Training dogs is tough. As a dog owner is vital to be in charge when it comes to your dog’s training. There are some bizarre training tips for dogs. Before you do it, let’s discuss if peeing on your dog shows dominance. It’s unsanitary, but you’ll be surprised about what it can do. In this article, we’ll challenge this trick to see if it borders on a myth or a fact.
Should I Pee on My Dog?
Peeing on your dog is a myth.
It’s not recommended to pee on a dog to show dominance. Anger and frustration isn’t the answer to solve problems. It does not help gain trust and respect from the dog.
Urine has a zoo of bacteria living in it. Poop, too. It is not a safe decision for your dog’s health. This fact is not pleasant for the squeamish but you have to know that there are more species in dog pee than either dog butts or dog genitalia. That’s why people get sick when they have disorders with their bladders.
Peeing on your dog is unlikely to perform the behavior change you want. Your dog’s behavior may be slightly suppressed due to her confusion. In the long run, peeing on your dog could scare them. It damages the relationship. It will also give them the wrong idea, thinking it’s a treat.
Either way, true behavioral change to peeing on your dog is unlikely. Think of how terrible your dog smells afterward. Plus you need to give them a bath instead of letting them linger in the distasteful smell of it. It’s a better idea to consult with a trained professional.
Dog’s Call of Nature.
Dog’s are dogs. They are only doing what their kind has always done. Most pet owners don’t like it when their dogs pee in the house. Admittedly, dogs can’t help themselves. Dogs are not peeing on furniture or the rug on purpose. It’s to let strangers know that they have trespassed in their territory.
Urine-marking is not house soiling. When a dog empties his bladder inside the house there are a few reasons he may do this.
- Not housebroken properly
- Has a medical issue
- Loss of control with bladder
A Dog’s Territorial Behavior
Urine-marking is a territorial behavior. To ease his anxiety or assert his dominance, your dog will pee in the house to lay out his boundaries. Whether it is on the furniture, the walls, or your clothing, dogs deposit small amounts of urine on what they feel belongs to them. Urine-marking is most often associated mainly with male dogs. The amount of urine found primarily on vertical surfaces.
They Like the Smell
While you detest it, dogs actually like the smell of urine. Let’s get the gross facts out. Dogs like to pee and poop. The smell of urine recognizes where dogs have been, the food they’ve eaten, physical conditions, and their moods. Smelling urine is a hobby. In a way, your dog is leaving you a gift when urinating in the house. Dogs and humans live differently from one another.
Do Dogs Pee as Much as Humans?
The average healthy dog produces around 10 to 20 ml of urine per day. Only allow adult dogs outside to relieve themselves at least 3-5 times a day. During walks try to walk the dog to a quiet area remote from the main crowd of people and other dogs.
Why Else is My Dog Doing This?
Here are a few more reasons why your dog is urinating around the house. Study these facts to understand your dog’s behavior. Before you go ahead with showing your dog dominance, read into the alternatives of what you could do. It’s recommended to get a better picture before concluding with unlikely assumptions.
- The dog has not been spayed or neutered. Dogs who are Unneutered tend to be more assertive. They are highly prone to marking than neutered dogs.
- A new pet joined the household (AKA jealousy). This may result in a conflict between the animals. The dog wants to make its territory and status in the pack known
- Other than a new dog, there is someone new in the house, like a new baby. The dog wants to make known that the house is his territory.
- There are new objects in the home.
Do Dogs Get Revenge By Peeing?
A myth that has transpired is if dogs pee on your or furniture in the house out of revenge. Dogs NEVER mess up the house out of revenge. They don’t understand that it makes you mad. That includes digging in the yard, chewing on furniture, and shredding things.
Not Out of Spite Either
When dogs pee in the house, people usually think the dog is being spiteful. That is not the case. It’s easy to understand how people might get this idea because dogs pick odd spots to pee in. Even if it makes pet owners angry when a dog has an accident inside, stay calm. That is very important. Do not blame the dog.
Is it Marking or Peeing?
Dogs and cats seldom mark with feces. Dogs and cats do sometimes pee on horizontal surfaces. Leg-lifting and spraying are common versions of urine-marking, though even if your pet doesn’t understand these postures, he may still be urine-marking.
Do They Have a UTI?
Signs that your dog has a UTI include bloody urine, difficulty urinating and licking of the area. Some indications of UTIs may, in fact, mean something worse, like bladder cancer or kidney disease. Instead of believing that your dog is peeing in the house on purpose, look at all the facts before making the first assumption
Other Medical Issues Involved:
- Diabetes
- Kidney Issues
- Prostate Disease
- Dogs Who are Aging
Puppies are known to have accidents because they have just started their training, but we need to talk about aging dogs. Old age can bring on accidents. Forms of dementia or senility occur in aging dogs, leading to urinating in the house. Dogs may forget their house training. It’s sad, but you have to give notice of this possibility.
