To HATE my dog

But the thing is, training isn't "one and done." It's an ongoing process. If a new behaviour arises, it's up to the owner to work out the root cause and respond accordingly. Is it a training issue? A health issue? An emotional issue? In this case, the OP says she has no time for the dog, she now has children and a cat, she hates the dog -- all possible reasons the dog is marking when previously he didn't. So she does need to look into all potential reasons for the behaviour, including (though not limited to) training.

it’s not something I’d do unless medically necessary.

But surely if everyone did this there would be unwanted pregnancies everywhere and even more dogs in rescue centres or destroyed.

I'm really interested in this point as all the rescues and vets I've ever know stongly support neutering. Battersea Dogs Home certainly seem very pro neutering.

Are there any vets out there who could give us some facts please?

To all those saying op needs to train the dog… SHE HAS!! He never used to do it.

You can fundamentally disagree with the PP all you like, I fundamentally disagree with unnecessary surgery. Not all dogs will benefit at all from being neutered; it’s not something I’d do unless medically necessary.

In this case is may be necessary although it sounds more like a poor neglected and stressed dog who needs more input and attention than he’s getting.

👏👏👏

@LaurieFairyCake I couldn’t agree more. My pug is 9, nuts chopped off early doors, and he is the most benign loving, laid back dog to every man woman or dog/cat he comes into contact with. Never soils indoors. But don’t mention toenail cutting it’s nigh on impossible (seem to hate their feet touched) unless you are prepared to undertake a vice-like grip and do a couple at a time which is quite traumatic. Anal glands? …yeah if I can catch him first. Would I be without him? No never.

LOL as much as you like.

I fundamentally disagree with you.

Get a stair gate and get him a chemical castration jab. He's probably marking. Also a longer walk might help get some of the energy down.

My pug just turned 16 and is still going strong. You might have a long road ahead...

My dog would had the most fun shredding rhem up, eating them and then pooing the bits out 🤣

You can buy little dog "nappies" for use when dogs in season and such, wondering if there is one that caters for male dogs for this issue.

the dog needs structure and training - if you are not prepared to do this its probably best to rehome -

Even bitches?

Our dog wasn't neutered until he was 6, it did stop scent marking.

He wasn't banned from going upstairs til then either.. he started ferreting in the bedroom bins, so we put up a baby gate and now confine him to the kitchen/diner if we leave the house and overnight.

The dog will adapt to the changes.

Get him neutered, use a baby gate, confine him to a room easily cleaned when you're out.

Hi, I think some of these responses are harsh. You've said yourself that you don't feel you have the time to deal with these issues. And to be honest, I have seen plenty of people that just never really click or bond well with their dog and it makes it way harder to find that effort for training. I fully support people that are considering relinquishing, and rehoming responsibly, for this reason because who wants to spend 10+ years living with a dog they don't really like. But it sounds like this is not an option with the kids being bonded with him.

There are some good suggestions in this thread about getting a stair gate to try and prevent the established habit of weeing in a certain place.
Enrichment may also help with the barking behaviours. The change in behaviour may also have something to do with the recent addition of the cat.

The easiest thing for you in the long run may be to seek support from a behaviourist who can come to your house and see exactly what is going on and give you some practical advice (and not be judgy and rude like mumsnet can be). I would recommend looking for someone with APBC or CCAB accreditation as there is no current regulation on who can call themselves a behaviourist. Get the one off time-consuming thing out of the way and it could help reduce the irritating things adding up longer term. They could also give suggestions of things you can do together to help bonding so more of your interactions are positive to help offset the negatives.

I believe Dogs Trust and Woodgreen pets charity also both offer behavioural support services to help keep dogs in there homes and improve dog-owner relationships (not sure if these are free).

Best of luck!

Neuter.
Behaviouralist.
Stair gates.

Here in Germany it's not standard to neuter dogs.

There needs to be a medical reason.

I feel really sad for him. He deserves a better life, probably has picked up on that you don’t have time for him.

I have a pug, she is the most sweetest dog. They just want to be loved and cared for.

She does have free reign but she prefers to lie on a cushion on the settee if we go out and cannot take her.

Mine is shut safely in the kitchen - if she has an accident it takes seconds to mop the floor.

I’ve never known anyone who doesn’t do the same.

Why did you keep him entire? Why isn’t he trained? Why not use a baby gate? Is he walked enough? Have you got the vet to check him for diabetes or renal issues?

Yeah, you’re failing the dog. It’s not his fault.

Your poor, poor dog. He will pick up on this.
Why the hell did you ever get him??
There should be proper vetting for people to own a dog.
He needs LOVE. You know, the same that you give to your kids.

So, one neutered male animal doesn't piss everywhere to scent mark when it's in a new, stressful place with an animal it hasn't lived with before (plus children).

One unneutered male animal does piss everywhere to scent mark when there's a new animal it hasn't lived with before (plus children).

As an 'I like animals, not just cats and not just dogs' person, I think the clues to why this is happening are pretty clear.

I wish there was some sort of exam ppl had to sit before being allowed to take innocent animals home

and also parenthood should be restricted via arigorous process of application, interviews and examination

I do feel this dog has been let down. But some practice tips now we’re here:

-Don’t leave him unattended in the garden. You have to train him to ignore passing people. Put him on a long line and reward him for coming to you or ignoring. Bring him in if he barks.
-Don’t give him unsupervised access to upstairs. Have a crate or stair gate your kitchen. Dogs don’t like to pee where they sleep. Go back to rewarding when he goes outside.
-consider castration. It may not help ingrained behaviours but it’s might help.
-get a urine sample if this is new behaviour
-stop letting him practice behaviours you don’t like and reward the right behaviour. Dog training doesn’t stop when they’re adults.
-get a good odour neutralising cleaner to properly wash anywhere he does urinate in the house.
-find ways to bond with him again. Whether that be training or nice walks. A relationship with a dog is one of the best things but it requires effort!