Just wondering what the best action would be.  My 7 month male is scenting alot in the house and it seems to be everywhere the cat rubs up against, sometimes its quite a bit of urine other times its just a little squirt.  Im sick of hunting the wet patch with my white vinegar and water.

All i can say leannek is go back to basics and start house training again.  Whats his behaviour like in other ways?   eg does he growl when you pick him up or his he possesive of anything in your house?  Where does he sleep?  Is he allowed on the furniture?  does he eat before you?

Warm regards Susan

He isnt too keen on being stroked, he constantly bites I think he sees this as a good way of getting attention.  He sleeps on my bed and eats when he wants.  I think the moral of the story is hes spoiled and needs some boundaries......  Think you have helped me solve my own problem.

I think you may be right there Leanne. :) There is little point in going back to basics if he is scent marking as opposed to have 'accidents' which it sounds like. As soon as he is old enough, ie at least a year old, I would have him castrated as it will stop the scent marking. In the mean time I would limit his access to the areas of the house so he is only allowed in the room you are in and have a water pistol or similar handy to get him in the face with the second he lifts his leg. Good luck.

Just like to say that having a dog castrated doesn't always stop them scent-marking.  My sisters 2 dogs age 9 and another one age 11 still scent mark if my dog goes to their house and they have all been castrated when they were about 6 months old.:-(  I think it is something he will probably grow out of in time, he's probably just at an age when all his hormones are kicking in.   I think I remember someone else on another forum who had a Bichon that was doing this and she got some stuff called 'get off' or something like that and she had some success with that so it might be worth a try.

Cheers guys for all your advice, I have just been to the shop and got some stuff that cleans and takes the smell away and some more stuff that smells like wee that I put outside on a post to encourage him to go outside.

This morning we were outside and he had his wee, I was just putting the kettle on and I couldnt see or hear him the reason being he was upstairs taking a poo in the bathroom!!!!  So I have added a babygate to my list of shopping today, this is going on the stairs to stop him getting up there. I have got some bitter apple spray to spray on the areas he likes weeing i.e. up the tumble dryer, and where the cat rubs up on things. 

Grand total of £40 spent I just hope it helps.  We are also having him outside after meals and sleeps saying have a wee wee, and then the whole sing and dance when he does.  Fingers crossed for me. 

Hi LeanneK, could I please ask if you are doing anything to combat his biting? He shouldnt really be 'constantly biting' at this age :(

At the minute I am spraying this bitter apple stuff on my hands.  Things we have tried:

Saying No in deep voice
Standing up and walking away ignoring him
Putting him in the conservatory for time out
Throwing a toy or distracting him with a toy  (this I think has lead him to believe that if he bites he will get a toy)

Its quite difficult to be consistant with these as Im cabin crew and go away for 3 days at a time leaving him with my mum whos disabled and she finds it difficult getting him in the conservatory or standing up and walking away, im not using this as an excuse cos when hes doing his biting I do feel like a bad mum.

He is mouthing but quite hard and sometimes makes a little noise which isnt a growl but sort of.  A few days ago I bought him some hide knots and this seems to keep him entertained and he doesnt bite us.  I think its more a problem of him thinking he is "VERY SPECIAL" indeed as he has attention almost 95% of the time either by demanding it from biting or just by us playing with him. 

Any advice you can offer Zoe I will be more than glad to take on board. :-)

Hi Leanek i do think you've solved your own problems with your dog.  When he demands attention you should ignore him until something else catches his attention then call him back to you and pat him.  As you said he does need some boundaries give him attention when you wont to not the other way around, when he bites shout ouch or scream and then ignore him you dont have to put him out for time out just dont give him any attention whatsoever but always repeat this process and be consistent.  It sounds like he's living above his stations to me so you need to learn him he's the lowest ranking member of the pack.  Once you do this and take him back to bascis with his toilet training aswell he should in a perfect world stop scenting.  If you need anymore help pm me and i'll do my best to help you.

Warm regards susan

Hi Leannek, you should use a solution of biological washing powder/liquid to wash the areas he has been marking. This will breakdown all the proteins and enzymes left by the urine even after regular cleaning - most household cleaners will make it more attractive to your dog, although it will smell clean/fresh to yourself :) If you re-clean all known areas then restrict his access around the home you will be in a better position to change his behaviour to something more acceptable :D Teaching basic commands/tricks etc. is a great way to have a stronger relationship with your dog - your Mother could certainly continue with this - the end result is a happier, more content dog and best of all brainwork will exhaust him!!! :D :D  Obviously, I am not saying that you don't do any training with him now, but when you/your Mum are watching tv/cleaning up you could involve some recalls/find-its/retrieve. I had a male with the same problem as an adolescent, it was certainly due to him being unsure of his status. The marking was his way of reassuring himself that he had some sort of control over his environment, he would mark (very faintly, I must add) shopping bags, shoes, boxes, if they were brought in from outside, he also marked the newel post at the bottom of the stairs which is a place my cats like to rub on when they come in. I certainly wouldn't rush to have your boy castrated!!! - bless him - giving him less to worry about by restricting his access around the home and keeping him to some sort of schedule, along with the things you are doing already, should set you off on the right track. I personally think that keeping him out of your bedroom (for now anyway) will help him to realise that he doesn't have to be responsible for you, then he can concentrate on being a youngster.

Hope some of this helps,
Regards, Angela x

edited to add - His biting IMO is a great way for him to get attention - as you have said. I think this behaviour will extinguish itself if he gets no attention, not even removing him/shouting/eye contact, it works best if you just remove yourself from the equation without even acknowledging him (may be easier said than done) this may at first get him to try harder, but if you continue he will definitely stop. He will only use behaviours that give him a payout....

Hi Leanne

I think there are a lot of things at play here.  Firstly, he is at an age when his hormones are just starting to kick in.  At this age male dogs have vast amounts of hormones flying around their body and it does take a little time for them to settle down.  You would normally find that owners start experiencing problems of this ilke at around about this age.  It will settle down, I assure you.  Scenting is not about house training, it is all about his hormones and him maybe feeling a little insecure about things.  Many dogs do this if they feel insecure.  You say that you are away for 3 days at a time.  Maybe he feels insecure when you are away as his routine is upset!!!!

Perhaps you could try to get him into a routine that can be followed by your mum when you are away and put into place things that you want your mum to continue with in your absence.  Dogs like routine.  It is very important to them therefore any "slip" in this routine can cause the problems you are experiencing.  This combined with the hormones - say no more!!!!

Anyway, the other posters have mentioned putting things into place regarding the biting etc.,  This is very important as he is getting a bit old to be still mouthing!!! 

Perhaps it would be a good idea to seek the advice of a good behaviourist because I believe unless you can get to the route of what is causing this you are only masking the problem.  A good behaviourist will be able to see how he interacts with you and the family and give advice on their findings.  In the meantime, as stated wash with biological powder and if you do catch him scenting, as long as he doesn't see you, you can clap your hands to get his attention. 

Hope this helps put your mind at rest.

Kind regards
Annie