Good Morning,
This is a tricky one, especially in a shelter environment, as the pups/dogs are being handled by lots of people. There is also the constant influx/change of What Dogs Are Here--That is a tough one for 'markers' to get over--sometimes, we find them to be hyper-focused on this activity.
Belly bands can be helpful, but they must be coupled with some umbilical training--Basically, the most success we have found, is to belly-band the offender, and leash him to a responsible Human. Responsible Human is then tasked to keep close eyes on him, as they move around the indoor space; any time Little starts to sniff a corner, or give body cues that he's thinking of marking, Responsible Human must then 'correct' with a "No" and a gentle tug away from said space. You can stack a bit of aversion, such as a squirt bottle, or a spray collar loaded with Scentless fill, but this is generally not needed. Depending on the level of obsession the dog has with this behavior, will dictate how long this kind of teaching can take.
The Belly Band comes Off when the Little is outdoors, or in his respective kennel.
In addition, when the offending Little is outdoors, it can be helpful to place a "Pee Post" or "Pee Rock" in a given space, and encourage Little to urinate in that space; only allowing off lead/play/treat rewards when they actually use the space properly. No treat/food rewards should be given for "not marking," rather, save those rewards for urination that happens Outdoors.
All this being said, here's the disclaimer--Belly bands Must be washed/changed, just as you would a diaper on a child; rashes, skin infections and other complications can arise, if left on the dog in a 'wet' state for too long. If choosing a spray collar & remote, it is unfair to simply 'punish' the dog as it runs around--if there is to be success, one absolutely Must be tied to the dog, for safety. Using the Scentless version of the collar-load avoids potential reactions to scent/allergic reaction. And we Do prefer the method that doesn't use the 'crutch' of the remote spray, as some new adopters might not wish to continue training this way--why waste a resource?
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Rose DiPaolo
Board Member
Benewah Humane Society, Inc
ID
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-29-2024 06:27 PM
From: Krystle Woodward
Subject: How to stop male dog marking?
Many dogs we save from URGENT situations are dogs with marking habits. We bring the Littles inside and some have that habit. What successful methods have you used to stop their marking?
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
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Krystle Woodward
President/Founder
Paws/Pinky Paws Search & ResQ
CA
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