4 month old marking & humping?? Neutering?

[dydy]

Recently 4 month old yorkie has started humping and lifting his leg and peeing pretty much anywhere. He's 4 months tomorrow.

It's too soon to have him neutered right? And would that even help now that these behaviors have started?

Ok and this is random...is there anyway to tell a dog's true age? This stuff along with some other things is making me doubt his real age. I just have an icky feeling about the place I got him and I'm wondering if they lied to make him seem more desirable.

[yorkieusa]

The person you need to address this question to is your vet. He/she can answer all of your questions or doubts. There are some people who neuter very young, but I am not one to believe it is a wise thing to do. Do you have any belly bands to use in the meantime?

[Nancy1999]

That's pretty young to be lifting the leg, but there is so much variation between dogs, it doesn't mean the breeder lied. Most say they are older than they really are, so that you will think their adult weight will be smaller than what it will be. I've never heard of breeder saying they are younger than what they really are, but anything's possible. He's pretty young yet, Joey wasn't lifting his leg, but if I didn't have a pee pad close, he'd pretty much pee where he wanted. What type of training are you doing? I'd talk to the vet about when to neuter, you want some adult teeth in so that he can pull remaining baby teeth. I think 7 months is about the youngest I'd do it.

I'm not sure you want to use a belly band before they are even housebroken. It would make it harder to housebreak. You don't ever want them to get used to being saturated with pee.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

That's pretty young to be lifting the leg, but there is so much variation between dogs, it doesn't mean the breeder lied. Most say they are older than they really are, so that you will think their adult weight will be smaller than what it will be. I've never heard of breeder saying they are younger than what they really are, but anything's possible. He's pretty young yet, Joey wasn't lifting his leg, but if I didn't have a pee pad close, he'd pretty much pee where he wanted. What type of training are you doing? I'd talk to the vet about when to neuter, you want some adult teeth in so that he can pull remaining baby teeth. I think 7 months is about the youngest I'd do it.

I'm not sure you want to use a belly band before they are even housebroken. It would make it harder to housebreak. You don't ever want them to get used to being saturated with pee.

Many people only use bellybands as an aid to prevent marking.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Many people only use bellybands as an aid to prevent marking.

I understand that, we use them too when we visit other people's home, but at 16 weeks I didn't know if the dog was marking or just peeing all over. I think wearing BB's that early could hinder the training process. A 16 week old dog should not have access to the house. When he's out of his x-pen, he should be closely watched and at any signs of needing to pee he should be placed on a pee pad. I'm just concerned he'll pee in his belly band and never really learn about holding his urine. Just because a dog is lifting his leg, it doesn't mean he's marking. A dog can squat and mark.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I understand that, we use them too when we visit other people's home, but at 16 weeks I didn't know if the dog was marking or just peeing all over. I think wearing BB's that early could hinder the training process. A 16 week old dog should not have access to the house. When he's out of his x-pen, he should be closely watched and at any signs of needing to pee he should be placed on a pee pad. I'm just concerned he'll pee in his belly band and never really learn about holding his urine. Just because a dog is lifting his leg, it doesn't mean he's marking. A dog can squat and mark.

That makes sense! Mine does squat to mark, but it is outside only!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

That makes sense! Mine does squat to mark, but it is outside only!

Oh that's funny, Joey only marks outside too, I'm so happy about that, but we get lots of other doggy visitors and they aren't so good. Do you just have the one, it seems like they start lifting the leg when they are around other male dogs.

[skittlz]

if that is to early of an age to start lifting his leg then I'm in trouble sonic started lifting his leg around 3 months it wasn't constant he would do it every now and then. Sonic isn't neutered yet, i'm waiting for him to lose the rest of his baby teeth vet said he had up to 8 so not sure if he has lost any since then...

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by skittlz

if that is to early of an age to start lifting his leg then I'm in trouble sonic started lifting his leg around 3 months it wasn't constant he would do it every now and then. Sonic isn't neutered yet, i'm waiting for him to lose the rest of his baby teeth vet said he had up to 8 so not sure if he has lost any since then...

Actually you don't have to wait until they lose their baby teeth, you just have to wait til they have some adult teeth. Most of us have the vet pull the rest of the baby teeth when they are being neutered.

[dawn27]

Marking is a normal thing for a male dog to do no madder what age the dog is. Not even neutering will stop it totally. My quincy was 9 before he was neutered and the only time we have issues with him marking is when one of the girls is in heat.

