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Blog Entry 23 of 37 Ask the Dog Guy
The Dog Guy (me) answers questions about dog behavior/misbehavior.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~AsktheDogGuy

Marking

Contributed by: Dave Pearson   on 6/21/2008

Dear Dog Guy,

Help!! I have a Pug that marks what can I do to make him stop? He also sheds terribly is there any help for that? I love this little guy but it's getting quite annoying. Would appreciate any help you could give me. Thanks Much.

Aghast in Arvada


Dear Aghast,

(I needed to know more information, so I asked and it was provided - see below).

He's about 5 years old and is neutered; I also have a female Min. Pin. (Miniature Pincher) and she is spayed. He stays in the house most of the time, I keep them both blocked in the kitchen when I'm gone, but I have a doggie door so they can go out anytime they need to. I think he's shedding bottom coat. They really don't get walked much but they have a huge backyard with a walking path behind it that they get plenty of activity from people walking the path. He's been marking every since he was about 2 or so. He doesn't seem to mark on new items brought into the house but marks on walls and doors. Even though he has been neutered, and this was done when he was very young, he still humps on blankets & rugs quite often, is this behavior normal?? Thanks.

Since you raise two very common topics, let's address them separately. Now the marking. Urine marking is usually associated with dominance behavior, but not always. Since he's been marking for 3 years or so, it might now just be a habit. The fact that you are not home to watch him is an issue. If he and the Min Pin share the same physical space, he might just be letting the Min Pin know that he considers himself the dominant dog. It is important to clean the spots where he marks with a cleaner designed for that purpose. And, since he can go out when he wants, I assume his yard is safe. Why not just leave him out when the weather is nice? If he marks outside, there is no harm. Leaving him out more would also help the shedding issue, I believe. You say that he has a huge backyard and "they get plenty of activity from people walking the path." That suggests that they (both dogs) are engaging in dominance behavior by barking or otherwise reacting to the pedestrians. You should discourage that behavior and it also might help with the marking. Although humping is considered a sexual action, it can also be used to signal power and rank. One out of three neutered male dogs and the occasional neutered female still engage in humping years after neuter surgery. Dogs do, in effect, employ humping as a way of asserting authority. So, if your Pug is marking and humping, my guess is that he's trying to convince anybody that will listen (watch) that he's the numero uno pooch.

The key to all, I believe, is for you to reinforce your dominant position in the pack. If you need help in figuring out how to do that, drop me another note. It is a topic unto itself.

The Dog Guy





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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Dave Pearson

Arvada , CO

Dave Pearson has posted 37 blog entries and 0 comments since joining on 1/7/2008. Dave Pearson 's average blog rating is 5.
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