Behavioral Problems
Another instance is that your dog might be displaying submissive or exciting urination. This may happen if your dog is threatened by someone or something. It’s normal for some dogs to pee when someone is standing over them and watching, especially if the dog is young or fearful. Dogs may also urinate inappropriately when worried and stressed out.
Analyze the situation to determine if something in the environment is triggering the strange behavior in the dog. Have you added a new pet to the household lately? Have you welcomed a new baby into the family? Or is it possible that someone in the household recently left or passed away? Dogs are usually very sensitive to these types of environmental changes.
How to be the Alpha to Your Dog
Don’t let your dog control you. As the owner, you are the leader. Be assertive and don’t let your dog get into trouble. Here are 6 tips in which you can gain power in the Alpha role.
- When going out for a walk, don’t let the dog tug on the leash. Instead, have your dog stay beside you. Don’t allow him to sniff freely and only allow him to relieve himself at appropriate times.
- To stop that annoying begging, make your dog stay in the kitchen. Do not allow him to eat a morsel. It’s a fact that Alpha dogs always eat first. Since you’re eating first, you are the Alpha
- Before your dog walks through them, take a walk through all the halls first. Restrain him from going first. Once you have walked through first, tell him to come
- Ignore your dog the first time he comes into a room. Let a few minutes go by. This shows him that you do not give him your awareness based on when he wants it, but when you are ready to give it.
- Avoid rolling around on the floor with your dog. This gives your dog the wrong message that you are being submissive. And don’t invite them to bed unless you tell them to. Don’t allow aggressive dogs on the furniture.
- Hold eye contact with your dog. Do not be the first to look away. When the dog understands you mean business, he will revert his eyes. You have become the leader of the pack.
Ways to Prevent Dogs Urinating in the House
Let’s go over some prevention scenarios before resorting to peeing on your dog to show dominance.
- Did You Take Your Dog to the Vet
The veterinarian always knows what to do. If the situation is getting out of hand, take them to the vet as soon as possible. At the vet, any lingering medical issues will be ruled out. If they are healthy then it’s time to think about a plan to get them to stop marking their territory.
- Get Your Dog Spayed/Neutered
Get your dog spayed or neutered as soon as possible. The longer you wait to get a dog neutering, the more difficult it is to train him not to mark in the house. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces urine-marking. If you’re lucky, it may stop it altogether.
However, if he has been marking his territory for a long time, a pattern evolves. It then becomes a learned behavior. Getting sprayed or neutered too late into the game does not solve the issue Use methods for housetraining an adult dog to change your dog’s marking behavior.
Tips on What to Do
Here are a few more ideas on what you can do to make your dog stop peeing in the house. You should consult with an animal trainer/behaviorist to get a better understanding of the situation.
- Clean up the soiled areas of the house with a specific cleaner. Immediately eliminate the lingering odors
- Keep objects likely to cause marking out of range. Guests’ belongings and new purchases should be stored in a closet or cabinet.
- Don’t allow your dog to go near the door or window. Seeing animals outside makes them pee in the house
- Keep a close eye on your dog when he is indoors. Be on the lookout for signs that he is thinking about urinating. When he starts to urinate, interrupt him with a loud noise, and take him outside.
- If the situation is based on anxiety, talk to your vet about medicating him with a short course of anti-anxiety medication. This will soothe him and modify his behavior effectively.
Cleaning Messes Properly
If there are urine messes in the house, clean the spots up properly. Dogs have great senses. The smell of urine may linger for them even if it’s not detectable to owners.
Here’s an idea. Buy ready-made enzyme cleaners from pet stores and supermarkets. Or make your own cleaner with a 10% solution of a biological washing powder. Rinse the area after cleaning it. Of course, always do a patch test of any cleaner before using it, to be sure your carpet or another flooring won’t be damaged.
Should I Punish My Dog?
Not with physical punishment that is. Although dogs may not understand, verbal punishment will make them listen. However, don’t do this all the time. Because you yelled at them, dogs may avoid you because of your tone.
Right after your dog has misbehaved, punish him. Some examples of punishments include no treats, not going for a walk, or being alone in a room.
What can happen is that when the dog wants to pee, but out of sight of their owners. This alludes to that aside from not solving the issue, punishing the dog makes the problem worse. The dog is now scared to pee in front of you outside.
And when the dog obeys, praise him. Make it known that he did a good thing and followed the rules. Keep spare treats on hand.