One of the most annoying and difficult habits to eliminate from dogs is that of urinate in any corner of our house. Be it the sofa, the carpet or the bed, sometimes our little ones become obsessed with marking certain areas. They may even dose their urine all over the place when they walk down the street. This behavior has an explanation and, of course, a solution.
A matter of instinct
When dogs urinate in various corners, they are following their most primal instincts. It is a form of territorial marking, since in this way they leave their smell in the areas they want to make their own. Thus, they indicate to other animals that they are the dominant ones.
Mainly, it is the males who act in this way. Although some females also tend to do so, especially during the heat cycle.
The information they transmit
Through urine, dogs transmit all kinds of information to the other dogs. These animals use urine to communicate. Among other things, they are informed about your age, sex, state of health, etc. In this way, they are able to recognize each other only by the smell of their urine.
That is why dogs they tend to always urinate in the same places during the ride. In this way, it reinforces its brand and renews its leadership over and over again. At home, the same thing happens.
Main causes
As we said, this behavior has an explanation. It can stem from various causes, among which we find the following:
- Lack of learning. In puppies, the habit of urinating in any corner is completely normal. Learn to relieve yourself in the right place it takes time, as well as a lot of patience on our part. Once they are adults, they can learn too, but it may be a bit more difficult for them.
- Nervousness, joy, or fear. This is especially true in very young dogs that do not yet have sufficient control over their body. It is common for them to urinate involuntarily when an intense emotion invades them, such as nervousness, joy or fear. It is also common in elderly dogs.
- Call for attention. These animals are sociable by nature, sensitive and empathetic. If they feel ignored, they can resort to any method to get our attention. One of them is urine. Dogs know that in this way we pay attention to them, even if it is to scold them.
- Marking. As we said before, this behavior is given by the territorial marking. It is more common in males, and although it is believed that it can be eliminated by castration, it is often maintained after the operation.
- Health problems. Some health problems can cause the dog to lose control of his sphincter. Specifically, urinary tract disorders, kidney disease, and neurological problems cause this behavior.
- Incontinence due to age. As with humans, dogs can become incontinent as they reach old age. Despite being something natural, we should consult this question with the veterinarian.
- Separation anxiety A dog with separation anxiety can react in many ways when left alone. Destructive behaviors are very common, for example. So is excess urine, as fear and nerves lead him to urinate on himself.
The castration myth
Decades ago a false myth was born about all this, and even today it is still widespread. It is said that castration eliminates this habit, but the truth is that it does not have to be that way. This operation it is only effective if the origin of the problem is territorial marking. Otherwise it would be of no use.
Furthermore, this measure can only be taken if the animal is still young and does not have any health problems. If not, the problem will have to be dealt with in another way.
What to do?
The solution to the problem depends on its cause. Therefore, we must choose one measure or another.
- Education. Many times this behavior is given by an incorrect education. It is not easy to get our dog to learn to relieve himself in the street, but we can do it with time and patience. The key is long walks and positive reinforcement; every time the animal acts appropriately, we have to reward them with caresses, kind words and treats.
- Exercise. For a dog to learn these commands, it must have a balanced body and mind. This requires daily exercise. Two or three walks a day will be enough.
- Attention. If the little one does not feel loved, he may adopt this behavior to get our attention. In this sense, it is very important that we offer you the care and affection you need. This way, you don't feel "obliged" to use this technique.
- Veterinary care. As we have seen, excess urine can be caused by a health problem. It is essential, therefore, to go to the vet as soon as possible if we notice any anomaly in this regard.
- Repellent products. On the market there are special products to repel dogs. They can be sprayed on sofas, furniture, walls, etc. In theory, these products prevent the animal from urinating on these areas, but we must be careful, because if they are not manufactured correctly they can be toxic. The best thing is to consult it previously with the veterinarian.