Could someone please tell me what is the best way to break my chihuahuha's (2 males)from marking their territory in the house?

labman

With 2 intact, male Chihuahuas in the house, it may be difficult. I would neuter them both. Then you must take over as top dog so they are not competing for it. Never fail to take small dogs seriously. They take themselves seriously. 98% of their DNA is the same as a wolf. The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/.

Catching him in the act of marking calls for stronger corrections than the
otherwise effective "Bad dog!". When it misbehaves, throw it on its back, and
growl "Bad dog!" right in its face. Hold it down until it lifts one back leg
to show submission. You can pick him up with your hands behind his front
shoulders and hold him up with his back to you. Keeping him far enough away
to keep his head from smashing into your face, hold him until he stops
struggling and relaxes. Others like the squirt bottle. Fill it with water
and a little vinegar or lemon juice. Give it a squirt in the face as soon as
it misbehaves. Dogs hate that.

When you are not around, or otherwise occupied and can't keep a close eye on them, crate them, in separate crates. The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. They are harder for
dogs to open too. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select
a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
time for more than one dog.

ladyandjan

As far as Labman's other suggestions the one about squirting into their faces - I wouldn't squirt anything other than water into an animals face as you do not know what the lemon juice or vinegar will do should it get in the animals eyes or nasal passages. Do some research on the net as far as spraying/squirting things into an animals face and see what you can find that way. I'd just be really careful with their eyes. Take care and good luck.

ladyandjan

labman

I didn't find the idea of using vinegar or lemon juice on the net. Much of the best information on dogs is not on the net. I don't give out advice that doesn't come from a reliable source. It is standard advice from the dog guide school I have raised puppies for since 1991. They have an enormous amount of experience and are extremely protective of their puppies. They breed about 300 puppies each year and carefully train and supervise the people raising them.

I don't care to have my answers criticized by a no nothing that hasn't done any research herself.

robrios

thank you. i didnt mean to start anything between anyone.

Titsaii

i can see that scolding them by looking at them in the eye and showing who's boss will work. ill try that one. its really especially my little dachshund.. he poops also on our couches! crazy.. tsk tsk..

labman

Very good point Titsaii, and one I forget because of my work with dogs for the visually impared. You can make eye contact and hold it until they look away. The first one to look away is the lower status dog.

I always want to go with the gentlest correction that will work.

Guest

To the overly sensitive 'labman,' chill dude. Get down off your high horse, you are obviously not a vet; therefore, you may have more experience with dogs, but you are NO BETTER than anyone else and have no place to be calling people names.
As an opthamologist (that's an eye surgeon, labman), I can say that lemon juice and vinegar are not overly harmful to the eye; however, it is very uncomfortable (as it would be in your own eye, try it out labman). This would be a last resort treatment. I find kenneling works wonders with my dogs, neutering them will also stem the flow of testosterone, which will result in less possessive and aggressive behaviors. Also have the carpet professionally cleaned, this will remove most of the odor that would cause the dogs to continue to mark. Hope this helps.