Dog Community

Puppy is 'marking'

Posted : 1/9/2007 7:39:46 AM

Hello all I am new, and will make my intro on the appropriate forum. We have a 2 1/2 female great dane and just added a new fawn GD addition who is fun loving and adorable. He is 17weeks old, when we got him from the breeder he was paper trained. THe first few weeks I'd say he was in the crate most of the day but not all day, and he had about anywhere from 1-3 accidents a day.

Then after a few weeks he would start to MARK, not PEE in various places. I emphasize MARK, b/c I asked for some suggestions on another forum, and the majority kept chiming in that he had to use the bathroom, or that I shouldn't let him roam for 15 minutes and that's why he marked....Needless to say, I didn't get any good advice there, only judgment,and misinterpretation of my question. Marking is a behavioral trait, and no one seemed to want to adress that.

I've always heard they train faster if they are left in the crate all day and only come out to eat and to potty, so I finally broke down, and for about the last week or so, she has been strictly crate trained(even tho I'm not all that thrilled for a pup to be in a cage all day)

So for the last two-three days I've tried GRADUALLY giving him more freedom. I would let him run round the house for about ten minutes before putting him back in, and I STILL notice him marking.

I need some BTDT advice please. I would love to hear from others had this dilema, and how you 'fixed' it, or how long it took for you to break your dane of this habit.

Thank you in advance

EDITED TO ADD-he does this right after coming in from outside and doing his elimination.

calliecritturs

Posted : 1/9/2007 8:38:49 AM

Your p.s. at the end probably tells the tale as far as I'm concerned -- my bet is that this pup has a urinary tract infection. Particularly if he goes straight to the bowl and drinks right after he wets.

I'm not sure I understand why you are making the difference of marking vs. house-training. I'm not doubting you ... I just don't understand.

I don't at all ascribe to crate training that way. For me, a crate is for any time I can't supervise the dog 100%. Any other time the dog is leashed TO me so I can monitor them. You watch for sniffing (which you should see with marking) and any behavior that indicates the dog has to go to the bathroom.

If an accident happens (and preventing an accident IS the purpose of leashing them to me - just to clarify that) then briefly put the dog in the crate just so he can't see you clean up.

I also clean up any urine with a paper towel and go directly outside and put that towel where I DO want the pup to go. Then I go directly in, get them on leash and take them TO that paper. I will stop 'at the scene of the crime' and say "No, not here." (just be serious and disappointed - not angry) and then walk him at a fast clip outside TO that new paper and show him "HERE. OUTside -- I want it here!"

I'm sure others have told you but don't ever clean up in front of them -- somehow handling their waste is encouragement to them -- if this is marking in particular, be very careful about that. And make sure you are using a cleaner that isn't ammoniated -- that always leaves a trace of a scent that is SO close to urine it will drive them to re-mark that spot.

In honesty, if you've been at this for months trying to crate this dog I'd go to a different method. But if he's going the instant your back is turned and marking out of sight -- then he's likely decided peeing is simply an activity you do when a human isn't near to yell at you. I'd make sure I took him ON LEASH outside every single time. Pretty well force him (simply because he and you are joined at the hip ALL the time) to pee in front of you outside so you can tell him how wonderful he is. And you want to make it pretty well impossible for him to mark inside just because you are THERE all the time cos he's leashed to you.

But every time he pees successfully without you seeing him - it reinforces to him "yep, did it there and it was ok". So you can't let him get 'alone' in the house. But at the same time you want to catch him every time he tries to mark and discourage him.

Sometimes we just get off on the wrong foot with a dog -- and they decide all the wrong things. A) I can't pee in front of her ever, B) as long as I pee without anyone seeing it's ok

I've had many many dogs -- never had a dane. But I doubt this is a dane issue. I think it's a "got the wrong signals" problem.

I would surely have the vet elminate a UTI tho -- it can defeat house-training in a big way.

mudpuppy

Posted : 1/9/2007 9:29:59 AM

it's very unlikely that a 17 week old pup would be marking. Also, you are using your crate incorrectly-- the pup shouldn't be in it all day. He should only go in the crate when you can't devote 100% attention to watching him. He shouldn't ever be running around the house without you watching him constantly-- try tethering him to you with a leash. And he shouldn't be allowed to have "accidents" at all in house. Take him out every hour on the hour and praise any potty efforts. Any potty in the house will set you back tremendously, and is entirely your fault for not watching him enough/ taking him out often enough.

nunyabiz nunya

Posted : 1/9/2007 10:48:07 AM

calliecritturs

alliecritturs,

Thanks for you FRIENDLY advice[

] I just asked this on another forum not too long ago(which they were also very helpful), and someone else ,mentioned a possible UTI as well. I guess I was thinking the worst already since I've never had a dog that did that. I will be making an apt today. I take him out every hr to every hour and a half, and we are outside for about 5-8minutes. Good thing is he knows the concept, that you go potty 'outside' ,and another good sign that he's catching on, is my dh said he scratched at the door last night(we had let him roam for awhile) BUT that when she came back in, she still peed on the carpet. Also when he does go/mark...it's dime/quarter size...which is why I think it may be marking, as he's not leaving puddles. Off to try and get an apt to the vets...

danehaven

Posted : 1/9/2007 11:31:19 AM

I suspect UTI also. All our guys have potty trained in less than a week, pups and adults. Callie and Mudpuppy gave good advice. I will add that the first couple days I have a newbie, I take them out about every 15 minutes and puppy party for every outside pee. Then gradually extend the time every day. Take them out every time they take a drink, eat or wake from a nap also. By the end of the week they are trained. It is a huge hassle for a week but saves a lifetime of potty problems.