Free Tips to Stop a Dog From Marking Inside the House

In this Omaha dog training session, we shared tips to stop a dog from marking inside the house and having accidents. Our goal was to help Leo, a 1-year-old Bichon Shih Tzu mix. He is pictured here on the left with his roommate, Bailey, a 2-year-old Shih Tzu/Schnauzer mix.

How to Potty Train a Puppy

There is a difference between dog marking and dogs having accidents in the house. One is intentional and one isn’t. The process to stop a dog from having accidents in the house is different than tips to stop a dog from marking. I decided to shoot a positive dog training video that includes solutions to both problems.

The potty training tips in the video can help stop your dog from having accidents indoors. As I said in the film, preventing a dog from marking in the house is about building a strong leader-follower relationship. Until the dog sees the humans as leaders, it will keep marking things. This way, if another dog comes inside, it knows someone is in charge.

Potty training your puppy can be a smooth process if you try our positive approach. To start, it’s essential to have a marker word in place for this method. This will make the entire training process much quicker.

Remember, puppies can’t fully control their bladders until they are about five months old. Because of this, accidents will happen. Having realistic expectations and patience during this time is key.

If you have area rugs or regular carpet you’re attached to, we suggest visiting a carpet store to purchase some inexpensive remnant carpet pieces. Place these in the rooms where your puppy spends most of their time. Your puppy will likely have accidents, and protecting your expensive rugs from stains or odors is a smart idea.

Additionally, using baby gates to limit your puppy’s access to the house can help. Restricting them to one or two rooms will reduce the likelihood of chewing and aid in potty training.

The training method we focus on involves rewarding your puppy for going potty in the right place. If they potty anywhere else, nothing happens—not even punishment.

In fact, two common mistakes people make are reprimanding the puppy or rubbing their nose in the accident. Both of these actions can actually make potty training harder, so avoid drawing attention to the accident. Simply clean it up and move on.

Puppies usually need to go potty right after they wake up. They also need to go about three minutes after eating. Additionally, they may need to go roughly ten minutes after playtime.

I recommend taking your puppy out at these times, and also once every hour regardless of whether you think they need to go. The more often they are in the right place at the right time, the better their potty training success will be.

Another common mistake is leaving the puppy outside unattended. You need to be there to observe them and to reward them when they go potty in the right spot.

Some people also make the mistake of repeating “potty” over and over when they want their puppy to go. At this stage, the puppy won’t understand the word yet, so you should hold off on using it. Instead, just focus on using the marker word.

When you go outside with your puppy, make sure the environment is calm. Avoid having kids running around, and don’t engage in conversations with your puppy. Keep a treat with you, but don’t let your puppy see it. Follow your puppy around in a relaxed way, and when they begin to potty, stop and immediately use your marker word.

Give your puppy five minutes to go potty. If they don’t go in that time, they may have forgotten or don’t need to go anymore. In that case, pick up your puppy and bring them inside.

Keep them close for about 15 minutes. You can sit with them or keep them on a leash. After this break, take them back outside and repeat the process.

Soon, your dog will learn that going potty outside means getting a reward. You can then say your marker word at the end.

Another common mistake is saying the marker word multiple times as soon as the puppy starts to go potty. It’s best to say the marker word only once, in a calm voice, right after they finish. Then, within two seconds, give them the treat.

Be aware that your puppy may link going back inside with potty time. If they like being outside, they might avoid going out.

If you can, let your puppy stay outside for a few more minutes after they potty. You can play with them or take a short walk. This helps prevent a bad association.

It’s important to watch your puppy closely. This is especially true before they need to go potty. However, it can be hard to know exactly when that will happen.

How to Stop a Dog From Marking Inside the House

Marking is a deliberate action where a dog claims or checks something. For example, a dog might mark a table to say, “This is my table.”

This lets other dogs know it has been checked and approved. If another dog comes in, they will recognize that the table has already been “authorized” by the marking dog. Dogs often mark when there are changes in their environment, like new furniture or unfamiliar objects.

When dealing with marking behavior, it’s important to let the dog mark just once. After that, don’t make a big deal out of it. Stay calm and confident, but don’t lower your body too much, as this can make you seem less in control. Keep your authority by addressing the behavior briefly and then moving on.

Sometimes, dogs may mark due to anxiety or stress. This can happen if they feel threatened by other animals, new people, or changes in their routine.

Dogs may also mark in new environments as a way to establish a sense of security in unfamiliar places. While marking is more common in intact male dogs, neutered dogs and females can also engage in marking behavior. Typically, this behavior begins around adolescence, between 6 and 9 months of age.

If your dog likes to mark, you can help by limiting their access to furniture. Also, avoid giving them too much attention, like petting, for about three months. This helps reinforce good behavior and builds the dog’s confidence. Teaching your dog new tricks or commands can also boost their confidence and help reduce marking, especially in dogs that feel insecure.

It’s important to stay consistent with training. Don’t let your dog on the furniture and be sure to pet them with purpose to reinforce positive behavior.

If your dog marks in certain situations, like when new objects are introduced, you can set up a situation to observe them. For example, place a box in the room and watch from a distance using a camera. Dogs usually mark after walking by something a few times, so knowing the pattern can help you manage the behavior.

Some people use loud noises to stop marking. One method is to put coins in an empty soda can and tape it up so it makes a loud sound when it falls. The idea is to scare the dog enough to stop marking. However, this approach isn’t ideal and could stress the dog, so use it cautiously.

Remember that potty training and marking are two different issues. Potty training won’t stop a dog from marking, and marking doesn’t mean they’re not potty trained. Both involve urine, but they require different solutions. It takes time, patience, and consistency to address marking behavior.

Fortunately, dogs live in the now. If Bailey and Leo’s guardians follow some new rules and boundaries, they can help their dogs. They should reward good behavior and encourage more exercise. This can stop a dog from marking inside the house.

To help the guardians remember the tips I shared, we made a video. This video shows how to create a healthy leader-follower dynamic in our home dog training session.