Outdoor Marking

[SassyCat]

Hi all,

I just read this article by Martin Deeley about dogs marking outside. Cut short, he considers this an insult to his leadership. Is what he suggests (somewhat of a long read) nothing but a consequence of this man's obsession on being a "pack leader" of his dogs? By the way this article is from Cesar Milan's site, he didn't write the article or even comment on it and I'm far from being his fan or anything - I just like to visit his site from time to time.

Some time ago I've read similar theory by Jan Fennell. In her book "Practical Dog Listener" she wrote that she recently found out that only a dog that fully eliminates when taken on a walk is a relaxed and confident dog. With that said, a dog that "holds up" a little and goes on marking around (even if just a few times) is not confident in your leadership and doesn't feel relaxed.

Martin goes on to say you should train your dogs for this while Jen suggests that dogs will do it on their own once they're confident and happy with you. She has had quite a few dogs that lived with her and from what I recall they apparently relieve themselves all at once without even lifting a leg. She never trained this, it is allegedly a consequence of proper pack leadership and balanced relationship.

I personally never cared about this. If I see my dog preparing to mark an "off limits" spot like someone's Ferrari I just call him back but otherwise don't care. I have hard times believing that my dog isn't a happy dog because of this. How about you and your dogs?

[kathylcsw]

I think it is stupid! All of my dogs - male and female - have marked outside. In my opinion it is their nature and has nothing whatever to do with human / pack leadership. It is just what dogs do. Either that or my dogs have never felt relaxed around me. They sure look relaxed snuggled up with me though.

[hamandeggs]

Yeah, I think that's a load of BS. It doesn't even make sense. Wouldn't the relaxed and confident dog be more willing to leave its scent around for the bogeyman to smell than the scared and skittish dog? Maybe our situation is different because our dog is female, but when we first rescued her she would go all at once with much trepidation. Now, we've had her for nearly 8 months and anyone could see that she is much more relaxed and confident than she we when we first got her, and she's now starting to mark things on walks.