Spraying & Marking

[sporter]

I recently became a volunteer transporter for a local Boxer rescue league. BAM! It happened on my first transport! I am trying to adopt the boxer boy that I transported! He is a beautiful fawn/black mask 3 yr old. After a day in his foster home, I was told that he marks/spray. On the second day he was neutered, but now still spray just a bit and his foster mom is hopefull that when his hormones calm dow that thsi will stop.

My question is that if it doesn't completly stop, can he be trained not to spray, or will he always spray? If trainable, how does one train a dog not to spray? Other than that, he had no other issues.

HELP! and many thank you's for the advise.

Sarah
NH

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Yes it is possible to train marking behaviors out of dogs, even though it is instinctive behavior for them. But because it is so instinctive and hard-wired into dogs, it will be difficult.

One would go about it the same as one did housebreaking. If you can catch him in the act of marking, then you can take him outside and guide his behavior to only marking outside and not in the house. It is pretty much the same as housebreaking a pup.

Also, on walks and around the neighborhood (not necessarily the owner's own yard), the owner should not allow "marking" of other dogs' leavings while on a walk. This can encourage more marking behavior elsewhere such as in the house, and it will help to prevent the dog from becoming to "territorial" on your walks and less likely to have a confrontation with another dog in his extended territory.

Good luck.