Leg Lifting--Yikes!

michelleboston · 11-04-2009, 01:08 PM

Bailey didn't start lifting his leg to pee until he was 9-10 months old. He now marks on fire hydrants, trees, sign poles but thankfully has never marked inside.

Lately, he's starting to lift his leg at/on people at the park!!

Our park isn't a traditional fenced dog park, there's an area that allows off-leash dogs during certain hours of the day. As a result, the owners just stand around and chat while the dogs run and play. Bailey typically pees a couple of times before we reach this area so when he's lifting, nothing really comes out. But still, I obviously don't want people thinking my cute little munchkin is marking on them. How do I curb this gross and embarrassing behavior?

I've just been watching him like a hawk and telling him "NO!" when I see him approaching someone, but I know that most of the time when he is approaching someone it's just to be pet or cuddled (he's a verrrrry friendly boy). Any help is appreciated!

michelleboston · 11-06-2009, 04:59 PM

*bump* Anyone?

REB · 11-06-2009, 05:09 PM

Yeah, I've seen this happen at our dog park before-- most dogs just pee on trees or picnic tables or plastic chairs (watch where you sit!), but twice now, I've seen a dog pee on a person. Both times it was a male dog. The first time, the dog peed on its owner (first time it had ever happened, the owner assured us). Recently, a new dog came in with some folks who were dog sitting it, and it came right up and peed on my leg (!!). Luckily, I live just a few blocks from the park so I could go home and change! So I know I'm not answering your question, but I don't know why a dog would do that.

meandean · 11-06-2009, 06:04 PM

marking his territory?
he views people as property? lol.

txcollies · 11-06-2009, 10:48 PM

If one of my males would ever do this (and I have one almost dumb enough to tr - he's only just turned two and the brain isn't kicked in yet), he would be severely scolded. That is NOT permissible with mine, even excessive marking isn't tolerated at my house.

With my own males, I'll either verbal correct/distract (AAH AAH!) if that doesn't work then I'll quickly collar pop them off whatever they are marking and lightly scold them "shame on you, what are you doing?" It usually only takes a couple of times. You don't pop the collar hard, but enough to remind them "hey! off!! leave it!"

I had a male that as a teenager, he went through a stage where he was really bad, he'd pee on everything he could find on walks, at dog shows, etc. I finally had had enough and quickly drove it home that it's not all tolerated. He now waits to be told when he can have some "pee mail" time.

lizziedog1 · 11-06-2009, 11:52 PM

One advantage of female dogs!

MissMutt · 11-06-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizziedog1

One advantage of female dogs!

Except my girl LOOOOVES to mark.. lol

lizziedog1 · 11-07-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Except my girl LOOOOVES to mark.. lol

On people's legs?

MissMutt · 11-08-2009, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizziedog1

On people's legs?

No!! I just meant marking in general. To be fair, she actually seems to do it when she's feeling stressed. But, a lot of people make the comment that male dogs pee on everything.. but I'm sure there are plenty of females that do, too. My girl even hikes her leg on some trees.

hulkamaniac · 11-09-2009, 11:32 AM

I've never understood the issue people have with dogs marking. Marking in the house is unacceptable of course and so is marking people for obvious reasons. I've never understood why people have problems with dogs marking trees, poles, fire hydrants, etc...

Anyway, the fix is to just correct the dog when he tries or starts to try to mark people.

michelleboston · 11-10-2009, 10:59 AM

Thanks everyone. The problem is that he does it when he's off leash, so I can't give him a leash correction like I would if he's excessively marking when we're out on a walk. I'll just continue to watch him closely and correct him if I see him approaching someone. It's just so weird that this has come about all of a sudden!

CLF · 11-12-2009, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txcollies

I had a male that as a teenager, he went through a stage where he was really bad, he'd pee on everything he could find on walks, at dog shows, etc. I finally had had enough and quickly drove it home that it's not all tolerated. He now waits to be told when he can have some "pee mail" time.

My dog loves to mark on anything he can find that smells good. How did you determine when it was OK for him to pee on walks and when it was marking behavior? My dog has had a few incidents of marking when visiting other peoples houses (who have dogs).

I know that I have to be in control of his marking outside to be able to control it inside, but how do you go about it?