Do female dogs mark their owners? (2023)

Do female dogs mark their owners?

When you're out on a walk, your female dog could be marking to make sure other dogs that pass by know her status. In your home, your female dog could be marking to send a message to another pet or even a human family member.

Neutering (or spaying, though female dogs mark far less than male dogs) is the first step to ending the act, but training and behavior modification may also be necessary.

Reproductively intact dog.

Unneutered males and unspayed females are more likely to urine mark. Female dogs' marking occurs slightly before and while they're in heat. The behavior is not typical for neutered or spayed dogs.

Signs of dominant behavior in dogs:

Resistance to voice commands. Aggressive response to eye contact or verbal correction. Food guarding or other aggressive behavior while eating. Persistence about leading the way on walks or through entryways.

What we often call “imprinting behavior” in dogs generally means “bonding.” A dog raised properly does not mistake herself for a human, but does come to regard humans, and usually one human in particular, as the source of food, shelter, and safety.

It's an instinctual, physical response called submissive urination, and it's normal in young dogs. Submissive urination typically happens whenever a dog feels excited, shy, anxious, or scared. It also happens when a dog wants to acknowledge another's dominance — like recognizing you as their owner.

Spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible. The longer a dog goes before being spayed or neutered, the more difficult it will be to train them not to mark in the house. Spaying or neutering your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.

Your dog feels the need to assert his dominance or ease his anxiety by laying out his boundaries. He does this by depositing small amounts of urine on anything he feels belongs to him—the furniture, the walls, your socks, etc. Urine-marking is most often associated with male dogs, but females may do it, too.

Why do some female dogs mark?

Some dogs will frequently re-mark specific areas to make sure it is clear to other pets that this is their territory. Urine marking may also occur if there are animals outside near your house or apartment. Your dog may feel threatened by their presence and feel the need to mark their territory.

Urine marking behavior usually begins when the dog reaches sexual maturity. What Causes Canine Urine Marking? An intact male dog is most likely to mark when there is a female dog in heat nearby. Intact female dogs are also prone to marking when they are in heat.

However, even spayed females sometimes urine mark. A study of urine marking in dogs revealed that 10 percent of the dogs who urine marked started the behavior at 3 months of age, 20 percent by 6 months, 40 percent by 12 months, 70 percent by 1½ years, and 90 percent before 2 years.

Your pet may be urine-marking if:

The amount of urine is small and is found primarily on vertical surfaces. Dogs and cats do sometimes mark on horizontal surfaces. Leg-lifting and spraying are common versions of urine-marking, but even if your pet doesn't assume these postures, he may still be urine-marking.

Whether you call it humping, mounting or thrusting, the behavior is natural in male and female dogs. For some dogs, it is a response to arousal. For others, it can just be a way to exert dominance and show that they're the top dog in the house.

Tucked-In Tail or Wagging Tail Low and Fast

A dog holding her tail down low is usually showing signs of submission. The more anxious or submissive the dog, the more tightly she'll probably tuck her tail close to her body.

❖ How dominance is established: Dogs usually establish their dominance hierarchies through a series of ritualized behaviors that include body postures and vocalizations that don't result in injury. One dog may "stand over" another by placing his paws or neck on the shoulders of the other.

Is a Dog More Protective of Female Keepers? This isn't a general rule, but some pets are more likely to exhibit protective behavior with female keepers. This is because women generally have a softer voice and are gentler whenever they care for the dog.

One long-standing myth about dogs, is that female dogs tend to be more loyal than their male counterparts. This myth has passed down generations of dog breeders and dog lovers. And can be traced back as far as when dogs were wild and living in packs.

Do female dogs submissive pee?

Shy, timid puppies are the most likely candidates for submissive urination but occasionally it persists into young adulthood. This problem is most common in female puppies under 1 year of age. Situations that precipitate submissive urination include: Over affectionate greetings.

They're standing guard

Your dog knows this – and they worry about you when you pee. If you've had your pooch for a while, they've probably deduced what you do in the bathroom. By accompanying you to the toilet, they may believe they're standing watch for you during a moment of exposure.

Both males and females exhibit this behavior. Submissive urination is an uncontrollable physical response and it often occurs to signal another dog (or person) that the dog is not a threat to others. Excitement urination is also an innate uncontrollable physical response to stimulation and is more common in puppies.

According to the North American Veterinary Community, as many as 50% of male dogs stop urine marking, or at least do it significantly less often, after being neutered. Dogs usually begin urine marking when they start to reach sexual maturity.

If you do catch them in the act of marking, you should make a loud noise to startle them and then take them outside and reward the correct behavior. If you do not catch your dog in the act and find the accident later, then it is extremely important that you do not punish your dog.

Anxiety or Stress Can Lead to Accidents

Your dog may also be peeing on the bed because of emotional issues. A frightened dog will seek a safe spot, such as your bed, but that same fear may cause an accident. Something like fireworks might startle your dog into losing bladder control.

Your dog would pee on the rug if it's suffering from certain diseases, urinary tract infections, bladder dysfunction, or some other health abnormalities. Some dogs experience hormonal changes, while some old female dogs lose estrogen as they age.

Cystitis causes discomfort and pain. Dogs with cystitis may spend several minutes squatting and straining (straining is called dysuria) to produce only a small amount of urine, and they may urinate more frequently than normal (called pollakiuria).

What smells make dogs pee?

The pheromones in dog urine are part of a complex system dogs use to communicate. Pheromones teach dogs boundaries and respectable places to urinate; however, once a dog has had an accident in the house, smelling those pheromones may encourage your dog to urinate again in the same spot.

Marking behavior is not a house-soiling problem and both Male and Female dogs can display marking behaviors.

Once she is fully in heat, your dog's tail will often move or curl to the side. This is known as flagging and lets male dogs know she is ready and available for mating.

Territorial Marking

When they urinate on your couch, they are marking their territory and will continue to do so as long as they feel that their territory is threatened. Many people believe that spaying or neutering your dog will stop the behavior of territorial marking, however, this is not always the case.

Your dog will only bleed for around half of the total cycle, usually 7 to 10 days. Generally, bigger dogs bleed more than smaller dogs, but it varies between dogs. Some dogs bleed very little.

Unneutered male dogs may be more territorial than females, and more likely to 'mark' their territory. Sex-specific diseases and infections may occur in intact dogs. Unless you plan to breed or show your dog, spaying or neutering provides health and behavioral benefits.

Increased Urination: If your dog is starting to urinate more frequently and in smaller amounts, this could be a sign she's "marking" as she goes into heat. This is the easiest way to spread the message to other dogs that she's going into season.

Dogs can mark for many reasons; the two most common are to show ownership on what they consider their territory and anxiety.

Usually it is because of feelings of insecurity or a perceived threat. This perceived threat, for example, can be an introduction of a new baby, a new pet, a visitor or even a new piece of furniture. The smell of other animals on your footwear or clothing can also trigger a dog to feel the need to mark his territory.

Why do female dogs mark their territory?

They marked more often when they weren't close to home. Spaying had no significant effect on how often the dogs marked, but dogs in heat do mark more to advertise the fact that they're ready to mate.