My 7mth old Cavvie dog has started to cock his leg against my sofa. I know he is probably marking his territory but how can i stop him ??? He has done it about 5 times in the past week, a couple of times in the same place then the rest in different places. He is about 90% house trained (or I thought he was).

Any suggestions ?

Hi Cath,
Just something boys do I'm afraid! My last one started at 7 months also, our present dog at 10 months - it is just scent marking, but of course they have to learn pretty quick that they aren't allowed to do it in the house! Basically, with mine, once I realised they'd started this, I watched them like a hawk, and it means not leaving them in the lounge while you go upstairs to the loo, etc. You will soon know the signs - sniffing at the corner of the couch, back leg going up - I used to shout out 'no' pretty loudly (has to be loud enough to startle!), and send them straight out into the garden, where they would stay for 5-10 mins. Soon got the message. I will say that we were at a dog show recently, and our dog of 18 months cocked his leg on me - luckily it was only a few drips - presume he was just marking me as his territory with so many other dogs around!
Hilda

Thank you Sunbeams, I hope he doesnt cock his leg on me !!!!!!!!

My BT is totally house trained and brilliant in the house, no chewing/barking etc, but the other day he just cocked his leg on the doorframe to the porch, not a huge wee I have to say but a quick spray. I was speechless and just asked him what he thought he was doing! He of course looked at me as if to say, "who me?". Never done it before or since then. Just maybe forgot where he was. About sofas, my dog has a habit of coming in from a walk and drying himself off around the edge of the sofa before I can get to him with the towel. At least I've got loose covers!

CG

Toby is 8mths i keep wondering when he's going to cock his leg, he is totally toilet trained, so after reading this post i now dont want him cocking his leg, :-D

Funny you should say that - someone told me dogs don't learn to cock their legs until over a year old?? Just a rumour but I've seen male pups peeing like a woman!!

they learn to do things at different stages just like kids i suppose, a friend of mine has a 3yr old lab and he still crouches to wee like a baby :)

One of my boys cocked his leg at5 months - his litter brother was 7 months before he cocked. My mother's dog still doesn't cock, and he's 11 years old!!!
:)

Do males ever learn?? My nephews pee all over my bathroom - for gods sake people! Lock up your daughters/neices/female dogs :O

Ozzy only started to cock his leg a couple of weeks ago. When he goes out for walks he will cock his leg at everything, about 15-20 times per walk...only to wee once or maybe twice !!!

He didn't cock his leg against sofa last night after I told him off before...fingers crossed he has got the message (bet he will today now!!)

Hi Cath,
Of course it's natural for a dog to cock their leg quite often when out, but I must admit I personally don't let my dog do it whilst he's being walked on lead. Off lead he can do whatever! When on lead, I allow him to have a couple of wees when we first go, but I don't let him stop at every post, gate, etc, every 10 seconds! The examiner we had for the Kennel Club Gold test actually fails dog that keep on cocking their leg whilst on lead.
Hilda

It is when he is off the lead he cocks his leg against everything, well unless he is having a wee !!!

This is why I only have bitches. I'd hate the thought of my dog peeing on the furniture and/or peeing on his own legs. Yuck!