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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Ricardo

I'm hoping some of you wiser dog owners can help me here. We have 4 dogs in our home, 2 male, 2 female. The males are maltese, females are cocker and mixed breed (stray we adopted). The males are father and son, aged 11 and 4. My problem is with the younger maltese (named Cuba). He cannot for the life of him stop peeing all over the house. We keep the door to the backyard open all day long so they may go in or out as they please. When he pees indoors, we grab some newspaper, take him to the wet spot, speak strongly and smack the newspaper on the floor. But it doesn't work. Does it have anything to do with him "marking" his territory" before his father? Does the presence of two females have anything to do with this? He hasn't mated yet, so does that have anything to do with it? Oh, and also... he's OBSESSED by always wanting to play fetch with a tennis ball... could THAT have anything to do with it? Please help me... I'm at the end of my wits! Thanks.

DISCUSSION:

We had a problem with our puppy marking his territory when he learned to lift his leg. Since we weren't going to mate him we had him neutered and the wetting in the house stopped. He was only 8 mos. old at the time so I don't know if this will help you.
-Pam

Ricardo-Have either one of your Maltese been neutered? If not, I am surprised that you have not had a problem before now. Neutering should help your problem.
-April B.

I learn so much from going to dog shows !! At the last one I watched them put a belly band on a male so that he could use the bathroom without messing his hair. My friend has a male that loves to mark his territory. I asked her to try the band at least to save her home. She did and what she found was amazing. He marked once. He evidently felt the wet on his skin and did not like it, so he would not go if it was on. She kept the band on for two weeks and after she took it off, he has not marked. It has only been a week now but he is doing well. (be sure to change the pad after he marks. She checked it every 30 minutes to be sure it was not wet, but he only wet it once) Seems if they are trained to use it they don't mind, but if not, they find it uncomfortable.
-Marsha A.