Lab Urnitating while playing

Question
I have a 5 month old Black Lab named Rocky. He is very sweet and very trainable. He learned sit in about four hours. He is a very good dog and loves to play. We have had him for about three months and we got him from Labs 4 Rescue. We do not know his history before we got him. He is fixed. We spend alot of time outside where he knows his boundries and is free from the leash in our yard. Our yard is attached to the neighbors and we are very close to them. This problem might be that he is a puppy and something we just have to endure. He pees where we play. My children are older but our neighbor has a toddler that still crawls sometimes and a dog that tastes Rocky's pee and then throws up. The other dog also marks over Rocky's pee. Rocky has free run of the front yard where we play and the back yard where the dogs go to the bathroom. I try to take him to the back to go to the bathroom as often as I can but it seems like no matter how much I do he still pees in the front yard. He has no medical condition. Can I train him to stop peeing where we play or do I just endure this behavior until he is a little older? I have tried to find a solution on other sites but nothing I read sounds like his behavior. Sometimes he pees while we are playing and other times while he is resting he will stand up pee and then lay back down. Sometimes in the spot where he just peed.

Answer
Hi Danielle, You are doing the right thing by taking him to a particular spot relieve himself. But you should do a couple more things. Add a command, such as "TAKE A BREAK", when he goes, say "GOOD BREAK, ROCKY". A male will have a tendency to mark his territory, so take him around his borders and let him take a break on a leash. Once that is done and you see him begin to mark in other places or begin to relieve himself, say , "NO". WAlk him to his place and tell him to take a break. Take him off the property and practice it on lead in grassy areas, when he has it down pat, take him into pet stores and have him "break" before you go in and again when you come out. If he makes a mistake inside, correct him. He will soon know that you will give him frequent breaks and he can only go when you tell him that it is okay.  I have two large males, one intact and one neutered. I taught them both this way and they never, ever take a break without my command. They are only one year and two years old. It will get easier as his bladder gets larger, but for now you must take him for more frequent breaks. Hope this helps. Leave me some feedback, nomination if you wish, as it is the only way that us volunteers know that we are making you happy by solving your problems. And be sure to send me a follow-up, so I know how Rocky is doing, please.  Regards, Susan