Marking versus housebreaking

Some people do not understand the difference between a dog who marks his territory versus one that is not yet housebroken.   This misunderstanding often leads to corrections performed in the wrong way on unsuspecting pups.  The above puppy is clearly not housebroken.   Puppies lack the maturity to mark territory until they are about six months of age.   Before six months, nearly all "mistakes" in the home are due to immature development of the bladder, lack of consistency of the owners, and absence of complete comprehension of the rules of house breaking. 

Hitting and putting the nose of an offending dog or puppy into a mess it has made on your floor does nothing in the way of furthering your dogs understanding of a mistake.   Dogs routinely smell and even lick the urine or feces of another dog as a way of gathering information on the sex, health and time elapsed since the mark was created.   It is simply never an option as a method of correction. 

When bringing home a puppy, a person must understand that the bladder is not fully developed to hold the urine for an extended period of time.   Puppies simply go when they feel the need.  It is up to the owner to establish location, time elapsed and careful monitoring of food and water intake. 

Adult dogs, or ones that have begun to lift their leg when urinating (females also mark by squatting then raising one leg a bit), are most likely to participate in  "marking"  territory inside the home.   After a strict routine has been established for the adult dog and they show comprehension of the housebreaking process, only then can one look to correct the mistake of "marking".   Males provide the easiest examples as they lift their leg on an object in order to raise their urine to the highest level. 

This behavior is seen most often when a new dog is brought into an established home (male or female) , the dog is taken to an unfamiliar home, or a house mate comes into season (also urinary tract infections in female evoke this behavior).   Once the act has been identified as "marking" then the owner must decipher the cause.  The correction for a dog in the act of marking is a quick, loud sound to disrupt the behavior then the owner moving the dog physically to the outside and praising when they use that area for urinating.

To help ease the transition of an adult dog who enters a new home, closing off rooms and pairing down the access available is a must.  Some people use crates to put their dog in as they generally do not relieve themselves where they sleep.   Be sure to check on the physical well being of your animal if you find it suddenly starts urinating within the home.  A possible infection, kidney failure or coming into season (for a female) may be the cause.  When health is ruled out, assess if other animals have come into your home or yard that your pet is trying to "mark"over.  

The key to successfully stopping inside "marking" behavior and housebreaking is to never leave the dog unattended.   If you can not keep your eyes on the pet, then they need to be moved to a safe location where they have shown a willingness to hold their bladder.  Remember it is natural for a dog to leave scent where ever they go as a trail to follow home as well as signs for other passing animals. 


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