Don’t Pee on That! How to Stop Dog Marking Behaviours

Dogs are dogs and most use their urine as a messaging system. Peeing on things is their way of sending a “Rover was here” message to the world. Marking is a predominantly male behaviour, however it is not limited to males.

Some female dogs are just as bad when it comes to marking, but it is typically intact females who are in season.

The true culprits are the boys. Most males, especially intact ones, always have a store of urine in their bladders so the option to mark is always there. Sometimes they do it to mark territory, other times, it’s during periods of socialization, stimulation or arousal. We often get people asking us how to stop their male dogs from marking everywhere. Usually around the time they start to hit adolescence and sexual maturity (6–12 months on average), dogs will start marking behaviours.

I prefer male dogs and tend to keep them intact, so I’ve dealt with a lot of marking behaviour. For several years there were 3 dogs in my house, 2 were intact. In the end, controlling this marking behaivour is just like any other trained behaviour. Set your ideal expectation and train to meet it!

I never allow my dogs to mark on people’s private property, hedges or fences. I find it unnecessary and rude. When we’re on walks through the subburbs, they are on leash and I…