Puppy Training Home > Dog Behavior > Territory Marking
Can Territory Marking be Stopped?
Your dog's territory marking may be an appropriate behavior in the wild, but when it occurs in your home, it's not only annoying but also destructive.
Even though your dog is a domesticated animal, he still has some of the instincts of a wild animal.
Territorial marking is an innate behavior through which he lets other dogs know about his presence. This is how he tries to secure his hunting grounds and keep food supply all to himself.
Indoors, a couch is the most common recipient of such dog's territorial marking. My guess is it's because a couch, especially the one upholstered with fabric, retains the smell much longer than something that is not as absorbent.
Often, territorial marking will occur when you have visitors, human as well as other dogs. This is to reinforce you dog's "claim" to his territory. Conversely, when your dog visits other people's house, he may lay claim to a new territory. Again, this has nothing to do with a need to urinate, just instincts.
Have you ever seen a dog urinate on somebody's leg? Yes, it happens in real life too! Again, this is an example of territory marking by a dog.
Because it's instinctive, territory marking is one of the most difficult behavior to get rid of…
How to Deal with Territory Marking…
If you have a dog with "affection" for soft furniture and carpets, I recommend you get a good bacteria-destroying dog urine remover (GET SERiOUS! is one such product and I'll tell you more about it a little later).
A regular household cleaner may remove a stain, but the smell will remain, even if you can't detect it.
Why is it so important to get rid of the smell?
Other than for the obvious reason, the smell of urine signals to your dog that this is his bathroom area.
By now, you may be wondering if you can do anything to discourage territory marking.
There are 2 solutions...
One is very radical and involves castration.
Visit dog neutering page if you want to find out more about this procedure and it's effect on dog's personality.
The second solution is less radical, a lot less!
There are deterrent sprays that you can use in certain areas to keep your puppy (or adult dog) away.
Pet Organics No-Stay Furniture Spray consists of a harmless blend of natural herbs that makes treated surfaces undesirable to pets.
Depending on your dog, you may need to use it several times a day.
Of the two, dog neutering probably has the greatest chance of success, but like I mentioned earlier, it's a lot more radical. Consult your veterinarian before you make any decision.
Remember I mentioned GET SERiOUS!, a dog urine remover?
It's one of many urine-removing products that you will find in pet supply stores. Most of them work based on the same principle and, to be honest, produce similar results. Some, however, are better to avoid. Visit dog urine cleaner page to find out which products to avoid and why.
I tried several products but prefer GET SERiOUS! Pet Stain, Odor and Pheromone Extractor.
While it will not discourage territory marking, it will certainly protect your household and belongings! And it combines the best features of many leading products… into one bottle!
So, how does it work?
GET SERiOUS! destroys odor producing bacteria.
Squirt it onto any problem area and work in with a brush. Blot the area with a towel and let dry. For problem stains, repeat the process several times.
Get Serious! will remove most stains and odors within three minutes.
What makes GET SERiOUS! really special is that it will not cause any discoloration, it's non-toxic, is biodegradable and safe to use around children and pets. You can even use it to remove stains left by other products!
While territory marking has nothing to do with a need to urinate, I think you may still find frequent dog urination page informative.
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