates on these items when he sees another dog outside the home. If you can't stop him from reaching the doors and windows, keep other dogs from entering your property. You can set up a fence, ask the neighbor to keep your pet away if this is the problem, plant a hedge or thorny plants around the perimeter of the garden, keep it clean of your pet's droppings, keep the food and litter bowl. water at home or store them in a raised place when not in use. Remember not to leave standing water that could attract other animals, and place a wire mesh with 2 to 3 cm mesh on the newly sown ground to discourage other dogs from digging.
Step 5. Use physical barriers to stop this behavior
Dogs urinate indoors, so you may want to put it in the carrier when you are not at home. You can also place the pet carrier or bed over a spot that is usually spraying with urine. The dog does not urinate where he sleeps, and this may be a trick to prevent him from wetting certain areas.
Other similar techniques consist in placing the bowl of food and water where it is usual to mark the territory. If you have the impression that this method works, feed it in that corner of the house for two weeks, then move the bowls to another problem area or to the original place
Step 6. Arrange treats in places and near objects your faithful friend tends to wet
If he is particularly prone to urinating on a specific item like your shoes (which may absorb odors from unfamiliar places or other dogs when you use them outside the home), then consider putting treats around these. Your dog will associate your shoes and storage place with a food source and not with an urge to urinate.
Step 7. Make areas it has already marked unsightly or inaccessible
Try putting double-sided tape in these areas, an overturned vinyl runner (so that the rough side is facing upwards) or small pitfalls. You can also consider feeding him sweets and playing with him in these places, to establish a positive association. All this allows you to make such spaces unpleasant to mark.
Step 8. Clean up where the dog has soiled
This is of fundamental importance, because the animal is attracted to the areas it has already marked or that have been marked by another visiting specimen. However, masking the smell is not enough; if possible, immerse the object or wet the surface with a specific enzymatic detergent and wait for it to dry. Do not use products that contain ammonia, because the urine contains ammonia and the dog will be attracted to it.
- Use a fan or hair dryer to speed up the drying process, and do not allow the dog to enter the area in the meantime.
- If you are trying to clean the carpet that covers an entire room, perhaps you will need to remove it from the floor and replace the soft underlay.
Step 9. Provide him with places he can mark
If you can't stop this behavior, train your dog to spray only certain areas or objects, such as a tree or a fake fire hydrant. Take him to a place or show him an object that he usually marks; then take him immediately to the "authorized" area. Wait for him to urinate and then reward him with praise or a treat.
Don't stop him from marking territory as you walk. This would frustrate him and encourage him to bathe more indoors
Method 4 of 4: Preventing Anxiety
Step 1. Remember that canine anxiety is one of the major causes of territorial demarcation
There are many causes of anxiety that push a dog to urinate: new objects or people, new environment, separation from you or other family members, conflicts with other pets in the house and so on. Furthermore, territorial behavior triggered by anxiety is characterized by a greater production of urine: for this reason the dog tends to spray horizontal surfaces.
Step 2. Resolve conflicts with other pets
If the dog and another animal have lived together for quite a while and simply do not get along, then you should contact a certified animal behaviorist, a veterinarian specializing in canine psychology or a qualified dog trainer. You probably won't be able to resolve the conflict on your own.
Do some research online to find the professional closest to your home
Step 3. Be very careful about introducing new pets into the house
Their presence could worsen the dog's territorial behavior. Also you have to introduce the new arrival in a controlled manner and slowly; the technique to follow depends on the type of animal you have decided to take.
- If it is another dog, present it to the "pack" in a neutral space that no one considers as "their territory". Talk to your "animal family" in a happy, positive tone when the various members sniff each other (if you notice aggressive behavior, don't allow them to sniff each other for too long). Finally, grab their attention and reward them when they obey a command like "sit" or "stop". When finished, take everyone for a walk together (while continuing to praise and reward them).
- If it is a cat, get the dog to meet him for the first time in the house. Then separate them for a couple of days, and then once again allow them to move freely and familiarize themselves with their respective smells. The next step is to get them into the same room, with the dog on a leash, until they calm down or ignore each other. After about a month, when you are sure they will not stick together, you can leave them together without the need for supervision.
Step 4. Introduce a new child into the home
The dog may consider it an intruder, just as if it were another pet. Choose a quiet room to introduce the baby to the dog and sit with your baby in your arms. Have another person lead the dog on a leash into the room while talking to him in a reassuring and happy voice. If you notice a relaxed attitude of the dog, then bring him close to the child and let him smell his feet for a few seconds (if he wishes), talking to him softly. Finally, praise the animal and order it to sit or lie down on the ground, rewarding it with a sweet.
Repeat this procedure several times before asking your helper to distract the dog with a Kong bone or toy stuffed with food and before letting everyone sit in peace in the same room
Step 5. Carefully introduce an adult to the dog
Dogs often perceive a new roommate, guest, or visitor as an intruder attempting to invade their territory, and may even attempt to urinate on the person's objects. The best thing for them to make friends is to have the new person feed the dog, brush him and play with him in order to establish a bond. Both you - the pack leader - and the new person should use positive reinforcement, praising and rewarding the animal when it behaves in a friendly manner.
Keep the new guest's personal items high to prevent the dog from splashing them with urine
Step 6. Try a synthetic hormone diffuser, collar, or spray
There are devices that emit tranquilizing synthetic pheromones that mimic those secreted by a nursing mother. They are very useful for helping the animal to relax.
- This device should be used in the room that the dog uses or brands the most. Plug it into an electrical outlet, it works for about a month.
- You should spray the pheromones 15 minutes before taking the dog into the room. One delivery is effective for about an hour and a half.
- The collar device, on the other hand, is used like a normal collar and must be changed every month. Cut the excess length once you have fixed it.
Step 7. Give your dog some anxiolytics
They should be used as a last resort, and you can only get them by prescription from your vet. You should combine them with behavioral training because, alone, they are not able to solve the problem that generates the dog's anxiety. It is also a short-term therapy.
Advice
- If, when you return home, you notice that your dog has marked its territory with urine, just clean it. Do not take him to the "place of the crime" yelling at him and rubbing his face in the urine. He will not be able to associate the punishment with urinating and you will make him feel insecure and fearful.
- If you've tried everything to stop this behavior without getting results, see a dog behaviorist. You can do some research online about it.
- Finding why your dog is being pushed to mark territory will help you manage, reduce, and perhaps eliminate the problem. Take notes or create a table that can help you trace the events that led to this behavior, and write down where and when he messed up to find connections.
