2.5 y.o. English Bull dog

Question
We have Gunny, our 2.5 year old Bulldog, not neutered, who has taking up
urinating in the house over the last 3 months.  At first we thought it was a possessive behavior, like staking his claim to things, such as our xmas tree,
all the wrapped gifts, new boxes in the house,  but he seem to have
graduated to the exercise room, middle of the floor and tonight, a random
squirt right in front of us.  Tonight he seemed to immediately become scared,
ears pin backed when we saw his newest spot.

We of course will be addressing this with a vet and looking into neutering, but
I was looking for an opinion from an authority who will not be making
hundreds off of us in the process.  

Thank You.

Answer
Hi Kelly-

Well, males do, and will mark, and he is getting at the right age for him to begin marking his territory around the house. It's possible that there is a bitch in heat somewhere within the 1.5 mile radius that he can smell, and it's making him want to make the house a bit more "Fragrent" so she will notice him, especially since he is marking everything "new" to the house. If there IS a bitch in heat somewhere, that might explain why it is getting a little worse and he is also marking random spots in the middle of the floor, etc.

Neutering will indeed help this if this is the problem, however if he is a show dog and you are unable to neuter, you can try belly bands. We use these on our unaltered show dogs. You can purchase them on ebay for very cheaply. You just spread a diaper or maxi-pad on the inside, velcro them around the dogs waist, and no more marking. When he pees, he pees on the band, and if it IS marking, he will quickly realize that his marking no longer "Works". When he doesn't smell the pee on whatever he just tried to mark, he will eventually give up the idea of marking. I love belly bands.

As for the fear- are you punishing him for peeing? If he is expecting to be yelled at when he does it, he will of course show a little bit of fear or nervousness when he pees, like pining his ears back, or its possible that he is in marking behavior but feels guilty about it. Sort of "I know i'm not supposed to pee in the house but it feeelss sooo riiighhhht!"

Here would be my plan of action: Urinalysis to rule out any UTI or stones, JUST IN CASE. Consider neutering if he is not a show dog and try a belly band if he is not. Keep an eye on him at all times when he is loose in the house, and crate if not home!

I hope this helps a little!