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Dominant Peeing

19 11:34:49

Question
QUESTION: Hi Kristin,

I have a one year old male boxer.  We got him from a breeder when he was 9 weeks old.  He is an indoor dog as my husband and I work.  He's crated when we're not home.  And for the most part he is house/crate trained.  However.. he has one major flaw.  He has somewhere along the line, developed a dominance over my daughter (it's so obvious the way he stands over her when she's watching t.v. and how he acts around her).  She just returned home on Sunday from being gone all summer on vacation.  5 minutes after she walked in the door, he went right in her bedroom and peed on her bed.  And he hasn't stopped messing in the house since!  How do I get him to stop this behavior, because now that I'm not allowing him in her room at all, it's getting worse.  He's rebeling and it's stinking up the house!  He's even started messing in his crate since she's come home.  He hasn't done this all summer and now that she's back it hasn't stopped and I need HELP!!

ANSWER: Well first,if he's not neutered get him done,as that reduces marking as well as dominance ect

And second EVERY time he does that send him outside and keep him outside for at least ten minutes,and if he barks too much tell him 'enough' but don't let him in,as you would be giving into him

Also it sometimes helps if you have the person he is trying to dominate(in this case your daughter)to work a bit on his training like making him sit,lay down ect as that will put her in a higher placement then the dog

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!  Just as a side question though.  How do I take him out when this happens when he waits until we're all sleeping or when we're all gone to work/school to do it.  We woke up this morning and he had gone all over the house cause her bedroom door was closed all night. He knows it's wrong cause we found him hiding under the couch this morning
Any thoughts?  Should I still take him out as soon as I find the mess?  Would it still be as effective as if I caught him in the act?
Thanks

Answer
Well you pretty do have to catch him in the act,just send him out on the times you DO catch him-otherwise he won't know why he is being sent out,but if you don't catch him and he makes a mess you can send him out if you wish,at least until he does something outside if you would prefer as some owners do that anyways