ramdom marking dog....

[reiddb]

The dog we've had for 5 years has been randomly marking the house for the last few years....I was wondering if anyone knows anything about stopping this behavior!  We NEVER catch him!  It's obvious marking, not an accidental pile on the floor....always a squirt here and there!  He is 7 years old.  We love him, but I am so frustrated~ he will go on a bag of clothes given to me, he'll go on my own bad I've collected to give away, he'll go on the punch bag base, a paint can left on the floor after painting, the Christmas presents...twice!, a humidifier, corners of beds, pillows left on the floor! There is more, but no one (the kids especially) don't want to see him go!  I don't know what to do!  He's a beagle/fox terrier!  Any suggestions, other than the obvious of getting rid of him!

[grimboots]

I would suggest take him to training or something like that. It sounds like he marks anything that has an unfamilair smell. A paint can wouldn't normally be inside, christmas presents are "new", a "new" bag of clothes and stuff like that.

[ajami]

Do not get rid of him, he can be trained.  Also talk to your vet, he might be able to give you some suggestions. When you first introduce anything new in the house take him to it and let him smell it and get used to  it before placing it out.  Smack him whenever you see him doing it, take him outside and keep him there longer than normal any time he does it.  It will take time but he can be trained to stop it. 

[erinelise2]

Has he been fixed?  That cut down on that behavior somewhat with our dog. 

Do you have more than one dog?  We had several and after the female who was the dominate dog went to live with a relative of ours, the one who peed in the house stopped unless some one forgets to let him out.  It clearly is accidental rather than deliberate now and rare.

[dmahoney]

If you find something that works, please let me know. My daughter's  has never stopped marking. He is 3 and has been fixed. We have gotten to the point that we put a belly band on him. You can find those at pet supply stores or in pet supply catalogs. We havent been able to train him, but the bellybands keep him from marking in the house. He just pees on himself now. At least it is an option. Good luck!

[HuffmanFamilyof4]

is your dog house broken?, if he is try putting him in a dog cage, and let him out when you take him outside to relieve himself, then reward him with a "Good Boy" in a proud and joyful tone, then give him his favorite treat, put him back in the cage until he gets the idea that what he's doing is not going to be tolerated. if you can catch him at it scold him but do not hit him as this will have an opposite effect. you have to let him know you are the pack leader and that is unacceptable behavior. be patient he will learn. I did this for my dog and she got the idea right away and i am real proud of her. It'll seem like it's never going to work but believe me it does work. Good Luck!!

[reiddb]

Some great ideas...thanks.  He was house trained since we got him at around 9 months old.  He is fixed...came that way.  All the trouble started 3 years ago when we brought another dog in the house for 2 weeks!  Horrible nightmare.  She was incredibly sweet to people, but almost demonic once around other animals.  Never saw such an animal aggressive creature!  SHE marked my house!  We got rid of her, but ever since, our dog has never been the same.  We have NEVER caught him doing it either!!!  Just wanders in a room and pees on a coat on a chair, or some pillows on the floor, or the corner of the bed!!!  It's frustrating!  He's always been good and had free reign of the house, but now we are constantly, close the door, where's the dog??? Stress!!!  Maybe the body band....hummmm.