Noah tried to lift his leg on someone... eeek!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I was in obedience class with Noah last night, and he walked up to a man in the class and tried to lift his leg on the man's gucci loafer! I caught him as soon as I saw the leg go up and I was able to startle him so that nothing came out. I was planning to have him neutered in 3 more weeks, but if he tries this again, he'll be getting neutered the very next day. I feel like I'm the only one who has dogs who have marked so early... must be something in this Manhattan water. The vet said this was normal for a small dog, but he's not that little... he's 3 months and 1 week old and probably around 12lbs.

About a month ago, I was at an off-leash park, and I was talking with a few people (two other females and one male), and a weimaraner ran up to us and actually peed and marked on the guy! I would be mortified if Noah developed this habit. I don't think neutering will prevent the habit of marking because my other dog was just under 4 months when he lifted his leg. I had him neutered that same weekend, but the neutering hasn't stopped him from marking. Thankfully, neither dog has tried to do this in the house! I'm not concerned with marking outside, but I definitely don't want Noah to ever try to mark a person!!! Short of neutering, is there anything else I can do?

[Trowby]

Just want to commiserate. You were good to catch him. I know you were horrified.

Noah sounds like our Sage. A spitfire too. Fortunately she is a girl. So she doesn't lift her leg on things or people. LOL

Trowby

[Adina P]

Oh no! Poor thing (you)...how very frustrating. I do not know why a pup would do it so young.
But here's a funny story, at one of the last local kennel club meetings I attended... One of the members, who has whippets, mentioned how every time I would come to handling practice with Rosco (I used to go for socialization and training practice) her male whippet would mark on her leg! I could not believe that!!! Rosco inspiring him to mark his owner!!! When I heard that I just about marked my own pants ... ROFL!!!

[Cam & Oski]

I've seen dogs mark people at the dog park too, lol. I was reading on the internet (Oski's still a squatter so doesn't do any marking :) & apparently marking is not only a territorial instinct but also a way to claim ownership or dominance which is rather interesting since this occurred during obedience class. Had Noah had any interactions with this man or his dog that may account for him needing to assert his dominance over them? The website doesn't exactly cover what to do if your dog is marking people rather than objects or in places that you don't want him to but they do mention that you should "let your dog know it is only to be done at specific places and times and not on your living room rug, bathroom floor, or bedspread. Once again, your dominance relationship with your dog can make all the difference. Obedience-train your dog in a positive and humane way, and run him through his commands regularly. This not only clarifies your dominance, it gives a dog who gets bored, lonely, or anxious during the day something to look forward to. Make him work for food, toys, play, and petting. If he wants one of those, have him respond to a command or two first.

Always walk through doors before he does, and don't let him jump up on you or get on the furniture, especially your bed. In canine society, you usually only get to jump on or lay next to an equal or subordinate dog. Neutering, especially before the dog is one year old, is another good preventative. Your dog will still be protective of home and family, but he won't have a hormone-driven desire to stake out reproductive territory."

Here's the website link if it helps. Good luck! Every time I take Oski out I'm grateful for his squatty ways :)

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/how-to-solve-dog-behavioral-p...

[Cam & Oski]

Wow. Noah sounds like he has the exact same temperament as Oski--middle of the road, no need to dominate nor pervasive submissiveness. I guess Oski is just clumsier & never learned how to lift his leg to pee, LOL. Hope the neutering does the trick! I wonder if it would help since he's maybe feeling possessive about his yorkiepoo buddy to have the husband do some command training with Noah (making him sit, stay, ...) to establish that he's above Noah in the pack structure?

[Janie]

That would be embarrasing. Takoda has not marked anything yet.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I was at a doodle get-together and a strange dog (not a doodle of course) came up to me when I was standing with several dogs and lifted his leg and peed in my leg and shoe. I was shocked because I didn't know dogs did this to people, but you know I am a dog lover and I do wash. As a pee recipient I survived, and the man Noah almost lifted his leg on would have also. I am more careful when I am with dogs I don't know now though. Our dogs have all been neutered early - about 3 months. Our 10 year old dog began marking outside about 2 years ago; until that time he only squatted to pee and still does. I think that he decided to mark because my daughter-in law's dog matured and she didn't neuter him - he marks and in our house too! We have to be very careful when he visits.