Tips on how to stop marking

[VScott & Lloyd]

Hello! Advice needed: We just adopted a 6 year old sweet, wonderful miniature poodle yesterday. He has adjusted very nicely so far and we are really enjoying him. We have nothing to complain about except he was recently neutered at the rescue and will mark in the house. We have used a doggy diaper which is convenient to keep our belongings safe and to prevent any issues from our other doodle. However, I'm not sure if this is best the route to go. I bought a crate yesterday but it was too small so I will exchange it for a bigger one today. He'll be crated at night, when he's alone with our other doodle, and if I can't watch him or tether him to me. Any other tips to break him of marking? Thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

First, thank you for adopting, and thank you especially for adopting an "older" adult. I'm heavily involved in rescue, and it can be disheartening to see how many people will not even consider a dog who is older than a year or two. My last Mini Poodle lived to be 16, so you have many great years ahead with this beautiful guy.

Part of the reason he is marking in the house may just be insecurity; for some dogs, leaving their scent on something is a way of marking it as theirs. He may just be trying to establish himself as a member of your household. This is especially true if he is marking near his bed or food areas, or if he is doing it near your doodle's belongings or favorite spots.

It's possible that it may lessen as he adjusts. Also, if he was just neutered, it may get better with time. 
For now, make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning all areas where he marks with an odor neutralizer like Nature's Miracle. Just cleaning is not enough. You have to get rid of the scent or he will return to those spots.

You might also want to look into getting him a belly band rather than a diaper. That's what many owners of stud dogs use to prevent marking.

Be sure to correct him clearly when you catch him in the act of lifting his leg indoors. Don't yell, but loudly and firmly make a disapproving sound "EH EH!!!!" and then get him outside.

I'm not a big fan of doggy doors. In fact, many rescues won't adopt to you if you use one. Dogs need to be supervised outdoors, you need to be aware of when they have pottied and what they have done, etc. and that's impossible to do if a dog can just take himself out any time he wants to. It also deprives you of the chance to teach him that potty indoors is not allowed and to reinforce that potty outside is the right choice. That includes marking, too. 

I hope this helps.

[VScott & Lloyd]

Thank you for the tips. Yes, I have some belly bands that should be delivered tomorrow. I assume I can slowly wean him off the belly bands if they are consistently clean? Currently I have him tethered to me as I work, and so far he's content napping in his new fluffy bed. We go out to the backyard every hour or so and he'll mark a tree and then my doodle will mark over it. My doodle was neutered at 6 months so this wasn't a common thing for him to do. We do not have a doggy door since the dogs need to be supervised as we have a pool and live in the foothills with wildlife (coyotes). This summer will be full of swim lessons and how to get out of the pool.

This little guy had our hearts the first hour! I can't believe our luck! :) 

[Christi Tennyson]

My nine month old doodle is at the vet getting neutered as I type this bc he started marking in the house last week & although I supervise closely, the teens do not—nor do they close the gates reliably, so I’m hoping the neuter nips the marking in the bud. Yesterday was the third episode and I want to stop before it becomes a habit. I’ve used Nature’s Miracle to treat the scene. 

Since your guy is a rescue, I wonder if he’s trying to establish his place at your house? A note about belly bands—keep some canine wet wipes handy. I used one when we had an incontinent old beagle. It kept the pee off the sofa/floor/etc but his fur would get gross. Frequent baths and touch ups with wet wipes helped that situation tremendously.

[VScott & Lloyd]

Thank you for the tips. Wipes is a great idea. Yes, I bought a new bottle of Natures Miracle and there's also the No Marking Nature's miracle, I'm not sure what the difference is. Good luck to you and I hope it stops once your doodle comes home!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

First of all, thank you so much for adopting an adult dog.  My dil didn't neuter her male for years because he need to be intact for the activities he did. Anyway, he began marking and wore a belly band. Once she neutered him, the marking inside faded out - took a while, but it did happen. 

When you use a belly band you can line it with a self sticking sanitary pad cut in half (cheaper than the stuff you buy labeled for belly bands. 

[VScott & Lloyd]

Thank you! I hope it fades out too!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

He is really adorable!  Lots of great advice here.  I would also suggest that if you're able to catch him in the act, it's still a good idea to tell him firmly "NO" and quickly get him outside to finish peeing.  I know you're not actually housebreaking, but this reinforces the idea that there is only one place where he's allowed to go...and that's outside.  I also read from a trainer a strategy that I haven't tried myself, but it makes sense to me.  It's to get a bandana and put some of his urine on it....let it dry...tie it around his neck when he's inside.  If he's peeing because he wants to get his scent around the house to show that this is now his territory, the bandanna with his urine will do that because his scent goes everywhere he does.  Good luck, and hopefully this is a real short term thing, and once he is secure in his new home it will stop.

[VScott & Lloyd]

Thank you for the advice! I haven't caught him in the act yet but he did pee on my son's backpack when I wasn't looking on the first day. And it was a lot, not just a some drops. I don't think he went anywhere else as I haven't seen him or my other dog sniffing around like they want to mark. I like the idea of the bandana!

Yes, he is adorable and will become even more handsome when all his hair grows in. Poor thing was so matted when he was rescued that they shaved him all the way down, thus the doggy shirt. I'm hoping an omega-3 and 6 supplement will help it grow in nicely.