Sick of not being able to have visitors over because you’re afraid your dog will pee on their purse (or maybe even them)? Worry no more! In this article, we’re going to fill you in on everything you need to know about how to stop a dog from lifting his leg in the house, with tips to help you both right away and long-term!

How Can I Stop My Male Dog From Marking in the House?

To stop your male dog from marking in the house, there are some fast fixes you can use to help with the problem right away which we’ll cover next. To fix it long-term, you’ll need to address their underlying issues with stress and anxiety, which you’ll read how to do right after that.

Here’s what you should do to stop your male dog from marking in the house quick:

1. Actively supervise your dog and crate them or put them out back when you notice them beginning marking behavior, such as sniffing around new items or things they already like to mark.
2. Think about everything that could be causing your dog’s stress. It could be new items or people, unfamiliar smells, or even something like an electronic device that’s making noises you’ve learned to ignore, but your dog hasn’t.
3. Use an enzymatic cleaner for dog urine if your dog is marking and remarking the same spots over and over. Even the slightest hint of their urine will prompt them to mark again, so you’ll need something strong to get rid of what’s reminding them.

Now, to put an end to your dog marking in the house long-term, you’ll need to get to the root of the real issue, which is stress and anxiety. This is likely also causing other behavioral issues such as aggression or barking.

Let’s think about why your dog might get stressed out when other people are over… because they’re new people who can’t be trusted, that’s why! (At least, in their mind.) And dogs are naturally protective and territorial, so it makes sense that this would be very worrisome for them.

Some dogs will lash out at these new people through aggression or barking, while others will look to mark objects because they seek their familiar scent which calms them. Many do both. Either way, they’re ultimately saying I don’t trust you to be safe around these new things.

Remember that your dog is a pack animal, and in any pack there will be a pack leader who is in charge and protects everyone. When your dog displays these types of misbehaviors, it is not just a display of stress but also them saying “who is in charge here? Me??”

End your dog’s stress, anxiety, and misbehavior by giving them faith that you are their pack leader, and that you can handle everything. This will give your dog calm and peace, and will allow you to really stamp out the issue which was ultimately causing your dog’s marking in the house.

I feel like these types of things are best learnt by watching rather than reading, so there’s an excellent free video series by a renowned dog trainer named Dan I’d recommend you checking out. He uses quick and easy to follow methods to show you everything you’ll need to know to be your dog’s pack leader.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. Dan’s training videos are short and to the point, and he only uses loving and humane methods so you don’t have to worry about ever being mean to your beloved four legged friend!

Why Is My Dog Suddenly Lifting His Leg in the House?

Your dog is lifting his leg in the house because something has triggered him to mark inside of your house. This is a very common problem that many dog owners face. Although it may be frustrating, the good news is that it’s also preventable!

The most common trigger for your dog marking in the house is that something is causing them to feel threatened or anxious. Changes in their environment causes worry for your dog, which often shows itself through marking.

This prompts your dog to seek out security by placing their own familiar smell around the house. New items, such as shopping bags or things belonging to visitors will be prime targets. (I bet you can think of something your dog likes to mark right now.)

Follow everything that’s been covered in this article and you’ll know exactly what to do both in the short and long-term to stop your dog marking in the house. I’m sure you’re looking forward to having friends over to your place worry-free, so I’ll let you get to it!

Thanks for reading our article “How to Stop a Dog From Lifting His Leg in the House!”