My Dog Lifts the Leg at Home. Marking Behavior

We all have seen dogs peeing with their leg lifted. The behavior is ubiquitous in males. However, also exhibited by some females, especially those with a stronger will. This behavior is driven by social status and exhibit, as well as hormones. Evolutionary speaking, the higher the dog pees, the further the wind will distribute the smell and pheromones in the neighbourhood. If the dog pees on the ground, it soaks the scent rather than spreading it to a larger territory. Leg lifting is normal behavior outside. However, marking inside can be very frustrating and embarrassing if the dog marks their territory at somebody else’s house. What is marking behaviour?

You can also read this article in Dogo App.

Marking Behavior or Incomplete Housebreaking?

Marking behavior is a natural instinct in dogs that is driven by social status, territoriality, and hormones. It is a way for dogs to communicate their presence and dominance to other dogs. Marking behavior can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem for dog owners who want to maintain a clean and hygienic home environment. It is essential to understand the causes of marking behavior and take appropriate measures to train the dog to eliminate outside.

If you have had your dog since he was a puppy and he hasn’t had at least a month of accidents free in the house, your dog has never fully learned to do their business outside. This can occur even in dogs that have been trained to eliminate outside. If the dog continues to exhibit marking behavior, it may be necessary to consult with a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer to develop a behavior modification plan.

You might find potty training resources helpful in the Dogo app. Marking behavior and incomplete housebreaking can go together. How to recognize marking behaviour?

• Lifting or cocking the leg
• Peeing on higher objects rather than flat surfaces
• Peeing on personal or novel items in the home
• Urine is deposited in small amounts rather than big puddles
• Normal elimination outdoors

Will Neutering Fix Your Dog?

Castration is a surgical procedure that involves removing the testicles of male dogs. It is a commonly recommended solution for dogs that exhibit marking behavior. Castration can help reduce the production of testosterone and other hormones that trigger marking behavior. However, castration is not a foolproof solution and does not guarantee that the dog will stop marking. It is essential to consult with a veterinarian to determine if castration is the right option for your dog. Castration has potential risks, including surgical complications, changes in behavior, and long-term health effects.

If you have an intact male who cocks his leg over the furniture, edges, or any laying objects, there is hope that castration will decrease the behavior. A few studies have shown that castration has stopped or reduced the behavior by about ⅔. This indicates that not only sexual hormones are triggering the behavior, as well as social components. Dogs use urine to mark their territory. The predictor of whether the castration will successfully stop the behavior is influenced by how long the dog was allowed to mark. If the dog is a young adolescent who marked the territory a few times, castration is more likely to yield better results than in an older dog who has been exhibiting the behavior for years.

Even though castration prevents unwanted roaming and neoplastic development at an older age, we understand that the decision to go for the surgery is not light. You can talk to your vet about chemical castration. A vet can place a hormonal implant under the dog’s skin. Depending on the type, it will be effective for 6 or 12 months. After the implant effect wanes, your dog will be able to reproduce if that is desired. However, you will have the chance to test if surgical castration would effectively solve this behavior.

Management

Make sure you get familiar with potty training resources.

• Take your dog out frequently and allow them plenty of sniffing and marking time.
• At home, supervise your dog closely, do not allow them to roam freely around the house.
• Use odor-removing agents if your dog pees on a sofa or other furniture; if not possible to remove them, stick plastic bags or film, so at least you can clean easily.
• Talk about castration with your veterinary doctor.
• If the dog is hard to manage, you can put belly bands. They inhibit the dog from urinating as they absorb the urine, making it uncomfortable for the dog. However, big chance that the dog will know when they are with the band and without it.