Boxer Information Center
Your Subtitle text
I have 2 Boxers (male and female) and they sleep inside the house. Everyday when I wake up I realize that they did pee-pee. They don't spend too many hours inside the house at night (around 6 or 8). I always take them out before going bed but they sometime anyways do it inside the house. What should I do?
Overview
Because your Boxer dogs are both inside at night for 6 to 8 hours, and your email let us know that they were both 15 months old, they should be able to hold their needs overnight.
Bladder infections and other medical issues can cause a dog to not be able to hold their urine. While it is unlikely that they both have infections, one may and that may be the dog who is peeing at night. Therefore, before taking any other steps, we would recommend bringing both Boxers to the vet to rule out any medical issues.
If you are told that all is fine, we would then recommend looking at this as a behavioral issues and not a training issue.
You are doing everything right, by taking them outside right before bed and at other times during the day. Therefore, this could be a marking behavior.
What is Boxer Marking?
The 1 trigger that most often causes a dog to mark...is another dog. Even if both dogs are best friends, 1 or both dogs may show marking behavior.
This can also happen in a home with just 1 dog.
The reason a dog marks is to show that they wish to be the "Pack Leader".
Whether there is 1 dog in the house, 2 or more...each dog has a very strong instinctual need to know where their place is in the "Pack".
The dog's pack is their human (and if applicable, canine) family members.
When someone has 1 or more Boxer dogs, the dogs will learn that their human is the "Pack Leader" when the owner:
Stop Marking Behavior
A dog will mark when they are not sure where they are in the order of the pack. A dog will "think", "Am I the leader?" "Is the other dog the leader".
As a dog or multiple dogs struggle to figure this out, they will mark the home to say "This is my spot!".
As an owner you can help.
If you have more than 1 dog, there can only be 1 leader of the "Dog Pack". You, of course, are the "Pack Leader". However, in the sub-category, there must and always is 1 leader of the canines.
If dogs do not clearly know who it is, they will mark and show other behavioral problems.
Take a look at both dogs and see which one runs to the kitchen first when you call out for dinner. Which one comes to you first when you command that it is time to go outside? Is there one who seems to control the dog toys more than the other one? Usually, if their is an age difference, it will be the older dog who is the "Leader".
Once you determine which dog is trying harder to be the "Leader", you can then help both dogs by establishing this. The dog who is not the "Leader" will be thankful ! It is a lot of stress on dogs to figure this out by themselves. You should then:
Other Important Tips for 1 or Multiple Dogs Who Mark
A dog will also be very likely to mark if they are not spayed/ neutered.
A dog who is spayed/neutered will be very likely to mark if any other dog or pet in the home is not.
If the urine is cleaned with a cleaner that has a very strong odor, the dog may mark again to cover that new smell and put their own smell back. Use a light scented cleaner.
When having more than 1 dog, be sure to give each dog their own bed or sleeping area. While it is cute to see 2 dogs snuggling together, both dogs need their own space. In this way, 1 will not be as likely to mark the area, as it will be their very own.
Because your Boxer dogs are both inside at night for 6 to 8 hours, and your email let us know that they were both 15 months old, they should be able to hold their needs overnight.
Bladder infections and other medical issues can cause a dog to not be able to hold their urine. While it is unlikely that they both have infections, one may and that may be the dog who is peeing at night. Therefore, before taking any other steps, we would recommend bringing both Boxers to the vet to rule out any medical issues.
If you are told that all is fine, we would then recommend looking at this as a behavioral issues and not a training issue.
You are doing everything right, by taking them outside right before bed and at other times during the day. Therefore, this could be a marking behavior.
What is Boxer Marking?
The 1 trigger that most often causes a dog to mark...is another dog. Even if both dogs are best friends, 1 or both dogs may show marking behavior.
This can also happen in a home with just 1 dog.
The reason a dog marks is to show that they wish to be the "Pack Leader".
Whether there is 1 dog in the house, 2 or more...each dog has a very strong instinctual need to know where their place is in the "Pack".
The dog's pack is their human (and if applicable, canine) family members.
When someone has 1 or more Boxer dogs, the dogs will learn that their human is the "Pack Leader" when the owner:
- Feeds the dogs
- Takes the dog outside for exercise and play
- Trains the dogs to listen to commands
- Performs grooming
Stop Marking Behavior
A dog will mark when they are not sure where they are in the order of the pack. A dog will "think", "Am I the leader?" "Is the other dog the leader".
As a dog or multiple dogs struggle to figure this out, they will mark the home to say "This is my spot!".
As an owner you can help.
If you have more than 1 dog, there can only be 1 leader of the "Dog Pack". You, of course, are the "Pack Leader". However, in the sub-category, there must and always is 1 leader of the canines.
If dogs do not clearly know who it is, they will mark and show other behavioral problems.
Take a look at both dogs and see which one runs to the kitchen first when you call out for dinner. Which one comes to you first when you command that it is time to go outside? Is there one who seems to control the dog toys more than the other one? Usually, if their is an age difference, it will be the older dog who is the "Leader".
Once you determine which dog is trying harder to be the "Leader", you can then help both dogs by establishing this. The dog who is not the "Leader" will be thankful ! It is a lot of stress on dogs to figure this out by themselves. You should then:
- Call the Leader to dinner first and set their food down first
- When going outside for walks, put the leash on the Leader first
- When coming home, greet the Leader first and then immediately greet the 2nd dog
Other Important Tips for 1 or Multiple Dogs Who Mark
A dog will also be very likely to mark if they are not spayed/ neutered.
A dog who is spayed/neutered will be very likely to mark if any other dog or pet in the home is not.
If the urine is cleaned with a cleaner that has a very strong odor, the dog may mark again to cover that new smell and put their own smell back. Use a light scented cleaner.
When having more than 1 dog, be sure to give each dog their own bed or sleeping area. While it is cute to see 2 dogs snuggling together, both dogs need their own space. In this way, 1 will not be as likely to mark the area, as it will be their very own.
Created by Dreamz4Duppy Designs, owned by Alisa Chagnon.
Copyright
1996-2010 contact@AllBoxerInfo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
Copyright
1996-2010 contact@AllBoxerInfo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
