Neutered Male Marking EVERYWHERE! HELP!

[TamaraE]

Hi Everyone!
I have a big, big problem!. I recently adopted a 4-6 year old Doxie. He was rescued from a puppymill about 8 months ago and has all sorts of issues. The only one that is causing me grief is his "marking". He does make mistakes in the house and outright pees, but all the others seem to be "marking". We're having minimum 8 markings a day. I have a very hard time catching him at it. WHAT CAN I DO??? I really need some advice here
Thanks everyone <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm43.gif" border=0>

I should also add that he is VERY skittish, nervous and if I use a disciplinary tone of voice, he submissive pees. <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm6.gif" border=0>

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by TamaraE on November 08, 2000 at 08:07 AM</font>

[Krista]

I don't have much, but make sure you are using a GOOD enzymatic pet odor/stain remover. You get what you pay for with these products. Two good ones are Simple Solution and Nature's Miracle. If you don't use one, or aren't using enough, he will still smell his mark and continue to mark there even if you can't smell it.

I would also say that marking comes from his past life, where he had to be territorial and mark his area to let the other males and all the females in season know that he was there. It will take time and patience to help him get over it. Maybe a behavorist could help.

Read some of the other posts in this forum, many of them suggest leashing the dog to you when you are home and crating/confining the dog when you aren't or when leashing them to you is not feasible. That would probably be a great way to catch him trying to do it and giving the no command and taking him to the right place to go.

I would also make sure you have somethings in your yard for him to mark (posts, trees, bushes, boulders, etc...) so he can "claim" the yard as his.

[2DogsLong]

This sounds familiar. Wouldn't be anyone I know, would it? http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif

How do you think he would react to being crated? It could go either way... he could feel safe, or it could bring back bad memories of the mill. The tying a leash to him and your belt thing is pretty popular on this board. I haven't tried it though. It would help you catch him if he was always with you.

Do you give him a snausage and tons of praise when he goes outside?

I'm sure once he feels more comfortable you'll only have to deal with normal house training issues.

Another idea is to use a squirt gun and say NO in a firm but gentle voice when you catch him. Whatever you do you have to be consistent.

I'll try to find more info on this.

[dox_no3]

After we got Bugsy fixed, he stopped marking in the house completely. Is your fella fixed?

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Julie & Bugsy
/===//&lt;..&gt;

[TamaraE]

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm28.gif" border=0> He's neutered, although I don't think he was fixed until he was well out of puppyhood.

The idea about the leash is a possibility although it causes him great concern to be restricted and too close to people. Crating is something I'm considering.

Spray bottle - he growls at me when I do that. I must admit, I just turn around and giggle cuz he's just so menacing! LOL However, it doesn't seem to be making an impression yet.

He'll come around, anyone got a good suggestion for a quality carpet cleaner at a reasonable cost????????????? http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/caffeine.gif

[Oscar's Mom]

You could try a squirt gun instead of the spray bottle. That way you could be a little more sneaky about it and he might not know its coming from you. I can get Oscar from across the room with it, and its just a little squirt gun. Just an idea.

[Mark]

Hi Tammy,

I feel a bit concerned about the backtalking (growling) when you squirt him. IMO that would be a challenge for alpha and he needs a "chin bop" or another spray reinforced with a command such as "quiet" or "no". He needs to know it's coming from you and that you mean it. Then you will make the desired impression.

You're right about it being so darn funny that you just wanna laugh. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif I suspect, if there's an alpha question in their minds though that the marking is a part of it.

Keep us posted,

Mark

[TamaraE]

http://216.74.85.16/ubb/smilies/circle.gif Well Oscar's Mum!! Now you have my men arguing over who is going to get the Supersoaker 1000!!! Squirt guns! Sheesh! I'm going to have a war in my livingroom and I'm willing to bet not one drop hits Julio!!!
Seriously, I think this may be a good idea, cuz they would be much easier to handle than a bottle. It would also stop the "backtalk" as well. Hmmmmmmmm.... I'm beginning to feel like Sharon Stone in "The Quick and the Dead" http://216.74.85.16/ubb/smilies/hapfac01.gif