I met my fiance' over the internet and he has a male german shepherd part husky dog (Buddy) and I have a male rottie (Kota) and a female german shepherd part boxer dog (Tigger). We moved in together and moved his dog up here with my two and the dogs get along except for one problem. Our rottie, Kota, is urinating on the sofa, on the wall in the hallway and on the coffee table. Everytime Kota does it I punish him by using the bitter apple spray. But Kota doesn't learn that He isn't supposed to urinate on everything. I'm kind of at my wits end with him but I can't give Kota away because we love him dearly. I've tried spraying bitter apple on the sofa and wall but he keeps urinating on them. He does it when we aren't home or if we are both on the computer. I was thinking it was a territorial thing between Kota and Buddy since they are both males and buddy was the new male. But it doesn't seem like that now because they get along perfect with each other, but Kota still urinates on things. Kota, Tigger and Buddy get along great they are great friends, they have never fought (knock on wood), they sleep together and everything.
Kota's never urinated until I left to go to Florida to visit my fiance'. When I came back Kota had urinated on the wall (my good neighbors came over and let the dogs out and feed them and played with them while I was in Florida). Kota still urines and I don't know what else to do.

Does anyone have any idea what else I should do?

Hi i too have a male rotty and bless him he also likes to wee on things he shouldnt, he hasnt done it in my house, but he has done it in friends houses, he has also done it on his pups. It sounds to me like yours thinks you are leaving him again, so maybe that is one of the reasons why hes doing it.
At the moment cleo my rotty bitch is sat next to the water dish, growling at poor bud as he wants a drink, bless him, he just sits there taking it. girls are the boss.

good luck

Sounds very much like a dog worried about another male in the house with a bitch. Constantly marking his territory and being anxious about the whole situation and letting you know his disapproval. Are your boys castrated it might help if one was.

Good luck

Both of our male dogs are neutered and the female is spayed. I don't understand why Kota urinates because it seems to me like the two males get along fine, they play together and everything.

i'll second Yappy's reply - he might well just be marking his territory if he isn't neutered, especially since it's only been happening now that another male lives in "his" house...

Annette

Bitter apple is something made that tastes nasty to prevent dogs from chewing - it has no real use for housebreaking or breaking the type of behaviour you're using it for. When you say you punish him with the Bitter Apple what exactly are you doing? It's also very hard to punish this type of behaviour unless it's immediately at the time of the act. Even 30 seconds later the dog does not associate the punishment with the action of peeing on the sofa - but more likely relates to what he is doing when you punish him.

Please don't use the bitter apple this way.

You also may need to get the smell out of your sofa now that he's started marking there - so my suggestion for that would be OxyClean:)

Wendy

Have you had him checked out by the vet? It could be a simple physical thing like a urinary infection.

Hope this helps!

Margot

If this behaviour coincided with other dogs moving in, then no matter how they seem to get on, it is in some way related. There is a chance as Margot has said, it could be a physical problem though so get hiim vet checked for peace of mind. Then you know it is a behavioural problem for sure :)

It is very important to make sure the urine scent has completely gone as Wendy suggests or any training will be hard to implement.

My suggestion would be to get in touch with a reputable behaviourist (maybe via your vet) to help you work out what is happening, and also to give you ongoing help and advice. It will be difficult to sort this out by yourselves I feel.

Best of luck

LLindsay

I would ground him, keep him on lead and only allow him off when he is outside to play, this way if he goes to mark u can correct him then. It doesn't help to correct him after it's done, they don't know why they are being punished. Spray him with a spray bottle when he goes to mark, if he doesn't see it comming from u then he may think it only happens when he lifts his leg in the house, or even a shake can the noise can be effective. He's a male thats what they do, just have to be taught even though there is another male in the house it is not allowed. He must be corrected then not later. If u know he's about to do it correct him or even during the act of it. Tell him he's bad and u r not pleased with him. Also feeding him where he likes to mark can help too, and spending time in those area's. Make sure u clean the area's real good and get the smell out. Hope this helps some, good luck
ttfn :)