Ask Your Pet

Hello Jennifer.

I have a male dachshund named Chewy. He was an adorable puppy whom I had since he was very young. Being a first time dog owner, I wanted to make sure I did all the right things. We went to dog training classes, got much attention from dog sitters as well as myself.

He is now 3-1/2 yrs and still a wonderful dog. But, he marks my furniture and pees on my rug. He’s been doing this for so long. I’ve tried everything. Punishing, spraying, dog diapers.

I got another dog in 2017 and she is well behaved. They both vie for my attention, but they get plenty. I know a new dog may cause him to mark, but he has been doing this before she came.

How can I get across to him that this is not necessary? Why is he doing this?

Thank you,

Laura

Dear Laura,

I’m sorry you’re facing this difficult situation. First, I’d recommend consulting a veterinarian if you haven’t already. There can be medical reasons for what appears to be marking. So, even if Chewy tells me there’s an emotional component, I still would urge a vet visit.

When I connect with Chewy, I feel a mix of emotions. There’s anxiety, anger, but also great love for you. He keeps saying , “She took me away from her.” When I ask what he means, it feels like he’s expressing that he was taken from his mother too soon. Generally, it’s thought that puppies can go to new homes at 7-9 weeks. But, that has to do with socialization with the pack. With the exception of weaning, the separation of the puppy from its mother really isn’t considered in the determination of this time frame.

But, not every puppy is ready to leave its mother at 7-9 weeks. Some are, some need longer, some really don’t want to be separated from their mothers ever. The dogs who needed more time often show behavioral issues similar to puppies removed at a time that was technically too soon.

To address this, I’d recommend giving Chewy the “Abandonment and Abuse”, “Spraying” and “Anxiety” remedies from the animal wellness collection at www.GreenHopeEssences.com. You can just put them in his water twice a day. I’d also recommend thoroughly cleaning every area where he’s urinated with an enzyme-based cleaner (like Nature’s Miracle) every time he has an incident.

Please be patient with Chewy. When he urinates indoors, gently remind him to please only go potty outside. Praise and reward him when he pees outdoors. This is a habitual behavior at this point, and it will be hard for him to break the habit. But, positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment, which is detrimental to both training and trust. Chewy’s marking is an expression of anxiety and habit. As you said, he’s a wonderful dog.

Again, I would get him checked out by a vet if you haven’t, just to make sure there’s nothing medical contributing to this behavior.

Many Blessings,

Jennifer Dickman

Jennifer Dickman is an Animal Communicator, Reiki Master-Teacher specializing in Animal

Reiki, and Intuitive Counselor. She conducts phone and email sessions worldwide. She may be

contacted at Jennifer_Dickman@ymail.com , or through her website,

www.JenniferDickman.com , where her MP3s “Journey to Contact Your Animals in Spirit” and

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