How to Stop My Male Dog From Marking When Excited

Spraying in the house can be a sign of a dog's separation anxiety.

Dogs mark for a variety of reasons. The usual impulse to mark is that the male dog wants to lay claim to his territory. Other reasons a male dog may spray include separation anxiety and stimulation of hormones. In any case, such marking is clearly inappropriate indoors. Your dog should not mark whenever and wherever he pleases outdoors, either. There are steps you can take to discourage a male dog from marking when excited.

Instructions

1. Take your dog to the vet and have him neutered. Most veterinarians agree that this will stop a large percentage of marking and spraying issues. The younger the dog, the better the chance of success. If neutering does not stop the behavior or if neutering is not an option, you will need to rely on other methods.

2. Use a crate to curb the unwanted behavior. A crate is a good option because a dog will not urinate in his den and on himself. When you catch your dog getting ready to spray, clap your hands sharply and say, "No." Take him to the crate and put him inside until his excitement wanes and the urge to mark subsides. Then take him outdoors to urinate. Make sure you praise him when he does urinate outdoors.

3. Put a doggy diaper on your dog to teach him to associate spraying with an unpleasant sensation. The doggy diaper is a pad that goes around a dog's abdomen. When he attempts to spray, the urine will land on the pad, resulting in an uncomfortable sensation. Leave the pad on for about 10 minutes after your dog sprays, then remove it and take him outside to urinate. Keep putting on new diapers to reinforce the lesson.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog sprays only when excited, this is a sign of separation anxiety. In addition to applying the steps above, you will need to spend more quality time with the dog. Some dogs are extremely sociable and hate being left alone, fearing the owner may not return. Don't greet your dog immediately when you come home, but wait a few minutes to greet him so you don't reinforce the anxiety. Don't give him negative attention immediately after he has been left alone for a length of time; give him positive attention. Correct him only when you catch him doing something wrong, including spraying.

• If these tactics do not work, your dog could have a medical or behavioral problem. Take your dog to a vet first to rule out a medical issue, and then an animal behaviorist to address a behavioral problem.

References

• Jill Vanetti, Veternarian;Vanetti & Associates Animal Clinic; Clarksburg, West Virginia
• Pet Place: Stop Your Dog From Spraying
• Paw Rescue | Dog Tip: Marking - Understanding It, Stopping It
• Club Labrador: How do I prevent my male Labrador Retriever from marking Furniture
• ASPCA: How Neutering Will Change My Dog
• PETS Magazine: Detering Bad Behavior

Resources

• Dog Diapers and Belly Bands
• Cannis Major | The crate: a modern dog den