How Does Marking Work?

Thursday, October 8, 2020 15:38:46 PM America/Los_Angeles

Ever wonder why your dog habitually pees at the same fire hydrant? Or has formed the unfortunate habit of peeing on a certain wall of your home? It turns out that there are several reasons that your fur baby has taken to marking and here we provide some explanations for this behavior. Meanwhile, providing an indoor potty such as Bark Potty offers an easy solution that can help your pup curb bad potty habits. Read on to learn more about dogs marking territory and what it means.

Photo by Helena Lopes

First, there are some biological considerations. Reproductively intact dogs are more likely to mark than spayed and neutered companions. Males are more likely to mark but female dogs can urinate more frequently before and during when they are in heat. Dogs must also be at least three months old before they start marking. If you have a growing puppy or an unspayed or unneutered dog, you might think of subscribing to an indoor dog potty to help with the increased frequency of urination.

There also behavioral reasons that your dog may be marking. Simply put, marking is a natural canine response to new environments and situations. Most of us are probably aware that marking is a common habit when dogs are taken on walks. What triggers this behavior is likely encountering the scent of an unfamiliar dog, to which your dog is responding with marking in order to assert her territory. You might therefore notice that marking is more common on your usual route rather than new places; this is because your dog is more intent on marking their territory in familiar routes or spaces. Because marking is a behavior sparked by new environments and situations, anxiety can also be a factor in increased urination or marking. If your friend brings over their new furry friend, your dog may become anxious and mark their territory with even more urine than usual. 

One solution for making clean up easier is to have a Bark Potty ready for stressful scenarios. Bark Potty is the perfect solution for both anticipated or unanticipated events, as it can be stored or tucked away until needed. Pick up or subscribe to our unique indoor potty for dogs today!

TAGS: dog behavior
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