Dog Marking his (new) Territory

toadfly

Hi Guys,

just wondering how to train a new male dog not to mark his territory? We got a lovely little yorkie yesterday from Ashton (thanks to everyone there!) and he had drops left all over the house! Also he is humping his new bed goodo! We will be getting him neutered but not for a few weeks, would that even stop him doing this?

Any tips? Thanks..:D

lorebringer

Congratulations on your new dog! He has only been in your house for a day so give him some time to settle in, this will curb the marking (usually does after a while because he can smell himself around the place and doesn't have the compulsion anymore). Neutering will definitely help with the marking too. To help to get him out of the habit, a firm "no" when he does it and isolation for a few minutes, maybe in the back garden (while you clean up!), will show him that is is not ok to do it. Also, taking him out every hour to empty his bladder will prevent lots of pee in the house. Invest in a good enzyme cleaner (more pet stores will sell this) to get rid of any trace of pee in the house so that he cannot smell it and think it is ok to go in the same place again. Biological washing powder, a dilute solution, will do the same job.

Just a quick unrelated note - keep an eye (and ear) out for Kennel Cough, the pound can be riddled with it and it's very contagious.

Any photos?

Toulouse

Neutering will help with the marking and also the humping so I would get him done asap but in both cases you do need to make sure that he knows that the behaviour is is not on. You may have to go back to basics with his house training.

Make sure you clean the spots he has marked with biological washing powder and not bleach as bleach contains ammonia and will only encourage him to return to the spot.

Agree with lorebringer and also please keep a close eye on him and bring him for his vaccinations and a vet check as soon as you can.

toadfly

Thanks for the replies, we are just home from the groomers and vets he is a different dog after his haircut. He was badly matted so he is baldy now!

Very sweet natured dog though not a growl out of him at the groomers or the vets. He is in good health no fleas, has a skin infection which is pretty bad so we got special shampoo have to wash him twice a week. Got flea and worm treatment as well.

She said it was better not to vacinate him for a few weeks until he is feeling better and has put on some weight. So he is booked in for 2 weeks time. I will post up some before and after pics tomorrow. He is conked out on the couch now.

toadfly

some before & after pics of Ozzie...

kildara

Wow, what a difference. What have you done with the hairy dog in the first two pics?!!

LisaO

Oh, he is very cute!

I'm sure you will find that neutering will help a lot with the marking problem. Our JRT was always guilty of doing this but we had it pretty much under control until our lab joined the household & then he marked everything & anything all the time. We had both dogs neutered around the same time (JRT was 9 years old) & it eradicated a long-term, ingrained habit, so I'm sure you will see a big difference in your little guy!

toadfly

Thanks Lisa, we are hoping to get him neutured sooner rather than later. Back to the vets this evening, think he has kennel cough poor mite has been through a lot. Hopefully in a week or two he will be well on the mend.

I know he looks so different! He must have been very uncomfortable the way his hair was.

RWH88

Leave him the way he is!

toadfly

RWH88 wrote: »

Leave him the way he is!

Why do you say that?