Why do dogs have to mark their area with pee?

Question

Why do they have to pee all around their area? Why can't the do something else...and I have heard its because they can smell the difference then shouldn't the be able to smell other dogs in the area?

Answer 1

Pee is a form of communication between dogs and may also be a form of comfort, providing familiarity, for dogs as well. Dogs do not mark territory so much as mark frequently those areas they frequent. If they spend time in an area or pass along a road or path frequently, they will mark those areas heavily.

Pee can communicate the age (young puppies versus adolescents versus adults for example especially in males) of a dog, sex, health, etc. It may be able to, in males, tell how tall a dog is. It should be able to tell how recently a dog passed this way.

Neutering a male dog can reduce the amount of marking. If they are peeing inside the house then they need to go back to house training.

Answer 2

You'd be suprised what information a dog can gain about another dog by smelling its pee. Yes they can smell other dogs in the area without it, but they wouldn't gather as much information.

By smelling another dog's pee a dog can learn what sex the other dog is, if the other dog is heat, is ill and more.

Answer 3

Its a thing of dominance. Dogs pee to warn other dogs to get out of the area and go away, this is his territory. All dogs do it, You will notice them sniffing on the ground a lot too. That is because they can smell the other dogs pee.

Answer 4

thats how they mark their territorry. specially in their yard. if they smell another dog went in their area, they start to pee everywhere to cover up that dogs smell. it's like letting them know who lives here, and whos the boss, and they'd better stay away.

Answer 5

They are marking their territory. It will usually stop the problem if you get them fixed.

Answer 6

You can train your dog to use Crayolas instead.

Answer 7

Yes, it's a territorial thing.