Marking In Dogs - PetMD

You may wonder why your dog is urinating in so many places when you take them out for a walk. This type of behavior is known as urine marking.

Urine marking in dogs is a natural behavior where dogs release small amounts of urine in various locations. Both male and female mark, but it’s more commonly seen in male dogs.

Urine marking can quickly become a nuisance behavior if your dog starts marking indoors. Here’s some helpful info on why dogs mark, how to tell urinary accidents from urine marking, and how to stop your dog from marking in the house.

Why Dogs Mark

For most dogs, urine marking usually begins around the time they reach sexual maturity, which can be between 6 and 12 months of age, depending on the size and breed of dog.

If you can identify why your dog may be urine marking indoors, then you can take steps to resolve the issue. Several reasons dogs may exhibit urine marking include:

Territory Identification

Many dogs will often urine mark to tell other pets that their territory has been claimed. Your dog may consider both your yard and the inside of your house to be their territory, and they may mark vertical surfaces.

Some dogs will frequently re-mark specific areas to make sure it is clear to other pets that this is their territory. Urine marking may also occur if there are animals outside near your house or apartment. Your dog may feel threatened by their presence and feel the need to mark their territory.

Male Dogs Interacting With Female Dogs

Male dogs will typically exhibit urine marking if there is a female dog in heat nearby. Urine marking is often a way for dogs to attract mates, so the presence of an intact female dog can influence this behavior.

Conflicts With Housemates

If there are one or more dogs within the household and there is tension or a disagreement between dogs, then one dog may start marking. The anxiety associated with the conflict as well the basic need to mark territory can lead to increased urine marking.

Changes in a Dog’s Environment

Some dogs will exhibit urine marking when there are changes in their environment. New furniture, new people, and new items that are normally not a part of the household can be targets for dogs to mark. The anxiety associated with a change in routine and structure in the environment can lead to urine marking indoors.

Submissive Urination

Some people note that if they talk loudly or their dog is easily startled, their dog may have an accident of a few drops of urine on the ground. This is different from urine marking, as submissive urination happens in response to your pet being startled or scared.