My dad's 3 1/2 intact (breeding) CKCS who is his pride and joy, marks in the house every chance he gets. He especially seems to like to mark ON THEIR BED. not on the corner, but right up on the bed/pillows. MY dad is a 6'2" gruff kind of guy. (retired jail guard) and is strict with DOC but inconsistent. I think that DOC is staking his claim over Dad (as his/doc's) possession? The other weird thing DOC does is he will mark on the girls (my daughters) bed at grandma's house when they are there if the door is left open. The last time my parents came to my house to visit, DOC snuck off downstairs and got up on Kacy's (my daughters) bed and POOPED!!!! Interestly, Kacy is the obvious favorite of my 3 girls to my dad. Any suggestions as to why, what the doc is saying and what do we humans do? - Kathy, Barrie, Ontario, Canada

Doc is simply staking claim to your Dad and his possessions. Bed linen, especially pillows, absorb our scent. Doc is putting his ultimate scent on top. Most dog's commonly urinate on an object to mark it as theirs. However, truly dominant dogs have been known to poop on the object of desire. By marking Kacy's (Dad's favorite) linen, Doc is also staking claim to that possession. This is a typical dominance related problem. Doc has been led to believe he is in charge of the household. Any remedies I would suggest would require a total reestablishing of the proper pack hierarchy. I like to take the totality of the situation in mind before recommending a course of training. Your dad is not likely to be willing to change (retired jail guard, big and gruff, dog is his pride and joy). The only thing I can recommend is, and I'm not being flippant, keep Doc off your daughter's bed when she visits her grandparents.

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