Marking in the house

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by LolaJean

Are belly bands just for boys? What about girls?

There are pants available for females. They have a hole in the back for the tail.

[LolaJean]

Thanks for the info!

[paulapoo]

Originally Posted by pinklady

Does anyone here have an adult male yorkie that is has not been neutered and having problems with him marking territory in the house? Mine just turned 4 years old back in may, and I'm worried that it's too late in the game to stop him from marking. After getting him neutered, do you think it's possible to stop this behavior if I scrub down my floors with nature's miracle and put a belly band on him for a while? Honestly, does anyone here think this would work? We are moving next summer and my husband said that he does not want my little dog to move with us if he's still marking because my husband doesn't want my dog marking every inch of our new home. I am really looking for some hope here!! I will try anything at this pont as I just can't bring myself to put him up for adoption.

My boys were both neutered at around 6 months old. They are 2 and 3 now. I'm sure neutereing will help your situation, especially if there are no other dogs in your home. Mine both still mark occasionally, especially if we go to a place where there are or have been other dogs. Good Luck. I would definatley invest in some belly bands, they are inexpensive and very effective.

[pinklady]

He's not the only dog, but he is the only male in the house. I have a female cocker spaniel and a female shepherd mix. My big dog is spayed, but not the cocker. Guess maybe I should take my yorkie and cocker in at the same time and get them both fixed up, so to speak?

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by pinklady

He's not the only dog, but he is the only male in the house. I have a female cocker spaniel and a female shepherd mix. My big dog is spayed, but not the cocker. Guess maybe I should take my yorkie and cocker in at the same time and get them both fixed up, so to speak?

Yes the hormones from either or both unspayed/unneutered animal will get them going.

[pinklady]

Okay, I do have another question for you. I keep him crated when I can't watch him, but feel bad about him being in there so much, so many times I have put in a small soft blanket, or towel, and have put stuffed animals in with him as he likes to play with those. However, after just a few days, he ends up pooping on his items! Now if there's nothing in the crate with him, this seldom happens. I know that most dogs won't potty where the bed and food is, so I don't understand why he does this. Any ideas? I also crated trained my cocker when she was a puppy and this wasn't an issue. This is the first male I've ever had so I'm wondering if it's a male thing or what?

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by pinklady

Okay, I do have another question for you. I keep him crated when I can't watch him, but feel bad about him being in there so much, so many times I have put in a small soft blanket, or towel, and have put stuffed animals in with him as he likes to play with those. However, after just a few days, he ends up pooping on his items! Now if there's nothing in the crate with him, this seldom happens. I know that most dogs won't potty where the bed and food is, so I don't understand why he does this. Any ideas? I also crated trained my cocker when she was a puppy and this wasn't an issue. This is the first male I've ever had so I'm wondering if it's a male thing or what?

Yorkies are terriers first, companion dogs second. He is ticked with you and I am not that surprised. If you have to crate him a lot, why not give him more space as he is a young dog, and use an xpen instead to put him somewhere safe when you are busy or out. He would have room to play with toys, chews, room for a bed, food water and a potty pad. Most Yorkies are much more needy high energy dogs than many people realize.
Make sure you are making the time to play with him, walk him, socialize with him and wear him out essentially. Then he is ready for a long nap while you go do whatever it is you want to do.
A dog trainer I work with told me not that long ago that when I am considering keeping a puppy for showing/breeding etc, the first question I have to ask myself is do I really want to be a slave to this dog or let it go for a pet? She is right and is something any dog owner needs to consider before they get a puppy and certainly live it after they have the puppy.
Multiple dogs doesn't helpthe situation as many people think having more than one will keep each other entertained. Not the case as each will be added to what is wanted from you so you have more needy four legged animals you are servant to.

[YorkieShadow]

My male will try and mark if I take him to someones house that has dogs, I always make him wear a belly band when go visiting. He has not been fixed and use to try and mark our own home. He dont do that any more but will still try and mark at other pet owners homes.

[muffinlvr]

Lorraine, you said that if you put a belly band on a male he will eventually learn that he can't mark with one on. My 4 year-old Maltese who was neutered when he was 7 months old still marks in the house. He goes in spurts. He can go for weeks without marking and then all of a sudden he's at it again. This week he's hit the couch, ottoman Muffin and CoCo's beds and last but not least - my shower curtain!!!! I am at my wits end with him. My Yorkie girls are spayed so he's not marking because of them going into heat or anything like that. Could it be a defiance thing?

I am so upset with this behavior. He even does it when we are home! He doesn't do it in front of us but he does it nonetheless. I am getting so frustrated and I don't know what to do!!

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by muffinlvr

Lorraine, you said that if you put a belly band on a male he will eventually learn that he can't mark with one on. My 4 year-old Maltese who was neutered when he was 7 months old still marks in the house. He goes in spurts. He can go for weeks without marking and then all of a sudden he's at it again. This week he's hit the couch, ottoman Muffin and CoCo's beds and last but not least - my shower curtain!!!! I am at my wits end with him. My Yorkie girls are spayed so he's not marking because of them going into heat or anything like that. Could it be a defiance thing?

I am so upset with this behavior. He even does it when we are home! He doesn't do it in front of us but he does it nonetheless. I am getting so frustrated and I don't know what to do!!

It is more of a problem when you have multiple dogs even if all are spayed/neutered there is still a territorial thing.
Yes, use a belly band when he gets into this behaviour. Crate or xpen him at night or when you want to rest him without the band. After a few days they realize they don't actually mark anything and will finally 'get it'.
Maltese behaviour and problem behaviour is very similar to Yorkies.
I have spayed girls that also will mark but I also have a few dogs now. At one time when I only had two a male and a female both spayed/neutered Yorkies, no problem.