Quote:
Originally Posted by Nancy1999  Testosterone is a hormone, and hormones work with other systems, such as the sense of smell. The smells of other dogs outside do make them feel the need to mark their territory. This isn't something they think about or decide, it's just something they feel compelled to do. Many dogs are trained to use the pee pad in the house, and yet never mark in the house, but only outside. |
Nancy, I am wondering, have you had male dogs? I respect your knowledge a lot, but I think you are offbase here. The study you're referring to sounds like it must be quite old if you say it employed aversive techniques that would now be illegal. We are still learning so much about dog behavior and have so much more to learn. Without any details on this study, it's hard to know what it really said. Was this study conducted inside people's homes? I don't know if I could train Thor to NEVER mark, but I don't care if he marks outside.
Thor has been neutered, but he is a marker. I disagree that it is simply a smell thing because he used to mark in my apartment, and now he doesn't. The only thing that changed is that I trained him. Maybe HE didn't think about it as potty training, but I certainly did, because my goal was no peeing anywhere but the pads. When he pees on a pad, he squats.
With regard to belly bands, most people say that the feeling of a wet belly is unpleasant enough for most dogs that they won't go when they are wearing them - again, training, and not particularly aversive training either.
Now, I can't say that Thor will never mark inside my apartment again, anymore than I can say there's no such thing as a polka-dot swan. My common sense tells me that male dogs can be trained, and that swans are never born with polka dots, but I can't prove a negative.
FYI, I've walked well over a hundred dogs in the past few months alone, and I would say that over 90% of male dogs mark outside, fixed or not. However, I've never seen a potty training manual that says, "by the way, if you have an intact male dog, all of this is moot, because he'll probably mark in the house anyway."
Anyway, to the OP, I can't wait to see your new dog, you will love him! Be sure to come back with pictures, and I will see you in the potty training forum.
