anxiety marking

[melbell]

So, I've come to a realization today that Ruutu marks because of anxiety. We've known since we've had him (when he was 8 weeks) that he has anxiety issues. We basically ignore it and let him be his goof ball self. I have made a thread or two about him marking and was reading about marking this morning when I read that anxiety could be the issue.

Ruutu only marks when he's in a dog building/yard. Unfortunately, it has me worrying about showing him in May, luckily Novice Agility is last in the day, so I think he'll be calm enough or emptied by then. He doesn't mark in my house, my parents (who have 3 male shelties), my brothers (has a male sheltie), my fiance's aunts, my fiance's parents' cottage (while their intact female was with us) or any other place.

The only three places he's ever marked at were our outdoor Agility place, indoor practice place back in PA and indoor practice in VA.... unfortunately our trial in May is outdoors. All the indoor shows around me though are at the same place our current indoor practice place is. He doesn't mark while running but he will if he's just standing around. I actually got him a belly band to wear to class and while running because honestly, I don't want to have to clean up pee all day...

He does mark when Honey is coming into heat, in heat, and coming out of heat. He also marked when sniffing his sisters' butts... but I think they were just coming in and out of heat.

So here's my question... Does anyone else have an anxiety dog that marks when feeling anxiety? We're going to go to dog class tonight early and just play and run a little (my instructor said it was cool since we drive an hour and he doesn't have a fenced in yard to get rid of his excitement in). I'm thinking this might help calm his nerves a little. Also, he doesn't lift his leg (ever) so it's not like he's peeing on items, just the floor.

I really don't want to have to drug him for anxiety issues because he does great other than when in a unfamiliar building that smells like dogs and he's anxious because of agility things.

Also I should add, when we did puppy kindergarten, he never went to the bathroom there... so I'm thinking it's from the excitement of Agility and new places being mixed.

Any suggestions/ideas? Sorry for the long post!

 

[labgirl]

I would say that on occasion both my boys will mark due to anxiety, more with Cadbury than Merlin.

However Merlin is a pronounced marker and I have to be really careful that he doesn't pee on the barriers around the agility rings. I have a few strategies to deal with it.

First, I take him for a walk around outside, especially near places I think he will be tempted to pee and empty himself.

Second, I join either right at the start or near the end so I don't have to wait long at the side of the ring. I also sometimes hover outside and nip in two dogs before my run.

Third, I keep Merlin on a short lead and ensure he can't get close enough to a vertical surface which would tempt him to cock his leg.

Four, I keep his attention on me, distract him by stroking him and kneeling near him and basically not letting him have time to think about marking.

Have fun at your comp, I'm sure you'll be ok.

 

[melbell]

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not alone in this. I potty him after every run we do and he's thrilled to be going outside to go potty. I potty him before we get there and before we leave there too. I started going back to the throwing a party outside method to get him to realize this is where he's suppose to go. None the less, his belly band was soaked by the end of the night. I was practicing heeling with him in the empty ring not being used to sort of calm him down and make him "do a job". It seemed to work, but the moment he had to wait again he was antsy. This might be a lonnng process.

 

[labgirl]

Take it steady and work on his confidence. Cadbury was a real nightmare when younger. He really struggled in stressful environments.