[WonderPup]

Females instinctively do not relieve themselves away from home if they are not sure of the area. It is a protective measure--males mark to show their territory, females are trying to keep the trail back to their den unknown--is how they keep litters safe. Just take her out more--away in the car to another area entirely works best at first. When she does go, lots of praise and a treat. :smile:

I'm just curious where you found that information, thats a new one to me.

 

[WonderPup]

I was taught that many decades ago by a friend who studied wild canine lives, in particular wolves and coyotes. She raised some in semi-wild pens as well as following them through northern BC in the wild. That was something--in the days before reliable radio collars. She compared her findings with domestic dogs raised in semi-pack situation-- working huskies.

In the intervening years, I have noticed female dogs much more likely to hold their urine until home unless gone for a long period, whereas the males, neutered or not, like to dab a little urine on every "sign" post any other dog may have used--5 ft or 5 miles from home. Thus, the male announces his or the packs' territory. :smile: Granted, some dominant females act in a similar manner, but I am talking in general terms here.

I was just curious for research purposes. I couldn't find anything refferencing that idea in my materials. Even went up into the attic (ewww spiders!!) and hauled down a bunch of older published materials and couldn't find anything there either. I even e-mail a couple of other trainers in the area as well as one in Tampa and they hadn't heard of it either. The behaviorist in tampa said it might apply to wild or simi wild packs but certainly not the average domestic dog. I just found the concept extremely interesting. I'm such a book worm when it comes to stuff like that. I like nothing better than to get given a subject and an endless amount of time to research it. Do you think those observations are published anywhere?