This is a question I have that had to do with my Doberman male that passed away a few months ago.

I first made the mistake of going to one of those group dog OB classes. He knew basic OB but I took him for reinforcement. This was when he was about 2 yrs old. He knew sit,down,come,stay,heel... that I taught him but I wanted to reienforce it so I could hadle him off leash. When I took him for trainig (twice this happend) after the class he lifted his leg and peed on me!
Not sure how to react since this had never happened the trainer that I was speaking too told me to grab his leash and give him back and forth jerks to let him no its not ok and to resemble the shake of a mother. He wore a prong collar. The naxt class he did the same thing and I corrected him the same way. He never peed anyother time on me when I was training him. He didnt do it anymore after that, but just out of curiosity why did he do that? I thought, to in his way let the other dogs know "what was his." but the trainer told me that he was trying to tell me he was boss.

I was only 17 at the time and didnt realize the proper way to train a dog... I have learned alot since then, and this discussion board has helped me alot. Thank you for anyone replies... like I said, he is no longer with me, but I had always wondered if it was true that he was trying to tell me he was in charge.

I have heard two different explanations for this behavior.

One, that the dog is dominant and is trying to show you he's boss.

Two, the dog is marking his territory and trying to let other dogs know to stay away from "his owner" because he's protective of you.

It could be a bit of both. I think I'd have to see the dog in other situations to make an educated guess as to which it was.

Well unfortunatly hes no longer with me... but I think is was more of a marking teritory thing. He only did it when the other dogs were around... we werent training at the moment and we were all just standing in a circle talking. But thanks for the info... might help others that might have that problem.

I can one up you on that. I trained my sisters rott, knew that dog since a pup. i was unquestinably his "boss" he would listen to me over anyone else, but he lived with my sister in florida. then they moved in with me. The first thing the dog does when they get to my house is greet everyone then he runs upstais into my room & take a DUMP! right smac dab in the center of by BED!!! I never knwe how to interprit this. was it a doinance thing (i thinkit was) or was he marking my bed, with crap? or was he just so excited to to be back in my home with me & on my bed (wich he was never alowed on) that caused him to crap. btw: i got a new bed the next day & he never did anything like this again. I very curious on your views.
thanks,
NB

Nick!

You definitely have one up! Maybe even two or three. Laughed myself silly reading this.

Now I don't know about those particular situations. What I can say is this -

Dominance in dogs are not expressed as a single threaded characteristic. In order words, if the dog never showed any other signs of dominance or begrudgement; then this is probably not a case of dominance. A dominant dog will not just show dominance in one-single-solitary situation. He/She would do it routinely in a variety of situations.

Still hysterical!
DHC

David, yes its hillarous now, BUT at the time i was furious <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> it took everything i had to control myself & not react at all. Since i knew i did not know the reason for him doing it i figured the best reaction was non reaction. but to this day i still wonder why he did it.
BTW: he had in the past shown some signs of not dominance but stuberness i would say. & mabey the fact that he had not seen me in about a year had something to do with it. i wish he could tell me why he did it.
anyway its funny "now"

There was a dog in a group I trained in who would pee on people. A very dominant male, a rottie, who came around the blind, and lifted his leg on the helper <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ; he also lifted his leg on a friend who was sitting in a chair and she pushed him away. The owner was aghast, and warned her to never touch the dog if he did that again! LOL - we know who was the boss there!