Walkies

[Freedom]

Yup, they teach us that in the obedience classes I take!

Marlin is my champion marker, if it is vertical, he marks it. Utility poles, stop signs, trees, even a person if they stand still in one place too long!

[Varga]

Yeah, I've seen other male dogs do that too. But I think it varies between males a lot. Some friends of mine have an unneutered Labrador and even though he marks, his level of enthusiasm towards the whole thing can't be compared to Taggart at all. It's like this dog is more self confident so he feels like he doesn't need to. He is in general a very calm and collected dog. Taggart is more... all over the place, always so busy and hyper and a bit of a pain in the -you knowwhat-, so I think his desperate attempt to mark all the time is because he feels like he has to convince everyone that he's so tough when really he's not, you know

Luckily Taggart has never marked inside though. Except once and that was when I first got him and within the first two minutes he was inside this apartment. I didn't even say anything to him or anything but he never did it again. And I'm thankful of that! I know people who continuesly have to struggle with male dogs that mark inside the house.

As far as I know he hasn't marked on a person before either... but I've seen that happen plenty of times when I have classes. When lots of male dogs get together, all of a sudden it becomes VERY important to have these marking contests and if the owners aren't paying good enough attention, then somones leg becomes part of it!