House training vs Marking

    • Bronze

    House training vs Marking

    I have a 6-month-old neutered Boston terrier puppy.  Vito was neutered about one month ago but was already lifting his leg to urinate when I got him at about 4.5 months. 
     
    I wouldn#%92t call Vito house broken yet but the last few accidents have been more what I would consider marking then training accidents.  My question is, these marking incidents are only happening about once a week so I wouldn#%92t say he#%92s marking up my entire apartment all the time or anything like that.  The things he#%92s marked include my father#%92s cat#%92s vertical scratching post (somewhat explainable), another dog#%92s dog bed (somewhat explainable), a rolled up jute rug (woven hay rug), and a pillow on my couch (can#%92t come up with an explanation for that one- he#%92s not allowed on the couch anymore).  He#%92s almost always confined to the room I#%92m in but I#%92m finding that these incidents are happening rather quickly and with no prediction (the rug incident happened 15 minutes after a potty break outside).  So, do I proceed with treating them like house training accidents and this will stop over the next few weeks with more reinforcement of housetraining rules or is there something else I need to do now ?  The belly band thing seems silly when it#%92s only happening once a week, no?  I should also mention that I already do the NILIF approach to almost everything. 
     Any help would be greatly appreciated!
    • Gold Top Dog
    I wouldn't consider marking different from any other kind of urinating. Jean Donaldson's book The Culture Clash has a section on this. She basically thinks that the more straightforward about housetraining (any kind of training) you are, the easier it is to get across the idea.

    Good luck, great that you're doing NILIF, welcome to idog!
    • Bronze
    Thanks!  I ordered the book last night on Amazon.
     
    I sometimes get a little anxious b/c I really want to do everything as correct as possible.  I know all my hard work now will eventually pay off when Vito is all grown up :)
    • Gold Top Dog
    It's great on so many levels. A great book.
    Have fun!
    • Puppy
    One of the best introductory dog-training books I know off. Excellent buy! :)

    Personally I consider marking and urinating two different things, for all sorts of biological and behavioral reasons. However, as I just recently heard Patricia McConnell remark quite correctly, "In a room with 100 dog trainers, you will have 100 opinions on most things." [:D]

    I am sure that you will do just great with your dog. You have the most important ingredients to ensure that: you are willing and enthusiastic to learn and make it a great relationship for you and your dog. Good luck! [:)]