A: First and foremost, ask your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical root of the behavior. Then look for the root cause and solution. Marking is not about housebreaking; it’s territorial.

The good news is: your dog has not simply “forgotten” his housebreaking; he is very likely meeting some new “territorial challenge” in the best doggish way he knows how. He’s staking claim to what’s his (particular people, spaces, areas and things).

Ask yourself: why the need to assert territoriality? And why now?

Most often it is the result of either dominance or anxiety, usually the former. Common triggers include a new baby (new sounds and smells) in the house, new people (a roommate or spouse), new pets, changes in routine, or a decrease in the attention your dog’s used to getting. Such events can leave him feeling threatened and anxious about his standing in your “pack.”

Typically dogs will mark new objects in the environment, an object whose smell is unfamiliar, or anything having another animal’s scent.

Conflict with other animals in the home is a frequent trigger; anytime the pack’s hierarchy is thrown into question, urine-marking is a way of asserting dominance, or of expressing anxiety around the upheaval.

What You Can Do:
Resolve conflicts between animals in your household as quickly as possible.

Spay or neuter your pet as soon as possible.

Thoroughly clean any soiled areas, however avoid strongly scented cleaning agents as they can encourage your dog to over-mark the spot as a way of compensating.

Make previously soiled areas hard to reach or less appealing. Or, change the meaning/use of the area by feeding your pet there or playing with him there so he creates a new association to it.

If bringing a new person into the house, encourage him or her to bond with your pet by feeding, grooming and playing so they become part of the pack, no longer an outsider. With a new baby, reward your pet when the baby is around so the baby becomes a positive association.

Assert your leadership by making your dog obey commands before you pet, feed, or play with him.

Don't punish; realize the behavior is his response to unfamiliar scents and events that make him feel he has to lay claim to what’s his. Stabilize the hierarchy in your pack, and you’ll be well on your way to solving the problem.

Good Luck!

A: You’ll love the improvements available for bathing and grooming pets today. Among them are specialized shampoos, conditioners, and tools now available, including special pet combs that diminish shedding, gloves that scrub and massage at the same time, waterless bath options, and booster baths that keep you drier and place less stress on pets.

Waterless pet wipes are essential for quick and easy clean up with puppies, and for colder months when regular bathing can cause dryness. Specially designed to keep your pet's skin and coat clean, healthy, shiny and smelling fresh, many are scented with fragrances such as fresh baby powder. Waterless alternatives can help fearful or timid pets ease into a regular bathing regimen that includes water and shampoo.

Cats and dogs alike love massage brushes, which turn grooming into extra petting/bonding time with you. Regular brushing is not only safe, but also a necessary component of good coat and skin care.

Premium quality super-absorbent cotton towels cut drying time and are wonderfully efficient for travel. Tub restraints can help keep a pet in place during a bath. There are even special antibacterial tiles treated to inhibit the growth of infectious germs, moisture and temperature.

Always make sure that the water is not too hot, and that water and shampoo do not get into your pet’s ears, eyes and mouth. Putting cotton balls in your pet’s ears is a great way to prevent water from entering the ear canal.

Most of all, have fun! Create positive associations around grooming, make it a bonding experience, and it will be smooth sailing for both of you every time.