Peeing in crowds

[TERRY VALENTINE]

As our dogs don't get "out" much in public places I've been trying to desensitize them to crowds, e.g., festivals, farmer's markets and such.  I try to exercise them beforehand so that they're not so over-the-top excited when we arrive, but in addition to the overstimulation from all the people, smells and other dogs, Sebastian especially seems not to "get" when/where it's appropriate to relieve himself.  Thus even if he's already been walked and pottied, I still have to watch that he doesn't lift his leg on a tent cable, a table leg or (gasp) an actual display.  Recently I noticed too late (at the exclamations of a vendor) that he lifted his leg to pee on a potted flower arrangement that was for sale.  The vendor was laughing and I think if anything only the pot was "watered", and I did apologize...but like the parent of a human child it's not possible to "watch" him every second.  Is there a way to convey that situations like this are like being "inside," and that he should wait until we find a patch of grass, or a bush or a tree, away from the activity, to leave a proverbial Post-It(R)?  Is this even reasonable?

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi Terry,

Yes, your goal is reasonable with proper expectations. Something we need to consider is that dogs are not instinctively wired to understand our own definitions of inside and outside rules when it comes to marking. Things may get particularly confusing to dogs, especially when they are in environments that that mix open air settings with stimulating attractions such as farmers markets, fairs, outdoor shopping plazas, outdoor exhibits and other crowded events. 

Areas like these often offer a sensory overload of smells, people other dogs which can trigger marking behavior especially in male dogs. Dogs may pee in these settings because of ingrained marking tendencies or simply to express their emotional state in these settings such as over stimulation, anxiety or excitement. 

The good news is that if we are consistent in our training and use several management strategies we can teach Sebastian to generalize an appropriate bathroom etiquette to these situations. One key element is to proactively manage the behavior so as to preempt it from happening, rather than relying on reactive corrections after the fact. Here are some general tips to help set Sebastian for success.

1. Train your dog to go potty on queue. This is something that can help a lot in these cases because when we put a behavior on cue it becomes easier to control. Here is a guide on how to train your dog to go potty on queue: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/advanced-potty-training/potty-on-command/

2. Prior to taking your dog to events such as farmers markets or festivals make sure your dog is empty.  Give him opportunities to go potty just prior to reaching these events. The "go potty" cue can help with this. 

3. Start with short visits to public places so that Sebastian can be desensitized gradually and you can set him up for success. This will help build his comfort level and control in such environments.

4. Keep an eye on vertical items. Most dogs will urine mark on vertical items such as  tent poles, legs of a table, and any objects that stick out.

5. Keep him on a short leash when walking around the private properties. This will help you manage his proximity to the tempting targets.

6. Be ready to redirect at the first sign of him trying to mark. You may need to train him to be responsive to you in a fluent level prior to progressing to areas with distractions. Helpful cues to train may include making a smacking noise and him making eye contact with you https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/preschool/look-into-my-eyes/ or targeting your hand https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/preschool/targeting/ 

7. Even better, preempt rather than redirect. In other words, ask for these cues when you are walking by a tempting item so that you prevent him from making a mistake. Teaching him to perform various steps of attention heeling around these items may turn helpful: https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/obedience-101/heeling-attention-heeling/

8. Remember to use high value treats when he follows through these cues. Positive reinforcement training is essential in teaching a dog what we want them to do.

9. Start by training in areas that are less overstimulating or busy and gradually increase the complexity of the environment as he gets better and shows signs of improvement. As the dog becomes responsive, I like to set up an area with tempting objects that scream “mark me!”—think poles, planters, or cones—but the twist I like to add is that I rebrand them as “treat zones.” Basically, I teach the dog that approaching these spots earns tasty rewards instead of pee points. The best part? Over time, your dog might glance at you eagerly in anticipation of a treat instead of lifting a leg. Bonus: Dogs generally won’t potty where they eat, so you’re tapping into their natural instincts to help keep the area clean—win-win!

10, Avoid this big mistake. Don't make the big mistake of going too fast through the process. Exposing your dog to overwhelming environments where he’s likely to lose his cool can backfire. This will only allow him to rehearse the problem behavior which makes it more difficult to address. Therefore start in chill spots like a quiet park or a cozy café patio, when it's less crowded. Basically pick places where distractions are minimal and he can focus on being his best self. Then, slowly amp up the excitement over weeks or months, always rewarding his inner Zen. 

I hope this helps, happy training!

[TERRY VALENTINE]

Wow...looks like my work is cut out for me!  I'll have to look for those "middle-ground" opportunities to practice in public but with fewer distractions.  We do take walks in-town, up and down sidewalks with only the occasional passer-by and where I already discourage marking garbage cans and mailbox posts, so these present as a proverbial stepping stone.   But as for "losing his cool," (#10) he's always friendly even toward other dogs; if anything his excitement manifests by dragging me around and trying to take it all in at once.

Another related issue (and maybe this should be a separate post) is that even if he marks in an appropriate spot, he almost always follows up by scratching the ground with all four feet.  On our road out in the sticks this isn't typically a big deal, but if we're in town I don't want him destroying people's landscaping so I try to preempt and distract by beckoning him to keep moving, wherever we are so as to break the habit.  This doesn't seem to be working, so would you recommend a click-and-treat type distraction like the above?  Understanding why he even does this might also be helpful.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Oh, sorry, by saying loose his cool, I didn't really mean it as him turning unfriendly  just wanted to describe how dogs may get overstimulated and over the threshold by all the excitement/distractions that it becomes difficult for them to focus. 

What you are describing as him scratching the ground with his feet is a form of additional "marking." Dogs have pheromone-releasing glands on their paws, so when they scratch other dogs can detect this pheromones. Additionally, if they are scratching on sand or dirt, they will leave visual marks that attract dogs, similar to "arrows" pointing to their urine that tells dogs "come inspect here."

To address this you'll need to keep on preempting the peeing, since the scratching happens right after peeing, you'll get two pigeons with one stone. You can certainly use a clicker or verbal marker to reward loose-leash walking or moments when he looks at you instead of the environment when walking around commonly peed on items. High-value treats can be especially useful to maintain his attention. 

If you're late and your dog is already peeing, you can try to preempt the scratching by training a cheerful cue like "Let’s go!" and reward him for moving along with you and you can then reward with a few tossed treats to catch. Another option is to present your hand and ask for a hand target to redirect his focus right after marking. https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/preschool/targeting/

With consistent practice and making the replacement behavior and the associated reward, more valuable than the marking/scratching, Sebastian should learn new habits that align with your expectations in public spaces.