boys marking?
 

Just wondered if being fixed really makes a difference in the potty habits of your boy babies.

Have no idea how to set up a poll but wondered if you could share your unfixed babies potty habits.

I know I have known several unfixed boys with acceptable potty habits. Just don't know if it's the norm or not. Could it just be a matter of how well the boy is trained?

Kim and Teddy

I'm probably going to get in hot water for this, but I have ALWAYS wondered what exctly people are trying to say when they say that if boys are fixed, they won't "mark their territory". 99.9% of the males I've ever had, wheather it's a Yorkie or a Saint Bernard, hike their leg to pee. If this is "marking their territory", then all of mine fixed or not still marked!! Boys "hike" heir legs to go. Heck, I've even got girls that lift their leg to go. I'm looking forward to this post to see how people respond to your question.
Suz
P.S. Mine go outside so I don't care if they hike their leg or not.

I had Gus fixed before he started marking. But it didn't stop him from doing so. He wont mark in the house but he sure will outside!

OOOOOPS! I guess I better make my question more clear.

My real question is about marking in the house specifically. Just like you I could care less about marking outside.

Kim

I really think that it has nothing to do with whether or not they are neutered or intact on whether they will mark or not. I believe it all has to do with their training.

I have two boys and they do not mark inside the house. They know they are not allowed to, and they are very good boys and abide by the rule. Outside is a different story. I don't care if they mark outside, so they have fun marking everything outside since they never do it inside. And no my boys are not fixed, both are intact. I think it is really how well they are trained. My boys know marking or leg lifting in the house is a big no no so they never do it.

If you think about it, the training has to be the reason why they do or do not mark because even males that are neutered at even a young age will still mark. It is just like humping. I watch a friend's dog every now and then and the dog humps every dog, at her house she is allowed to do this. But when she comes to my house, she won't do it as she knows I do not allow it. I also watched a neutered male, he was allowed to mark in their house and did it quite often but when he came to my house, he would not do it as he knows that it is not allowed.

Thanks for your thoughts! :thumbup: Can you share what you do to make them understand that humping is not allowed? Tonight I saw my Teddy do it for the first time and my hubby said "don't let him do that!" (He was doing it to a pillow. I really didn't know if it o.k. to yell at him for that. If that makes sense??? Just figured it was natural and he would do it regarless. If I can teach him not to I will definately!

Kim and Teddy

Shadow does that too. To a pillow or a stuffed animal of my daughters. I just look at him and say "NO"...He usually listens and goes on to doing something else. I have a Black Lab and a Lab Akita mix and they do not hump anything. They are obviously both males LOL I haven't had that trouble with them but Shadow does it whenever he gets a chance to. Hopefully, he will get the picture that it is not allowed?! :aimeeyork

I have a marking dog and would in the future do anything to prevent it... a marking dog is no fun :eek:

I'm sorry! I am really hoping to be able to avoid that. If by chance I don't Teddy will definately be sporting some great wraps! LOL


Kim

question...
 

My little guy doesn't lift his leg to pee. Does this mean he doesn't mark? I always thought it was because he was to small to lift his little leg.

Hmmmm, don't know if that means he doesn't mark or not. I used to have a female Maltese that did lift her leg when she went???

I have an 11 year old golden retriever male that practically squats to pee. He does not mark even when outside.
And all my girls lift their leg and DO mark when outside. If one pees, the other will go over to it and pee on top of it. :rolleyes:

Marking and lifting their legs to pee are two different things. Just like with peeing some lift their legs to mark and some do squat. Animals mark to let other animals know that is their terroritory. It is usually a small amount and on vertical objects.
Gus doesn't mark in the house and he squats to pee 99% of the time but take him on a walk and he lifts his leg to mark every object he can. It is usually such a tiny amount at a time I can't even see it.
I hope that makes sense.

Mine is still a baby and pees standing up........lol

I know many male dogs that even after getting fixed they marked. I don't believe that fixing them will solve the problem. It's more about training.