Hi there

My 7 month old male staffie keeps cocking his leg to mark his territory in the house, usually in the same places. When we catch him doing this, we tell him "no" firmly, put him in the kitchen and clean up with biological washing powder mixed with water. He isn't neutered and I really don't want to get him done yet, as I believe he needs to mature more first, but I'm at my wits end! Any advice, please?

Claire

unfortunately even neutered males do this as I ahve found when looking after them in my house.

Is he very cocky I am the main man, or perhaps lacking in confidence?  Are there any other animals inthe houses whose scent he is trying to cover?

It is a difficult one and a freind found the only thing that woked was vigilance and crating the dog when he couldn't be watched 100%  After a time whn allowed more freedom the habit had been broken and he grew out of it.

Hi - when you've thoroughly washed the area with biological washing solution you may find it helps to wipe down with surgical spirit as well. That might make all the difference. Good luck!
:)

We also have a staffie bitch who's older than him and spayed , plus two cats but they were all here before we got him at 7 wks. He's very cocky with the animal members of the household but submissive with me and OH. It also tends to be items of clothing that have been worn by men that he marks. I personally don't want to neuter him but OH thinks that's the way to go. Will try the surgical spirit to see if it makes a difference.

Claire

i have a male westie and he's the same he cocks his leg on anything, bin bags, the kids toys the cooker etc.  He's not to bad now, but he still does it and boy does'nt male dog wee stink.

Hi fletch,

Its usually dogs who live with another dog or bitch that do this in my experience.  Neutering may help but may not.  My sisters dogs do this (4 dogs and a bitch) and they have all been neutered.  They go for ages without doing it but sometimes if she has visitors they will run in the lounge and cock their leg on the settee.  Our dog doesn't do this fortunately (he was neutered at 7 months old) but I think that if we got another dog he would do this probably.   It is just a territorial thing with them but I can imagine how frustrating it is for you when he won't stop doing it.  A lot of dogs do this if they are taken to a strange house too.

Now I have heard on a US site of using a belly band.  Can't wuite visualise what this is, but they say the dog ends up peeing on itself so stops  cocking when left alone.

Will post there and ask exactly waht this is!

What I ahve beeen told is to wrap an elastic bandage around the dogs belly covering his watering system, so when he tries to lift in the house when left he will pee himself.

Belly bands: http://mall.cairnrescue.com/inv_bellyband.htm