Would a dog go to the bathroom int he house to test you to see if he's the alpha? My friend says that's what's happening w her dog and me because I don't yell at him or hit him. What do you think?
by 
Lucybell
ANSWERS: 7
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I think you need a doctor and your dog need a vet
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I think that dog is lucky i'm not his owner....
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The dog goes into the bathroom for three reasons: he likes the person there and want to play or a bellyrub; the dog is thirsty and the owner forgot to fill his water, so it looks for water whereever he can; or, the smell of the bathroom attracts him. Dogs do not tests human to shoew they are alpha males.
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Urinating can be about territory markation and / or a declaration of alpha status. If your friend comes to your house a lot the dog could be ensuring your house is also marked as part of his territory. Could be your friend simply interrupts the dogs walk to drop in and see you, thus causing the dog to want to pee at the times he's at your house. It's your friend that needs to teach the dog not to do this but if you growel hard at the dog when he does it (or shout but not too high-pitched), he might get that he's peeing on another's territory and stop. Don't hit him - Physical signals are differently interpreted by dogs and humans (small physical attacks mean a variety of things in the packs dogs originated from) - You would literally be speaking the wrong language if you hit him.
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Your friend is wrong. Yelling at or hitting dogs will only have negative effects. Urinating in the house is generally a sign of stress. The dog feels unsettled in some way, and 'marks its territory' in order to reassure itself.
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If you hit a dog all he will do is learn to fear you. I personally, like many others, don't believe in that kind of training. Your friends dog will just end up fearing you. The dog is either making his territory or he basically has to go to the bathroom and he can't hold it anymore. Have your friend let her dog go to the bathroom before she visits you and chances are it will slow down or stop happening. Once a dog marked its territory and it isn't marked by another dog afterwards, it should be all set. But please, again, don't hit that dog!
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I don't think he's testing you. He's just hasn't been trained. Esp. if it's an adult dog it means he's never been house-trained. Yes, that would constitute some yelling.
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