Was your boy totally potty trained before this started to happen? If so he may just be regressing do to a change taking place in your home.

The humping behavior can be stopped. You just need to correct him before he gets too far into his obsession. Take away any toys that he uses for his hump buddy. Than correct the behavior not the dog if you know what I mean. When he stops the behavior... reward him with lots and lots of praise. Even if you have to do it a dozen times, until he gets it.

Or ... should I say doesn't " get it " .....

[dydy]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I understand that, we use them too when we visit other people's home, but at 16 weeks I didn't know if the dog was marking or just peeing all over. I think wearing BB's that early could hinder the training process. A 16 week old dog should not have access to the house. When he's out of his x-pen, he should be closely watched and at any signs of needing to pee he should be placed on a pee pad. I'm just concerned he'll pee in his belly band and never really learn about holding his urine. Just because a dog is lifting his leg, it doesn't mean he's marking. A dog can squat and mark.

Thanks for the feedback. A belly band isn't really an option I'm considering right now. He doesn't have access to the house. He's always supervised or in his xpen. The marking is not necessarily in the house. Just anywhere really, a tree, bush, post, random places around the yard. I just thought it seemed early for him to start that behavior. Wondering if it's normal for it to begin around this age.

We are training him to potty outside and it's going fairly well.

[dydy]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Marking is a normal thing for a male dog to do no madder what age the dog is. Not even neutering will stop it totally. My quincy was 9 before he was neutered and the only time we have issues with him marking is when one of the girls is in heat.

Was your boy totally potty trained before this started to happen? If so he may just be regressing do to a change taking place in your home.

The humping behavior can be stopped. You just need to correct him before he gets too far into his obsession. Take away any toys that he uses for his hump buddy. Than correct the behavior not the dog if you know what I mean. When he stops the behavior... reward him with lots and lots of praise. Even if you have to do it a dozen times, until he gets it.

Or ... should I say doesn't " get it " .....

Good to know that marking can happen at any age! He isn't completely potty trained yet. We've only had him a couple of weeks.

He has tried the humping a towel, blanket, etc and it just take it away. Unfortunately the new target is my 3 year old's leg . Of course she thinks it's cute because he holds on with his little paws. Gah! Need to work on that one for sure.

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by dydy

Good to know that marking can happen at any age! He isn't completely potty trained yet. We've only had him a couple of weeks.

He has tried the humping a towel, blanket, etc and it just take it away. Unfortunately the new target is my 3 year old's leg . Of course she thinks it's cute because he holds on with his little paws. Gah! Need to work on that one for sure.

OH My, As funny as it may be.... SO NOT ACCEPTABLE !

It really is possible to stop the behavior as long as you are consistent with him. Use a quick correction "Name" and "NO" or "Down" if that doesn't work you might want to try the shaker can correction method.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Marking is a normal thing for a male dog to do no madder what age the dog is. Not even neutering will stop it totally. My quincy was 9 before he was neutered and the only time we have issues with him marking is when one of the girls is in heat.

Was your boy totally potty trained before this started to happen? If so he may just be regressing do to a change taking place in your home.

The humping behavior can be stopped. You just need to correct him before he gets too far into his obsession. Take away any toys that he uses for his hump buddy. Than correct the behavior not the dog if you know what I mean. When he stops the behavior... reward him with lots and lots of praise. Even if you have to do it a dozen times, until he gets it.

Or ... should I say doesn't " get it " .....

If you neuter, before testosterone is fully bumping in their bloodstreams, marking is much easier to control, as it is not ingrained in their system. My guess is any dog neutered after the age of two has a good chance of being a marker for life, but especially a 9 year old. The problem is compounded by the fact that while the testes make the bulk of testosterone, the adrenal glands make some as well, and this varies greatly between dogs. So all dogs make some testosterone for life.

Also, Mardelin said that that humping has the benefit of encouraging the puppies testicles to drop. Most pups do stop humping after neutering, but those adrenal glands come into play again.


Do not allow him to hump a human ever. No need to get violent, simply say, "no" and push away, they get the idea pretty fast.

[Joyce Adams]

Yoshi, my peke was neutered at 5 months and I have always had a problem with him marking, and yes in the house, Whenever I got new furniture and even when my daughters family stayed here sitting with him while we were out of town, he marked their hoodies if they were hanging on a chair..I took control of him when this would happen and all would be fine, now he is doing it again and the vet said it is b/c of Prissy.

I am at my witts end as to what to do...he looks guilty when caught and he does know better. I just wish I had the answers too.