I don't let my dog mark. Maybe it's quirky of me, but I see allowing him to mark as approval of his dominant behavior. I most definitely wouldn't let it get as far as growling and scratching. I have areas where my dog does his "business", and then we walk. He doesn't get to stop and mark.

Interestingly, I have not had a dog mark after he's been neutered. Even if he was neutered as an adult and marked while intact, I found marking stops on its own within a week or two. I would have to say it's the only behaviour change I have noticed after neutering, but then again, I do rescue and usually the dogs are neutered within a month or two of me getting them.

They still lift their leg to pee... but they will go all at once in the yard and no longer mark on walks. That being said, I've never owned or fostered a very dominant male (males who are dominant to other dogs, yes, but never one dominant to people).

However... my spayed female marks (without lifting her leg, of course) and she marked while she was intact as well. She isn't dominant to anyone!

I try not to allow marking on walks. My males (when/if they are intact) and female are given a chance to go in the yard if possible. If they try to pee on walks I say "uh-uh" and keep walking. The exception is if they are on a walk for the purpose of peeing. In that case I try and take them somewhere that is not private property - no one likes dog pee in their yard.

Edit: Oh yeah.... should have said... I'm not saying neutered males will no longer mark, because I know some that do. Just that all mine have stopped. So it is possible that Yote will stop marking on his own, but he may not.

Tucker is fixed but he still marks.
I let him outside when I get home so he can "urinate" but when we are walking he isn't allowed to stop and pee on anything.
But when we get to the trail and he's allowed to roam he will mark and scratch with his hind feet. No vocaling though.

I've had dogs of both genders, intact or not, that would mark if allowed. I haven't seen spaying or neutering make much difference with my guys in regards to marking.

My current fellow is a neutered male. Occasionally my daughter will take him jogging with her, but she complains because he keeps stopping to mark or lunging toward squirrels, so I know he has the potential to be very naughty when not with his handler (me). It's better to just not allow it.

I just have a male who gets so excited marking that he hits is own front leg. My female marks and is a dirt scratcher, my big male (who is a benevolent dictator and the leader of the pack and the others never mark when he is around) just does it all with dignity and it cracks me up and earns me a distainful look (he hates being laughed at unless he decides he is doing something that earns a laugh). I do believe all of them are leaving messages for other dogs, after all, it is all about status, especially with young dogs, reminds me of teenage boys (sorry guys :-))

If your dog is anything like mine, watch out for the "payback" (my males are intact) but it doesn't stop my big male from getting pretty creative LOL

Thanks for all the input.

I always thought that shaking was a sort of calming response to stress. Maybe he just gets so worked up that he needs to shake it off. LOL

I would fully compare him to a teenage boy...that is what he is after all, in the dog world.

We just got back from our long afternoon walk. I did not let him stop and mark, every time he tried I gave the leash a little pop and said "lets go" the first few times he still vocalized and I just ignored it.

About three blocks in he finally just peed all at once and pottied too. So I bagged the potty and we went on our way.

We walked for 1.5 miles and I only let him pee twice....much easier and he seemed to get the hang of me not letting him stop pretty quickly.

Sounds like your dog is displaying some form of aggression when he marks. Marking and scratching goes together when a dog is establishing its teritory. But growling is something that is not normal.
The growling sounds like a challenge and is a display of aggression. I cannot tell to what or whom it is directed to from you description. These are just assumptions based from what you've described and I might be wrong.
I think you need to snap him out of it with a correction and let him know that growling is not tolerated in your pack. Ask your trainer if you have one about this issue. The URL link below explains in detail what marking is and why dogs mark.
All the best. Hope this helps.
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Marking.php

I'm not convinced he is actually growling as much as vocalizing. He talks a LOT and there is no hackling, his ears are relaxed and to the sides

I really think he is just worked up and vocalizing about it.

regardless I am not allowing him to do it, if he tries I just keep moving and give him a little leash pop.

Yep. Good job. I think you are doing the right thing in correcting this behaviour. Not allowing this fixation allows him to relax and not focus on what's stirring him. The exercise also projects you as a calm positive force to influence him as a member of the pack. If you do the corrections calmy but assertively, you giving off a good vibe that he'll eventually pick up. Goodluck guys and hope our suggestions help.