HELP!!! Young dog marking territory - everywhere

Tnavas

Tnavas

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 October 2005
Messages
8,479
Location
New Zealand but from UK
Visit site
Please can anyone help me? My young dog has just learnt to cock his leg and now he is marking territory everywhere.

He is just six months old, entire, he's a cross between Sydney Silky/Maltese Terrier and Long Haired Chihuahua. He's been well house trained for several months and never has an accident indoors now - even when left at home for several hours.

Last night I was at a friends house and he cocked his leg all around her house. I've also caught him a couple of times at home doing it.

I've had male dogs before and never had this problem. How do I deal with it? I want to be able to take him out without having to worry about this unsociable behaviour.
 
This is a common problem with entire males, when my entire 18month Dobermann did it in our home when a friend visited with her bitch I decided that day to neuter him and arranged it with the vet. He has never done it since and if I take him to other peoples houses I know he will not let me down.
 
Unfortunately neutering at the moment is not an option. He was given to me by the breeder on the understanding that he was not to be neutered as she wanted to use him as a stud dog when he was older.

As I've never experienced this problem with my male dogs before it never even crossed my mind that it could be a problem.

When I've caught him doing it he's been smacked and told off and his doggy expression is that he is most apologetic about his behaviour. He's a very clever little dog so I'm hoping that it won't take long to train him not to do it.

I also have a loaded water pistol handy too!
 
Why would the breeder want to breed from a mongrel, are things different in New Zealand and they have a lack of dogs there unlike the UK where rescues homes are overflowing with pedigree and mixed breed dogs.

I dont think for one minute you will stop him marking and telling him off, smacking and spraying him with a water pistol will just make his life a misery and in my opinion is unacceptable.
 
Dobiegirl said:
Why would the breeder want to breed from a mongrel, are things different in New Zealand and they have a lack of dogs there unlike the UK where rescues homes are overflowing with pedigree and mixed breed dogs.

I dont think for one minute you will stop him marking and telling him off, smacking and spraying him with a water pistol will just make his life a misery and in my opinion is unacceptable.
Click to expand...

The designer mongrel is very popular here in NZ - what once was a give away mixed breed is a very popular and often expensive dog!

Peeing in the house is unacceptable behaviour and is making me miserable as I love this little dog and want to be able to take him ouot with me without worrying that he will pee in someone elses house.

He is a very intellegent dog - can identify by name many different toys - eg - I say "get rabbit" and he will find his rabbit toy and bring it to me, I can then say "Get sheep" and he will fetch his toy sheep. He does this with ball, bone, stick, dolphin, wool, (he raided my knitting basket!) from only 10 weeks old he would come immediately when called, sit, wait and roll over. At the moment we are working on "Bone outside"!

OllyandtheWool006.jpg
 
But he is not peeing in the house he is marking ,2 different behaviours peeing is relieving himself when he has a full bladder and marking is setting out his credentials and a signal to other dogs that this is his. My neutered male does not mark because he no longer has testerone coursing through his body and is no way sexual.

Your dog looks a very sweet dog and is very intelligent but neither is a basis for breeding, as for designer dogs the only thing these dogs are designed for is to part gullible people from their money.

I think you will have to get used to your dog marking here there and everywhere as he just cant help himself. As he gets older if he gets a whiff of a bitch in heat you may have a job to stop him running off.
 
Those 'gullable' people actually want a small dog that they can enjoy. I've never had a small dog before - I've always had spaniels either from puppies or as rescue dogs. This little dog is such fun and if people want a small dog that is a cross breed and they pay good money for it they are more likely to look after it and be committed to its care - giving dogs away to my mind is not good - often people will say yes to a cheap or freeby and then dump them when the novelty wears off.

To get a dog from the SPCA here costs quite a bit of money so hopefully the new owners are committed to owning and caring for a dog. Often the animal has been neutered to prevent more unwanted pups
 
Well there are a lot of gullible people here in the uk parting with their money believing their dog is more healthy than a pedigree dog or being told their dog wont shed their coat only to find the opposite.

If anyone wants a small dog are there not enough small breeds already to cater for all tastes without deliberately breeding mongrels with no health tests to ensure the pup is healthy.

Apart from Dobermanns we also have a small dog a rare breed which is on the kennel clubs vunerable list its a Lancashire Heeler and would fit all your requirements and some. All the Dobes Ive owned have been rescues and cost money to buy, all rescues charge a rehoming fee which covers vaccination,microchipping and neutering or spaying.
 
Possibly there are plenty of small breeds around but often the pure breds have inherited problems associated with the breeding for looks rather than temperemnt and health.

Recently watched a program about Cavelier King Charles Spaniels and the fact that a Crufts champion diagnosed with an inherited disease is still being used as a stud dog!

The breeders of purbreds are often the greedy ones - knowingly breeding from diseased stock and eventually damaging the dogs line.

Anyway - this thread is not about who should or shouldn't breed and what dog owners should buy.

I requested help regarding my dog marking territory and how to stop him doing this in my home. As I said I've had several male dogs over the years and not encountered the problem before and my dogs were not neutered. I also had no problem with them straying to find females in heat. My property is very securly fenced.

So folks out there has anyone got anything constructive to help me with my current problem bearing mind that neutering is not an option. :D
 
Stop smacking him and telling him off. That will not stop him peeing in the house, it will make him try and do out of your eyeline and before you can catch him, it will make him scared and sneaky.
 
Ditto on the castration thing, however my young dog who is castrated and usually full house trained will mark in someone elses house if there is a dog kept there. Any suggestions on what I can do to stop him wanting to do it appreciated. I have to watch him like a hawk if we go anywhere, or leave him in the car/garden, so not very nice for any of us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top