Originally Posted by k9dancer
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
My little boy chihuahua (Tinker) should be Stinker - he occasionally tries to "mark" in the house,....
I wish I could find some way of training a dog not to mark - I love my pets but this is the one thing I can't handle - eliminating in the house.
I can tell you how to do it, but it takes some work. Most people are not willing to do what it takes. If you are willing...
Put the dog on a leash and attach the leash to your waist. Do not let the dog out of your sight. When you need to do something and cannot have the dog tied to you, then put him in a kennel/crate. Take him outside after every meal and whenever you think he's acting like he needs to go. Absolutely do not give him the run of the house. Let him sleep in his crate at night. Get up and take him out during the night if you have to. Then put him back in the crate. Take him out first thing in the morning. Give him all his meals and treats in the crate and only in the crate. He can only be either tied to your waist, in his crate, or in a fenced exercise area that will not allow him access to the house. Do this for a month, and when you do allow him off leash for the first time in the house, make sure he is only in a room you can monitor. Do not give him full run of the house until he is totally trustworthy. This may be later rather than sooner. If he starts to hike his leg again in the house, take him outside; then tie him to your waist again.
I recognize that this is a lot of bother. Just because it works does not mean it is easy. If he is older, it will take longer to correct because he has a history of bad habits.
Do not yell at or spank your dog. Do not rub his nose in his eliminations. These are counter-productive. Do praise your dog when he eliminates in the proper place.
BTW, I've been training dogs over 16 years.
Sounds like good advice.
...Wonder if I could tie my cat to my waist...
;) :)