Marking/spraying

[lau93ren]

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Hi this might be long but abit of context:

I’ve been dating my boyfriend for just over two years and he has an xl bully dog he’s five years old been neutered and all that jazz in line with the regulations of owning him but when me and my boyfriend first started dating my boyfriend use to come to my house where I still live with family and leave his dog with his house mate back home who his dog is comfortable with and we only use to see eachother weekends to work around our jobs and not living close together in those two years his dog did come to stay at my home a couple times and he was fine with me and being in my home well fast forward two years….

My boyfriend has now bought his own place so we can see eachother more and he doesn’t have to be away from the dog now I know environmental changes and maybe me being around more often could cause the dog anxiety and I have had to put a stop to him sleeping on the bed as my boyfriend use to allow him to in his old home when it was just the two of them but he’s just too big to sleep with us all night so I bought him two big comfy dog beds so when it’s bed time he has to sleep on his own bed and I know a new routine can cause stress but as far as me and the dogs relationship goes it’s been fine we play together he comes to bed with me when I go up to bed we snuggle I feed him I try get back from work as quick as I can to be with him so he’s not alone as he does have separation anxiety he will whine when no one’s with him and I do genuinely love him a lot and I’ve been staying at my boyfriends new home now for over a week continuously but today when I got in from work I found he had spray/marked a bag of my things as I left a bag of my stuff in our upstairs hallway and I don’t know what marking this could mean anxiety? Dominance? Territory? I’d hate to think he’s done it out of anxiousness aimed towards me as I’m really trying to make our new dynamic as comfortable as possible for him and all of us and he seems to genuinely be so comfortable with me and around me as he’s shown no nervous behaviour towards me at all and is excited to see me when I get home even when my partner takes him for a walk and if the dog sees me he trys pulling to get to me and he’s a really friendly dog loves people and attention so I’m just unsure what this could mean or how I help it if he’s spraying around the house because of me but so far it’s just been over some of my things obviously I’ll try keep my things out of reach in future I just didn’t expect this at all

Thankyou for any advise or wisdom on the situation I’d hate for him to be doing it because he doesn’t like me as I love him so much and I love having a dog around the home he makes me feel safe when I have to be home alone when my partner is at work or out.

 

[JoanneF]

Hello and welcome.

Can I say first, it isn't dominance. That theory has been well and truly debunked, but it still hangs around. It's the 'flat earth' theory 9f dog behaviour.

It's far more likely to be a bit of stress. Dogs that mark are sort of trying to 'prove' they belong in the environment and it often happens when they are feeling insecure and unsure of their right to be in the family group.

The change of home and the change of family dynamic is very likely to have triggered it.

Just give him lots of reassurance, keep your stuff out of his way and above all don't scold him for doing it, that would only make him more anxious.

 

[lau93ren]

Hello and welcome.

Can I say first, it isn't dominance. That theory has been well and truly debunked, but it still hangs around. It's the 'flat earth' theory 9f dog behaviour.

It's far more likely to be a bit of stress. Dogs that mark are sort of trying to 'prove' they belong in the environment and it often happens when they are feeling insecure and unsure of their right to be in the family group.

The change of home and the change of family dynamic is very likely to have triggered it.

Just give him lots of reassurance, keep your stuff out of his way and above all don't scold him for doing it, that would only make him more anxious.

Thankyou for your reply yeah I did think this could be why I was worried it would be this as I’m trying my best to make the change comfortable for him we have noticed since my boyfriend has moved into his new house his dog is constantly itching himself which isn’t usual behaviour and making himself sore and no we haven’t scolded him it was my boyfriend that actually found it as he nipped home on his work break not long after I got home but we both understand it’s a big change for him I’m just use to a cat back at home and my boyfriend isnt use to his dog being this way so I thought I’d ask people who may know better than us what could be happening and how we help it

Thankyou again for your reply x

 

[JudyN]

I wonder if the previous owners (or you?) used a carpet cleaner or something before leaving, which his skin might not like. Or the new beds might have been through some chemical process? You might want to wash/clean everything you can, using whatever your BF used in his old house and see if that helps.

I wouldn't overthink this too much. He's in a new environment, so as Joanne says it's natural for him to feel a little unsettled. What you don't want is for him to pick up on your concern, which might add to his anxiety.

 

[Flobo]

The only thing I can add is that the itching could also be triggered by being a bit anxious. Bullys are such a sensitive breed, considering their size and look! I'm sure he will settle in time with reassurance and oodles of love and affection

Just one other thing, we forget just how super sensitive dogs noses are, so the new house will be full of unfamiliar smells to him also, which might make him worry a bit.

 

[lau93ren]

The only thing I can add is that the itching could also be triggered by being a bit anxious. Bullys are such a sensitive breed, considering their size and look! I'm sure he will settle in time with reassurance and oodles of love and affection

Just one other thing, we forget just how super sensitive dogs noses are, so the new house will be full of unfamiliar smells to him also, which might make him worry a bit.

Yeah he is a sensitive boy I don’t think he realises how big he is acts like a little puppy but maybe could be worth noting that the previous owners did have a pet staffy dog and the carpets are really stained but we are getting the place plastered this month and doing the floors next as we are going to laminate the floors to keep them clean we bought the house cheapish it’s a little bit of a fixer upper

 

[lau93ren]

I wonder if the previous owners (or you?) used a carpet cleaner or something before leaving, which his skin might not like. Or the new beds might have been through some chemical process? You might want to wash/clean everything you can, using whatever your BF used in his old house and see if that helps.

I wouldn't overthink this too much. He's in a new environment, so as Joanne says it's natural for him to feel a little unsettled. What you don't want is for him to pick up on your concern, which might add to his anxiety.

I’ll be honest I don’t think the previous owners cleaned their carpets or house at all they are badly stained and dog drool was all up the walls as they did have a staffy dog which our dog could be smelling all over come to think of it I just didn’t know this could cause him bad anxiety without the actual dog being there

 

[JoanneF]

previous owners did have a pet staffy dog and the carpets are really stained

That could definitely contribute to this.

You might just want to take the hit on any more marking until you change the flooring, although you do risk it becoming a bit of a habit (it might not, but it's possible). Or you could really, thoroughly clean the carpets.