3 Tips To Prevent Your Dog From Scent-Marking His Territory

Dogs must mark their territory - it's just the way it is! And for a dog there is no better way they like to communicate to the world and announce “Hey, I'm Here, Smell My Scent!”

As normal a behavioral characteristic as this may be, it can be quite annoying to dog owners. Not only does your house get soaked in the odor from your dog's urination, but it also can cost a lot of money on ruined stuff. For example, I'll never forget the day my wife came home and found her new two hundred dollar shoes soaked in our Chihuahuas urine. Our dog simply marked the object because they were brand-new and contained unfamiliar smells. In his mind he was not doing anything wrong.

Below are a few tips that can help you lower the chances of your dog's scent marking behavior:

1. They say that prevention is more efficient than treating the symptom. This can also ring true when it comes to your dog's territory urine marketing. One of the best ways to stop your dog from urine marking is to have him fixed. Getting your dog neutered or spayed will reduce the body's natural chemicals and hormones that get pumped up by sexual heat. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about possible changes in your dog's attitude after being spayed or neutered.

2. A simple little trick that can keep your dog from marking certain areas of your house is to place items that he has respect for in specific areas. For example, just by placing his food dish or water bowl next to an area that he may have marked will prevent him from marking that area again. This is because dogs are naturally clean animals and do not want soil the areas in which they sleep or eat.

3. Another option is to consider utilizing drug therapy. Some dogs spray entirely too much due to fear and high stress levels. Perhaps it is because of past abuse or other similar circumstances, but regardless of the cause, drugs have been proven to help such severe cases. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about possible drug alternatives and do not be afraid to get full disclosure on possible side effects that your dog may experience.