Marking
 

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member (just joined last week, and thanks to those who've sent me welcomes :)) and I have a question.

I got my Yorkie Teddy about a year ago as a buddy for my Maltese, kind of through a rescue situation. His former owner just wanted to get rid of him - what I think happened was she never formally house-broke him nor did she have him neutered, and so when he started peeing all over the place, she hit him (he was traumatized when I got him and was severely anti-social to people). Then she got fed up and just wanted to get rid of them - and I got him.

So I rehabilitated him - got him neutered and tried to housebreak him after coming home the first day to pee/marking all over the apt. He had no sense of cleanliness or of how to keep his sleeping area clean. After some months, he slowly started responded pretty well but not bc of the neutering. I didn't use a crate, I enclosed him within a few rooms so that he could have his space and also pee in a consistent area. This also worked but then thought I could leave him loose in the apt (thinking he'd go consistently in the same area) and what a disaster - he didn't mark everything but he marked quite a bit of places other than where he was supposed to go (the Maltese is completely house trained so he didn't get it from him). What I think is that the marking behavior is so engrained in him that he just assumes this what he should do all the time (I should mention that when I take him out for his walks, he sniffs and marks EVERYTHING).

Any ideas on what I should/could do?

Welcome to YT and Thank you for loving him!!

I would still keep him confined in one area, when you are gone or can't watch him...throw a potty party :D when he does pee and poop outside you can even give him a treat "something he really likes" when he does...if you catch him in the act...say NO in a firm voice don't yell no it will scare him cause he was abused poor baby...and take him right outside and give him a command like "go potty" everytime if he doesn't potty after about 20 minutes take him back in and put him in his confined space for another 30 minutes or so and than try again until he goes...Marking is really hard to break I hear but it can be done...you might think about getting a belly band...its a diaper like thingy that you wrap around his belly over his peepee when you let him out in the house to play...if he marks than the belly band diaper catches the pee :D

Heres a link for the belly Bands...Good Luck :) and Happy Valentine's Day!


Belly Bands For Male Dogs

Belly bands are GREAT while teaching them not to mark. I have a rescue and he was neutered when I got him but he marked a lot so until he was completely housebroke (which took several months) he wore a belly band. I praised him with a treat over and over every time he went potty outside. Now the only time I put a belly band on him is if we are going to be gone more than a couple hours. It just takes time and a lot of patience.

Thanks ladies - I ordered one today on Amazon. I'll give you an update after I try it :)

I'm sure you will love it and find it a bit easier for training, and the sake of your carpet ;)