By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:           

What you do, and even more important, where you do it, can sometimes make your VIPeople angry. That’s a fact. You’ll know it’s a fact if you lift your leg against the edge of the sofa, or maybe squat on a far corner of the rug. But, like so many things in a dog’s life, there are two ways of looking at it. An explanation of both ways may help.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:            

It is usually a male that urinates against a piece of furniture, although some females do it, too. In either case, the chances are very good that you never saw it happen and it is a normal canine behavior called marking. A bit of dog egotism, the “I was here” or “This is mine” message. So, if it’s only a few drops, it’s a behavioral problem; if it’s a lot more than that, it could be a bladder complication and a visit to the vet is in order.            

In either case, there is one important rule to stick to: Do NOT punish the dog unless you catch him in the act! If the dog is marking, chances are good that he’ll get away with it a few times. Watch him! AS he goes to a spot where he has done it before (or a new one where he’s about to) give him a warning distraction.  That is a far better way to stop it than to try to interrupt what usually amounts to a very quick leg-lift and it’s over. There are several good products on the market to deter such pet behavior, so be sure to get one that will not harm your furniture, rugs or whatever else the dog has soiled.               

Another problem can occur that is not really the dog’s fault, and this most often occurs when a puppy or young dog is brought home. You let the dog out in the (properly-fenced-in) yard by himself for 20 or 30 minutes and two minutes after he comes back in the house, he does his business on the floor! Not a good way to begin. That is, not a good way for YOU to begin! Any dog that is new to your home regardless of age needs to be properly toilet trained. Take him outside, on leash, and walk him – within his fenced-in area, and only where you want him to eliminate – until he starts to go. THAT is when you praise with a calm and quiet, “Good Rufus.” No cheering. No waiting until he’s finished to voice your approval. Timing is essential. Now he can come in the house.

For anyone with a very small dog such as a Yorkie or Toy Poodle, there can be a different problem. To save going out in bad weather, or for any other reason, these dogs are often trained to eliminate in a special place on pads or papers. That’s a perfectly good solution, but comes with a warning. If you put any kind of papers down in the same place every day, you may discover that the dog changes the precise area he uses, or moves the papers!

It’s another quite normal canine reaction, this time to their sense of smell. Dogs will urinate in the same place numerous times, but the scent of their own feces turns them away. Unless you thoroughly clean the area before putting fresh papers down, that fecal odor will remain. Household cleaners don’t do the job, so you’ll need a product that is specifically made to remove the odor of dog urine and feces. Pads made for this indoor use also eliminate these odors. Dogs also “go” based on their tactile sense which is why it is easier to house-train by always having them use the same surface under their feet – be it paper, concrete, gravel or grass. Constant rain makes it particularly hard for new puppy owners to stick to one surface – other than mud!            

So when you discover the “accident” and Rufus gives you that innocent look that in clear canine language says, “Who, me?” remember it’s too late for punishment. Put him outside or in another room while you clean up.

                            

Until next time – BE GOOD!

-  Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained and showed Welsh Terriers for 30 years during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs, the latest being Rescue Me! which received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award last year.