Break a Male Dog From Marking in the House
Male dogs often mark territory in the house if they are stressed by changes, such as a visiting dog or new pet. Poorly-trained dogs are more likely to mark in the house than well-trained dogs and it's more common for an intact (un-neutered) dog to mark. Marking is not a spiteful or disobedient act; it's a natural urge and an important way for dogs to communicate. However, this doesn't mean you need to tolerate it. Break a male dog from marking by going back to potty-training basics and working on overall obedience training.
Instructions
1. Take your dog to your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem, such as incontinence or marking due to a urinary tract infection. All the training in the world won't break marking behavior if he truly can't help it.
2. Restrict your dog's access to the house when you can't monitor him by using baby gates to keep him to one room (preferably with an easy-to-clean floor) or a crate.
3. Give him plenty of potty breaks outside. Most adult dogs can hold it for 8 to 10 hours while you're at work, but should be let out to urinate as soon as you come home, upon waking up, and after each meal. Don't allow him to mark right next to a door.
4. Keep your dog on a leash when he is with you, even in the house. The more chances he gets to mark, the more he'll self-reinforce the behavior. Just like housebreaking a puppy, you do not want to give him the opportunity to lift his leg inside.
5. Clean up every time he leaves a urine stain. Use a commercial pet-stain remover that eliminates the smell, or white vinegar. Don't use any household product containing ammonia, because this smells like urine to a dog.
6. Scold your dog (but never hit or physically punish him) if you catch him in the act. Even better, if you catch him sidling up to something preparing to lift his leg, shriek and hustle him outside. If he marks out in the yard, praise him.
7. Act consistently and persistently. If your marking male thinks he can mark when you're not around, he'll continue to do it. Monitor his activity and restrict him to a crate when you're away.
8. Work on obedience training. Well-trained dogs rarely if ever mark inside, even if they are intact, because they are secure and understand you are in charge. Take some obedience or leadership classes with your dog to kick-start obedience and good manners.
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