possible explination for dog marking inside his house?

    • Bronze

    possible explination for dog marking inside his house?

    so i have had a male jack russell terrier for 3 years now, and i raised him myself. for the past month, he has been marking and pooping inside the house for no apparent reason. he doesnt wine to be let out and this has never happened before. it has happened with increasing frequency and we had to decide to make him an outside dog permantently until we find a way to change this problem. anyone have any advice on what could be causing it and how to fix it? thank you
    • Gold Top Dog
    Is he neutered?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Is he marking, or releasing his bladder full-force?  I have a dog who has done some marking (a few drops of urine), mostly before we fully enforced NILIF rules with him, and our other dog...
    • Gold Top Dog
    This dog needs to see a vet....
    Sudden changes like this are commonly a medical problem. I'd suggest getting him an appointment ASAP.
    Good Luck
    • Bronze
    i'd agree, it's either the dog isnt' neutered or there's a medical problem...i had a great dane who would suddenly just drop a large amount a poo and didn't realize what he was doing...ended up having Colon cancer or something <---can't remember what it was exactly, but it was cancer...had to put him down, he'd lost too much weight and wasn't eating anymore...he ended up getting a stroke or seizure and my father put him down himself...really sad, the vet couldn't do anything
    • Bronze
    yes he's neutered, and it seems like alot more than a few drops, and hes lifting his leg to do it. hes peeing on things like new boxes and our piano. ill take him to the vet and see if theres anything wrong with him, if not, what should i do? 
    • Gold Top Dog
    We saw a behaviorist about our guy's issues (for marking, but also a whole host of other things).  She felt that he was marking and that he did not have a house training problem and that he was marking because he was reacting to other pets getting preferential treatment (like the older dog sleeping on the couch - Gandolf marked on the side of the couch, or the cat sleeping on the bed - Gandolf marked on the side of the bed, etc.).  The marking has pretty much stopped when we pursued NILIF rules with him and our other dog (doing that with the cat is, if you've ever owned one, somewhat more difficult! [;);).  Anyway, are there other pets around?  Is your dog trying to assert a "higher" ;position by marking?  (The defecation problem I have not run across - don't know if dogs will do that to also "mark" territory).  Maybe the vet will have some answers!
    • Bronze
    hmmm, did you get another pet?  or do you see other dogs while you're away?  He might feel threatened by the smell of other dogs, cats or whatever that.  Could be a possibility.  And what to do?  i'm not sure, maybe make him smell you and play with him as soon as you get into the house and just make sure your clothes and other things are not accessible to him
    • Gold Top Dog
    At what age was he neutered?  If he was neutered late, he may have retained the inclination to mark, and simply didn't stop when the testosterone left.
    If that isn't the case, then a vet visit is in order, just to rule out any medical problems.
    Barring that, you need to go back to housetraining 101 - no freedom indoors when you are not there to supervise.  NILIF can help.  And, if there are other animals in the house, make sure he has a place to go where he isn't bothered.  Keep all dogs off the furniture, and be sure to pat and praise all of them in each others' presence.  (Dog learns...hmmm, when that other dog is around, good stuff happens to me).
    • Gold Top Dog
    what is NILIF?
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: jaye

    what is NILIF?

     
    NILIF is "nothing in life is free."  Basically, it's a way to train your dog, so he doesn't rule the house, (and decide he can pee anywhere in it).  As an example, your dog has to sit to get a pet, stay to get fed, wait so you can go through a doorway first, etc.  Really helps with pushy/and or aggressive dogs.  Shows them you are the leader, (and hopefully a benevolent one!).
    • Bronze
    My dog started marking in the house when he had a bladder infection.  The poor little guy was just so uncomfortable and the urges would come on too quickly for him to ask to go out.  The only way it was comfortable for him to go was to lift his leg.  It turned out he has quite a serious issue with his liver which causes the infections, and he gets them frequently.  At least now I have a quick and easy tip off as he doesn't show it any other way.  As soon as he goes in the house, I know we need to get him on meds. 
     
    Catch a urine sample and go to the vet.  If it's not an infection and he checks out healthy, then it's likely a behavioral thing