AboutLabman Expertise I can help you with your new dog. I am experienced in, and trained in techniques the average person can make work with dogs, especially puppies. I strongly believe in obedience training and the need to give your dog proper leadership. I have been raising a new puppy every year since 1991. I know housebreaking and protecting the puppy and the house from each other. I can explain the the feeding regimen you can easily follow to give your dog the same long, active life life as highly valuable dog guides. I try to give answers you can make work.
The mark of a real expert is knowing the limits of his knowledge. I will not try to answer questions on breed standards, AKC registration, etc. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience Like many, I grew up around dogs, but never realized how much I had to learn before my family started socializing puppies for a large dog guide school. The school shares their experience from thousands of dogs with the people they entrust to raise their puppies. Their recommendations on training, feeding, and care come from a large, well documented program. After it is a year old, they X-ray every one of the hundreds of dogs they breed every year. I continue to attend monthly training sessions with trained volunteers and professional staff. I share experiences with others doing the same. The school must have sturdy, healthy, well behaved dogs, that will have a long, active life. If that is what you want too, I can help you. In addition I have done extensive reading, and the 4 years my daughter was in 4-H were a real learning experience for Dad too. That exposed me to more breeds than the Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens in the dog guide program.
Expert: Labman Date: 7/4/2008 Subject: Urinating on bed
Question Hello, I have a 4 year old male Basset Hound, which urinates on beds and against other objects. Let me give you some history: he has been neutered when he was about 2 and half, which halved the problem. He mostly does it when he is left alone. He knows two houses, my boyfriends house, and he only has a cat, and my parents house,where they have a male Labrador which has also been neutered and they are good friends and two cats. When we are at my boyfriends house and go for a "quick" meal he will urinate on the beds. I have to add,that when we go I leave the TV on and he has chew toys.
At my parents house if we leave him alone with the Labrador and with a door open to the garden he will urinate against curtains, tables, beds the list goes on.
What I have tried: The sprays to take the odour away. If caught in the act, a smack with a newspaper and then been put out side. Putting him out side, which leads to crying and barking.
So, I have tried a few things even had him with an animal behaviorist which didn't help. I love him to bits and but it is so horrible how he manipulates me, because I don't even do anything anymore because I know what he will do....
Answer Hi Vanessa,
It's hard to break a dog of "marking" when it's habitual. Preventing your dog access to the areas he's know to mark when he's left alone will go a long way in stopping this behavior.
If your dog isn't crate trained, you can try that, or you can contain him within your home or your boyfriend s's home with the help of a child-gate or two. Constant monitoring will also help. Have him wear his leash in the house, and the instant your dog looks as though he's thinking about marking, give him a tug, and make him sit by your side. If you can't monitor him, then he needs to be contained in either a crate, or with those child-gates.
Another option is to get a bellyband (also known as a male dog wrap) for your dog, so he can still mark but won’t soil the home. These can be ordered from pet supply companies. You can see what I'm talking about here:
Cleaning the areas where your dog has been marking with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle will help remove the scents which are attracting your dog to mark.
