Male dog marking - nothing helps I've tried everything!!?

Question

I have a 7 year old neutered male husky. We got him when he was 2 and had him neutered then. He had problems with marking in the past but nothing like this. My fiance died last year and my dog had to stay with various friends for a year until I got a new home. He was getting shuffled around everywhere so I know WHY he's marking but I can't stop it.

To make things worse, the home I bought had a faint scent of cat pee when I moved in and it got worse once I was living there. I've tried: steam cleaning the carpet twice, pouring on enzyme cleaners, and vinegar/water then baking soda and peroxide with dish soap. It helps but then the smell comes back.

Now I have my dog back and have him on Clomicalm for separation anxiety but he is marking in the house. It's all over the house so confining him to one area won't work. I walk him as much as I can but I have to work all day and can't really quit my job. It's too hot to keep him outside all day. I limit his water when I'm at work.

A squirt bottle does nothing. He can't even feel it and just stares at me because he has so much fur. Also, I have NEVER actually seen him marking so I can't even correct him. It's tiny amounts so the carpet isn't even noticeably wet when I get home but I can smell it. I've had people come in and walk him but it's more of a behavioral issue so that doesn't really help. I know the chances of breaking this habit are not real good. I love him and I don't want to get rid of him, however I also don't want a house that smells like pee.

I have another dog too so he already has a friend. He definitely has seperation anxiety. He is soaked in drool when I get home and stares out the window barking all day. He once broke out the glass in the window (which was closed) and jumped out from the second story window. If I put him in a cage he is way more hysterical and bleeding from trying to eat his way out of the cage when I get home. On higher doses of Clomicalm he does better but he drinks so much water he pees a huge puddle by the door as opposed to the regular spraying. He was abused before we got him and then lost one of his owners last year so it's not his fault but it still is pretty irritating.

Answer 1

You're probably not going to like what I have to say.
The urine has probably gotten down in the pad; steam cleaning does not get that deep, sprays and enzyme cleaners also just skim the surface, and his nose is FAR better than yours. You need to pull the carpet and pad up, clean the floor with a bleach solution, and install new flooring, preferably hard surface.
Then back to obedience training, spray bottle and the good old catch all terms "No!" or "Leave it!"
Have you considered doggy daycare?

Answer 2

If he is suffering from seperation anxiety that might be the reason for the peeing which he can control because he is overstressed but the thing that puzzles me is the tiny amounts which kind of has me suspecting something else.

A video camera would be the best way to determine if truly related to seperation anxiety dog would be extremely stressed when you leave and peeing would occur with a build up of stress and anxiety often within 20 minutes of you leaving the muscle that control the bladder is so tense the dog simpply looses control of the bladder, ,they are often crying and howling running from window to window, some also develop destruction chewing as a means to try and calm themselves they often are panting and drooling heavily. THe camera is often a good way to know if thye dog really has SA, in some cases dogs can be helped if they have another dog as a companion, I would borrow a friend dogs that he knows well first to see if it makes a difference before considering adding another dog another way would be fostering a dog from a rescue with the intent to adopt if the dog fits in in well and helps with the SA, that way if it does not work out your not commited to adopting the dog but have helped ready it for another home,

Have you taken a urine sample into the vet to have tested for a urinary tract infection or even for crystals or stones? If not that is where I would start first, with checks to ensure it is not due to a medical reason, other causes could be diabetes kidney problems, have you noticed if he leaks where he lays possibly incontinence

Once medical has been ruled out , then you have a couple options start crating and hopefully he will hold it while crated, if not the peeing will be contained to one spot, or you can try the belly band option often when they realize they are wetting themselves they will then try to hold it, if not you can place an incontinence pad inside the belly band to absorb the moisture, thyn you can wash him afterward when you get home with a wash cloth to help prevent urine burns and leave off when you are home to supervise him, if he is sneaking off to pee leash him to you

explanation of the belly band in the following link
http://www.heartoftexasgreyhounds.com/bellyband.htm

Personally I don't like limiting water as it can cause dogs to tank up before hand knowing your leaving so they end up drinking too much and can't hold for the length of time you are away, most dogs will learn to self regulate their water intake when they know your routine and drink as needed.

Cat urine can be pretty tough to get out the smell , you might want to contact a professional carpet cleaner to talk to them
about whether the carpet can be salvaged

Answer 3

Consider a dog walker. Pet sitting services come to the house while your gone and take him for a walk.

See if they will run him for you.

Huskies were bred to run 100 MILES a day!!! That's an EXTREME amount of exersize. They need hard running for at least an hour EVERY DAY!!!

When the don't get enough exersize and stimulation (they are one of the smartest dogs alive today) they become distructive.

Here goes my chance for 10 points, because I have bad news.
Ready?

At this point in his life, it's a habit. You probably won't get him to stop no matter what you do.
Mainly because he will have to be watched 24/7 for at least a month (probably more like 3-6, Huskies are super smart and super stubborn) to break the habit. Also, you need to use extreme methods. Mild correction (squirt bottles and "NO"), and positive reinforcement won't help at this point, the reward for him is peeing. He likes it, he doesn't want to stop, even for you.

Besides, he's a Husky. Have you seen their coats? He probably won't even notice the squirt bottle, he might even enjoy it.

Answer 4

you could try a belly band. Take a strip of (stretchy) material and fold it into about a 3 inch wide tube, then fold a washcloth or training pad or anything absorbant into the middle. Tie it around him so that the absorbant part covers his penis. We use them to help housetrain rescue dogs, but if you do it keep in mind that you may have to bathe him more often than usual at first.

Answer 5

When you see him do it, keep a spray bottle handy. Fill it with clear water and give him a squirt of two when he misbehaves.

Answer 6

Time for obedience training again. You have to let him know that you are the pack leader. Pack leaders don't get peed on.

Answer 7

how about hiring a dog walker to come in twice a day? Are you not crating him?

Answer 8

try squirting him with water evertime he does it