How to Stop Territorial Marking ? 10 Useful Tips

By Wayne Tuttle 

Territorial marking comes in many forms. A dog may start barking when strangers come near their predetermined space. For cats, marking their territory is somewhat different. Cats will rub their body across an object, such as a new chair or a pair of shoes. In most cases, both cats and dogs mark their territory with urine, but in severe cases, a cat or dog may mark by defecating in their territory.

Often a male dog will mark his territory in your house or even worse when you go visiting at someone else's house. This can be quite embarrassing to say the least. Simply put, urine marking is NOT a house breaking issue, it is a territorial behavior. Take notice how many times your dog lifts his leg during your routine walk. This is your dogs way of saying "this is my territory, I own it".

Understanding WHY our pets have a need to mark their territory is our first challenge. The next step is to try and change this learned behavior. Here are a few reasons WHY they mark.
WHY:

1. If your pet sees another cat or dog or another animal, they may mark or re-mark their territory. They are setting boundaries to prevent a potential fight. 

2. New objects, new people, new surroundings, or new smells may cause your cat or dog to claim ownership of these new things or people. 

3. Conflicts with other pets in your household. Instability in the Pack hierarchy may cause a dog or cat to try and establish their dominance. The bullied pet will be the one who will want to mark their territory. 

4. Not cleaning previously soiled areas properly. Pheromones must be eliminated.
What can we do to get rid of this unwanted behavior? If you follow these simple useful tips, territorial marking should be a thing of the past.

USEFUL TIPS:

1. Neuter your dog or cat as soon as possible. It will be hard to break this habit if your dog or cat has been urine marking for awhile. 

2. Restrict your dog from looking out windows and doors. 

3. For cats: keep them indoors. 

4. Thoroughly clean previously marked areas. You should have a cleaner that gets rid of stain, smell and Pheromone. There are a few good products on the market that will get rid of all three. 

5. Keep new articles out of reach of your dog or cat, especially if family/friends have a new pair of shoes or pocket book. 

6. Don't let your dog mark on every tree, bush, fire hydrant, post or other vertical objects while out on a walk. 

7. If you have a new person in your house, such as a new baby, spouse, or roommate, make sure you introduce this new person to your dog or cat. Have them feed and/or play with your pets. 

8. When possible, watch your cat or dog to see if he looks like he is about to remark a previous spot. If you see this, use a squirt bottle with water in it or make a loud sounding noise. Clap, use a whistle or air horn. This will distract them from concentrating on the bad habit. 

9. Use a male Belly Band on your dog. This product will deter them from attempting to mark their territory because dogs hate feeling wet around their private parts. 

10. You must show You are the Pack Leader in your home and resolve conflicts with other household pets.

Keep in mind, territorial marking is a learned behavior. Changing your pet's behavior takes time, patience and consistency. By using some or all of the above useful tips, you should be successful at eliminating territorial marking. However, if your dog or cat continues to mark its territory, you should have your veterinarian assess your pet to see if it is a medical issue rather than territorial marking.

Wayne Tuttle is a writer, motivational speaker and co-owner of Two Tuttle's Four Paws. To learn more about Wayne or to find useful information and unusual pet products visit http://www.TwoTuttlesFourPaws.com

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