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How to stop an 8-month-old intact male dog from marking indoors?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Collie | Male | unneutered | 8 months and 10 days old

Our 8 month old intact male dog has begun marking in the house! How do we train him out of this behavior? Please don't say neuter him. He will be used for breeding so that is not an option.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on October 3, 2017

I'm so sorry. I gave you the wrong link. Here is the link to the belly band.
https://www.bellybands.net/?gclid=CjwKEAjw6szOBRCF2sPTjfrJuXASJADDOLEFVdGuOhr7zixasptzgm07EhfZGGbFoPwReWwsVRzGRhoCFm3w_wcB

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH
Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner
Marking is a normal behavior for male dogs as they reach sexual maturity, so it will take some committment to retrain him, but I'm glad you're starting right away. The first thing I would do is to get a belly band (https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2607). That will stop him from actually marking areas with his scent while you are working on training him. The only way to teach him that it is not acceptible to mark in the house is to catch him in the act. That may require putting up baby gates or keeping him on a leash in the house so he is always under supervision. When he lifts his leg to mark on something, make a loud noise and tell him "No!" Collies are smart and he will get the idea quickly, but the key is not to let him out of your sight while you are working on this training.
Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.
0Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 14, 2017
You can try to train him to not mark in the house, but because he's intact his marking is most likely due to hormones. The best thing to do is neuter him, but if you don't want to, check out this website from the Humane Society that has tips on how to try to reduce the behavior:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/prevent_urine_marking.html
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on February 25, 2020
If the dogs are not neutered that is the easiest way to reduce marking behavior as it is often related to hormones. Cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner on any marked spots can also reduce the smell and prevent remarking, however if both dogs are not neutered and together they may be trying to pee over each other's scents. Taking them out often for potty training (especially the puppy) and keeping them out of areas they mark can also help.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

How to stop my neutered dog marking inside when I'm gone?

You are correct that this type of behavior is difficult to correct. The best way to correct it is to not allow it to happen. Easier said than done. The best way I have found to allow that is to either use a Belly Band (www.bellybands.net), keep the dog on a leash attached to you in the house or keep the dog in a crate when you are gone. The goal is that it he does not get the satisfaction of urinating on something (either because the belly band prevents it, because you are on the other end of the leash preventing it, or because he is in a crate), that the behavior is less likely to continue. However, it will be a work in progress and since it has been going on for over 3 years, it will not resolve quickly. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why is my intact male dog suddenly marking in the house at 16 months?

I see that Zeus is not neutered - unless he is a show or breeding dogs, this is the first thing I would suggest doing. It's extremely common for intact male dogs to have issues with urine marking in the house once they reach social maturity, usually around 12-18 months of age - so it sounds like Zeus is right on time for this behavior. I would also recommend supervising him constantly when he is in the house so that you can interrupt him if you see him starting to lift his leg, and confining him to a crate or dog-proofed room when you aren't home to help prevent accidents. A belly band (essentially a diaper for male dogs) can also be helpful in the short term while you are working on the problem.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why is my 9-month-old neutered Maltese marking in the house?

He probably started marking when his hormones increased. Now that he’s neutered these levels will go down over the next four to six weeks. Please clean all of the area he’s marked with lemon or vinegar cleaner to remove the scent. I recommend going back to crate training for housebreaking, or using a male belly band when you aren’t able to monitor him. Please take him outside or to the pee pad frequently so he has a chance to urinate there. Marking behavior can become a habit so working to stop this right away is best. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care Toby.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Will neutering stop my adult dog from marking furniture indoors?

The short answer is: maybe. Urine marking can develop into a set habit of behavior, and it can be difficult to get them to stop completely if they weren't neutered at an early age. However, in trying to minimize the behavior, the very first thing you should do IS to neuter your dog, so you're already on the right track. Here are a couple of great articles that you may find helpful in terms of curbing this behavior. https://www.spca.org/document.doc?id=116 https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-rules-for-effective-housetraining/ I hope that helps you! Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

How to stop my 4-year-old dog from marking territory indoors?

The first thing I would do is neuter him. An unneutered male can’t help but want to mark his territory. Unfortunately, he is 4 years old so this may have become a learned behavior meaning he may continue to do it after he is neuter. There is no guarantee he will stop. If I were you I would neuter him and while he is at the vet I would steam clean and deodorize every where he likes to mark. This is the best chance to help him stop this behavior. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23, 2025

Training & Behavior

Why is my 3-year-old dog marking on hanging items indoors?

I doubt that the behavior will stop on its own if you can't figure out what has started it. The first thing I would recommend would be to have your vet examine George and perform a urinalysis to make sure that there isn't a medical cause that has started this. If your vet can't find a medical cause then I would recommend figuring out a way to stop the behavior temporarily. I would use a Belly Band (https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-belly-bands-for-dogs/), so he does not have the opportunity to mark and ideally use baby gates, a crate or supervision to prevent him from having the opportunity to mark. 2 weeks after the last time he has marked (or attempted to mark if he has the belly band on), you can allow him more unsupervised time without the belly band on. Hopefully that will be enough to break this habit. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Can neutering an older male dog stop house marking behavior?

This can be a frustrating problem in intact males! The first thing I would do right away is have Junior neutered - many times, this will decrease the marking behavior dramatically even if it's already been going on for several years. After this is done, you will likely still need to work with him a bit on housetraining. Treat him like a young puppy who has no idea where to potty - take him out frequently, praise and reward for peeing outside, and supervise constantly indoors to prevent accidents. If you see him starting to lift his leg, clap your hands and say "ah-ah!" or "no!" - he will soon learn that this is not acceptable in the house, if you are consistent. Don't relax your supervision until he has had at least two weeks with no accidents at all, then increase his freedom in the house very slowly. This will take time and patience, but it can definitely be done.

Updated on September 23, 2025

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