How to Help Your Dog Stop Marking

If your dog is one of those that mark its territory by peeing indoors, you know how frustrating and annoying it can be. In this article you will learn ways to help your dog stop marking.

The good news is that there are things you can do to help stop your dog from marking in the house. 

Check out these tips to help your furry friend get back on track. With a little patience and perseverance, you will be able to train your dog not to mark and therefore keep your home clean! 

No More Marking

Dogs mark their territory by urinating in specific areas. This behavior is instinctive and is often guided by a dog's natural desire to leave their scent. 

However, marking can also be a result of anxiety or boredom. Regardless of the reason, it is important to nip this behavior in the bud as it can damage your home. 

Does this sound familiar? 

“My dog is usually pretty great about not marking in the house when he is by himself. However, as soon as another dog comes over, he starts to mark the corners of every room!” 

This can be very frustrating, especially when you just cleaned up one area and now need to clean up another. Keep reading to learn how to keep your sanity! 

Here are a few tips to help your dog stop marking: 

Tips

Dogs mark their territory to communicate with other dogs. They may also do this to relieve anxiety or when they are feeling territorial. 

There are a few things you can do to help your dog stop marking his territory, including: 

• Neutering or spaying
• Providing enough exercise
• Training not to mark
• Remain patient while your dog learns to change their behavior. 

Spayed or Neutered

One of the first things to consider is getting your dog spayed or neutered. 

This will help decrease the amount of hormones that may be causing them to mark their territory. 

If you have already spayed or neutered your dog and they are still marking, providing more opportunities for them to do their business outside may be a good idea. 

Going to the Bathroom Outside

If your dog stays inside for more than a few hours at a time, they may feel like the need to need to go to the bathroom. This may lead them to start marking inside the house. So make sure you are letting your dog out on a consistent basis in order to help them stop marking in the house.

It is a good idea to take your dog outside to go to the bathroom at least every few hours, especially after periods of high activity, such as playing fetch or running. 

Make sure to take your dog on walks on a regular basis and give them plenty of time to relieve themselves in a designated spot outside. In addition, be sure to praise your dog whenever they go outside to pee or poop, as this will help reinforce the desired behavior. 

As soon as your dog marks their territory inside, tell them no and take them outside as quickly as possible. This will help them begin to understand that outside is where we go to the bathroom. 

Cleaning the Area

If your dog does mark inside the house, make sure to clean the area. Dog pee and poop can be damaging to hardwood floors and easily stain carpets. 

To clean the area, try using an enzyme cleaner. 

Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners are a type of cleaner that targets explicitly organic material. This makes them ideal for cleaning up stains and messes caused by pets. 

The enzyme cleaner helps break down the urine, making it easier to clean and less likely to smell. 

Enzyme cleaners can be found at most grocery stores and pet stores. 

Blocking Off Areas

If there are areas in your house that you do not want your dog marking, then try to block off these areas. You can try using baby gates to close off a room or try moving your furniture around to block the site. 

You can also use pet-safe products like covers for electrical outlets to cover the wall so that the liquid does not get into the outlets. 

This may also mean closing doors or gates or using baby gates to block off rooms or stairways. 

Belly Bands

If you want to stop your dog from marking, one option is to use belly bands. Belly bands are simply fabric bands that fit around a dog's waist. They work by catching any urine the dog might release while marking. 

You should remember that these are only effective if they are combined with training your dog on what not to do in the house. 

The belly band should be comfortable for your dog. It should also be replaced about every hour because built-up urine can cause rashes and burns. Make sure to get the correct size band for your pet. 

Each belly band available for purchase normally has the size on the label. You can measure your dog's waist before buying. That way, they are not too big nor too small for your pup. Also, the band should be large enough for your dog's airways so that they can breathe comfortably.

Traveling

Belly bands are not only helpful for housetraining your dog, but they are also handy when traveling. It can help prevent your dog from peeing in the car and in the hotel room. While belly bands can be effective for housetraining, you should remove them so that your dog can learn to use the bathroom outside. 

Material

The belly band has a specialized material that absorbs urine and prevents your dog from peeing on the floor or furniture. 

If you cannot afford to buy one from the store, you can make a belly band. You can cut some flannel fabric and wide velcro strips if you have a sewing machine. 

Did you know you can easily create your own belly bands? All you need is velcro, cotton, fabric and a pattern you will have a very comfortable belly band in no time!  

Positive Reinforcement 

Giving your dog positive reinforcement when you see them using the bathroom in an area that you are ok with lets your dog know that this is what they should be doing. Give them lots of praise and treats! 

A part of positive reinforcement is keeping their minds stimulated. This may sound like a daunting task, and you may not know where to even begin. Check out the article here to learn some easy ways to help your dog's mind keep active.

No Punishment, Think Positive

If your dog is urinating in the house, it may be tempting to punish them in an effort to stop the behavior. However, punishment is often ineffective and can even make the problem worse. 

Instead, you will need to use positive reinforcement to teach your dog that they should only relieve themselves outside. 

Try establishing a regular potty schedule. Take your dog out first thing in the morning and after every meal or nap. If they eliminate outside, praise them enthusiastically. You can also give them a treat as a reward. 

If your dog has an accident indoors, clean it up without making a fuss and take them outside if they still need to go to the bathroom. 

Conclusion

If you have a dog that marks his territory, there are several things you can do to help him stop. Neutering him will reduce the amount of testosterone in his system and decrease his desire to mark his territory. 

Providing enough exercise will tire him out, so he will not feel the need to mark as often. 

Lastly, training him not to mark will give you another tool in your arsenal for stopping this behavior. 

Have you tried any of these methods? Let us know how they worked for you in the comments below!