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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog illustration.

I adopted an older dog that had not been neutered. Although he has now been neutered, he continues to mark inside my house. My veterinarian says he probably can't be housebroken. Any thoughts?

Being housetrained has nothing to do with a dog's propensity for marking territory, says professional dog trainer Karen Kelley of North Little Rock. In fact, a dog that regularly does his bathroom business outdoors may still spray inside the house if he feels a need, for whatever reason, to claim his space.

Spraying urine is a territorial behavior, while house-soiling is a training or medical issue. Because they are distinct and separate behaviors, it's helpful to look at them as such, although tactics for one behavior might positively affect the other.

Neutering a male dog will make him less interested in marking his territory, Kelley says, but the behavior may not stop immediately after he's neutered: "It can take about 45 days before the hormones start calming down." During that time, be sure to take your dog outside on a regular schedule, and don't leave him unsupervised while indoors.

Once a dog has marked an area, whether it's a patch of carpet or wall, or the edge of the sofa, he'll be compelled to revisit the spot. Tackling this problem means you have to remove his scent with a natural enzyme odor eliminator, Kelley says. For the odor eliminator to be effective, it must be sprayed or poured on the area that's been marked. Saturate the spot and let the cleaner soak in. Don't try to blot, rinse or remove the cleaner. Instead, leave it alone and let it do its work.

Because enzymatic cleaners bond to specific molecules, make sure to get one that's designed to target urine stains and odors. There are many enzymatic products on the market, available at pet stores and any other businesses that carry cleaning supplies.

While waiting for the enzymes to obliterate the urine marker (more than one application may be needed), take your dog for short walks and offer him other territory to mark, Kelley says. In addition to the trips to his normal bathroom area, which may be the backyard, also walk him on a leash in the front yard or in your neighborhood. Let him sniff and investigate new areas and leave his scent on them.

If the dog begins sniffing spots inside the house and looks like he's going to mark territory there, get his attention -- Come, Fido! -- and put him on his leash and take him outside. When he does his business outdoors, praise him and give him a treat.

Some dogs prove more difficult than others when dealing with marking, Kelley says. For a particularly problematic dog, she suggests using the Belly Band (bellybands.net), a cloth band with an absorbent pad that the dog wears around its waist. "If he wants to tinkle or hike his leg, he can't get past the band," she says. "If it's a marking issue, he won't want to mark himself, so the band is pretty self-corrective."

Regarding typical housetraining, Kelley says, almost any dog can be housetrained at any age. The process may take more time when a dog has gotten into the habit of soiling inside the house, but the problem is still manageable and correctable.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals details the steps to housetraining an adult dog at tinyurl.com/kdgdnc7.

Take your dog outside on consistent schedule. Stay with him until he does his business. Reward and praise him when he finishes.

When you can't watch your dog in the house, confine him to one area or to his crate. Over time, give him more freedom to roam in your absence.

If you see the dog beginning to circle or sniff and it looks like he's about to eliminate indoors, clap your hands or call him to get his attention, then take him outside.

If he makes a mistake, don't punish him. Use an enzymatic cleanser to reduce odors that might attract him back to the same spot.

Family on 10/01/2014

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