Any good cures for a dog that "marks?"

[Longhorn]

My favorite dog, Buddy, the white lab mix, will lift his leg and mark anytime there's something left on the floor, like my backpack or a laundry basket or a shopping bag. He also marks the couch, wastebasket, etc. -- things that are always there. We have four dogs, three males and a female, all of whom have been neutered/spayed for years. I clean it up as soon as I notice and have tried spraying with one of those sprays that's supposed to aid in housekeeping but it doesn't seem to work.

By the way, we know it's Buddy because Sparky squats when he pees, even though he's a male, and Brutus, the dachshund, is too short to reach some of the heights we've seen of the stream. Plus, we've caught Buddy in the act a couple of times. He's fully housebroken otherwise.

Thanks for your advice!

[medeak]

1. am going through this

however dog is not neutered and vet said that was the cause... female hormones may help he said... as dog was too old to change behavior by neutering.

However mine is doing it due to separation anxiety and found great website with info on helping that. getting dog used to absence.. ie getting keys out and sitting down for awhile.. walking out the door and coming back in.

[Longhorn]

2. I just came up from cleaning up another leak!

Years ago, we took out all the carpet in the living areas downstairs and replaced with tile or wood. At least it's easy to clean up but I hate finding it and often, I smell it before I see it. My house must stink to visitors, though my daughters who don't live here anymore insist that it doesn't. I have plug-ins all over the house trying to cover up the "doggy" smell. Giving them all baths is such an ordeal but I just got finished doing that, too! If only they were all small like Brutus! Oh, my aching back!

I'll ask the vet about the female hormones. Thanks!

[sbj405]

3. One of my old foster dogs did this

one of the ladies in the rescue said that she used to make the dog wear the doggy diaper. Apparently, the don't like being wet. He got adopted before I tried it, but it might be worth a shot. I've seen the male doggie diapers that look just like a strap of fabric, so if you are mildly crafty you could probably make one easy enough. Perhaps the humiliation alone will make him stop :-)

[talleyJudy]

4. I like the idea of the doggy diaper,

If he is truly housebroken, the doggy diaper sounds like a really good idea. If at all possible, you might try to get a urine sample and take it to the vet, as he might have a bladder or kidney infection that would make him prone to 'think' he has to urinate urgently. Call the vet first, as s/he will be able to give you several tips on how to catch and transport a clean sample.

[Longhorn]

7. My problem with the doggy diaper

is that we have four dogs and a doggy door. Buddy would never be able to go pee outside unless I take the diaper off first and I wouldn't know when to do that. If I close the doggy door, then none of them can go out. I assume they'd let me know somehow but I might just end up creating more problems. :shrug:

I doubt that he has an infection since this has been going on for about three years. But I will check with the vet. Thanks!

[Dookus]

5. You really

need an enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle for cleaning up the spots. Soak the area entirely with the cleaner (if it's carpet, all the way down to the pad) and let it dry naturally - it can take awhile, but it's the ONLY way to really clean the smell out.

How old is Buddy and when did he start doing this?

[Longhorn]

6. He's about five years old.

I think it started shortly after we got Sparky, who has become the alpha male of the pack (four dogs, three males, one female.) We've had Sparky for about three years.

Thanks for the tip about the enzyme cleaner. I'll check into getting some. Fortunately, he rarely does it on carpet. Also fortunately, when he aims at things like my backpack, he usually misses and just hits the tile floor. :shrug:

[Ladybast]

8. Several thoughts and suggestions for Buddy--

First, marking establishes the boundaries and signposts of "home", the space that is secure for the family. That is why protective or insecure dogs and cats will mark upright objects (like a forest scout carving sign in tree trunk he passes by) or objects that are suddenly in a new place. I use an animal communicator for my own cats as well as for animal patients of mine, and they consistently tell me this.

He doesn't understand your reasons for objecting (although he can see you get upset), just as you don't understand his reasons for peeing, since the two of you come from radically different viewpoints on this. He is being protective of the family, to bolster security, and for that reason I can't imagine putting him in a doggy diaper to humiliate him. I feel that your reassurance will be much more helpful for him. The more he feels he is loved and safe, and the home is stable and secure, the less he will want to mark.

That said, homeopathy often helps permanently overcome this insecurity and the behavior that comes from it, but finding the right remedy will take into account Buddy's complete personality and physical health issues, so needs professional homeopathic consultation. It is also possible for you to find out directly from Buddy his reasoning in doing this--and also to communicate to him why you want him to stop--by consulting an animal communicator yourself. There is a web directory of animal communicators at:

http://www.animaltalk.net/consultlist.htm

Finally, the best and also the cheapest substance I have found to COMPLETELY clean away animal smells from pee and other stuff is Oxyclean, or any of the new oxygen cleaners. I dissolve one scoop in hot water and use it to clean floors, spray directly on fabric items like sofas (dries without residue) or add to the washing machine. I have successfully rescued peed-upon fabric luggage, sofas, you name it.