Neutering will reduce male marking behavior in more than 80% of male dogs but will only eliminate it in about 40% of dogs. Neutering is also recommended for female dogs that mark during estrus.
In many cases, male dogs that are neutered stop urine marking within weeks to months of the procedure. Female dogs that are spayed almost always stop the behavior. However, behavior modification is often needed as well.
Usually it is because of feelings of insecurity or a perceived threat. This perceived threat, for example, can be an introduction of a new baby, a new pet, a visitor or even a new piece of furniture. The smell of other animals on your footwear or clothing can also trigger a dog to feel the need to mark his territory.
Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Spaying or neutering your dog will reduce or eliminate urine marking in many dogs. According to the North American Veterinary Community, as many as 50% of male dogs stop urine marking, or at least do it significantly less often, after being neutered.
For most dogs, urine marking usually begins around the time they reach sexual maturity, which can be between 6 and 12 months of age, depending on the size and breed of dog.
How can marking be treated? Neutering will reduce male marking behavior in more than 80% of male dogs but will only eliminate it in about 40% of dogs. Neutering is also recommended for female dogs that mark during estrus.
Marking territory on walks
Remember, however, that sniffing their environment is important for your dog and they should be given ample opportunity to explore their world. Please also bear in mind that marking is normal dog behaviour and we should never punish our dogs for it.
The 10 to 40 percent of dogs who don't stop their marking after neutering and remedial housetraining efforts are probably, like Dubhy, marking because of stress. In some cases, identifying stressors and removing them can eliminate marking. There are a variety of different strategies for removing stressors.
Belly bands can also be used with dogs that mark regularly. Keep in mind that these do not teach dogs not to mark, it merely prevents the urine from reaching its intended target. If belly bands are used they need to be checked at least once an hour and if they are wet, replaced with a new one.
Urine marking is most common with sexually intact male dogs, but intact female dogs and neutered dogs may also mark. Underlying medical reasons for inappropriate urination, such as urinary tract infections, should be ruled out before a diagnosis of marking behavior is made. Neutering can often resolve the problem.
When to Neuter. The traditional age for neutering is six to nine months. However, puppies as young as eight weeks can be neutered as long as there aren't other health problems. An adult dog can be neutered at any time but there is a larger risk of complications.
Train Your Dog to Stop Scent Marking
Never punish your dog for markings that you find later. If your dog is about to mark, interrupt the behavior with a short, sharp vocal noise. Immediately redirect them to something more positive, or take him outside and reward them for the desired behavior.
Typically, when a dog is marking it is a small amount of urine in several places. These places may be random, or they could be in a favorite spot. Dogs can mark for many reasons; the two most common are to show ownership on what they consider their territory and anxiety.
Behavioral Changes in a Dog After Being Neutered
Removing the testicles removes the largest source of testosterone in the body. This results in a decrease in sexually driven behaviors in your dog: urine marking, escaping to seek female dogs, and aggression toward other male dogs.
Your pet may be urine-marking if:
The amount of urine is small and is found primarily on vertical surfaces. Dogs and cats do sometimes mark on horizontal surfaces. Leg-lifting and spraying are common versions of urine-marking, but even if your pet doesn't assume these postures, he may still be urine-marking.
Is it Too Late? The recommended time to spay or neuter a dog is six to nine months. But if your dog is healthy, there is no specific age limit to having the procedure done.
"In general, a pet should be neutered as soon as he starts demonstrating naughty behaviors like being aggressive or dominant, marking territory, or trying to escape to find a mate," Nichols says.
On average dogs who are spayed or neutered live one and a half years longer than those who are not. Typically, dogs who are not fixed live to be about 8 years of age, where fixed dogs average about nine and a half years.
Additional tip: It is necessary to change your furbaby's belly band at least every 3-4 hours or as soon as it is soiled. Allowing pee to sit against your dog's skin for a long period of time can cause infections and will make your dog uncomfortable.
You will need to change the belly band as soon as it is soiled to prevent urine burn. This painful condition happens when urine stays on your dog's skin for too long. Even if you don't think your dog has soiled the band, you should change it every 3 hours or so.
Tethering is not only bad for dogs—it is a high-risk factor in serious dog bites and attacks. Dogs unable to retreat from perceived or real threats can act out aggressively when approached. Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive.
They do not cause any pain. As long as the belly band is changed after urinating so it doesn't cause any skin irritation, it is not cruel. The pros and cons of belly bands for dogs are meant to give dog owners all of the information needed to make a well-informed decision.