Castrated male scent marking indoors

[Alison Olsen]

Can anyone give me advice on stopping a castrated male Setter from scent marking indoors. Bailey is our 2nd setter but 1st male dog. He came to us 5 months ago as a 1 yr old, already castrated by his previous owners just weeks before we took him.
Everything was fine to begin with (We had sort of anticipated the stealing from the kitchen bin and hoarding socks from the laundry) but suddenly Bailey has started scent marking the couch. We never catch him doing it. It's always during the night or when no-one is with him in the house. Could it be separation anxiety?
We have another dog (spayed female spaniel) and she's the dominant dog in the house.
Please, does anyone have any suggestions? The couch needs replacing as I've washed the covers so often that they're becoming tattered but there seems little point if he's going to scent mark a new couch too. My husband is threatening to rehome Bailey but I feel there must be something we can do.

[mrs dee farndell]

Hi Alison Sorry to hear Bailey is doing this perhaps if you get a crate to put him in while you are out and at night with his toys give him his own space i am sure he will settlle he wil;l still have the hormones of an un neutered dog
Are you sure it is him and not your other dog as u say she is the dominant one To re-home Bailey now would be disastrous for him give him time and i am sure all will be well

[Alison Olsen]

Hi Dee,
Definitely Bailey as we shut our other dog in another room to stop her stealing all his toys and treats. He's been a completely different dog since we borrowed a crate from our neighbour last week. A whole week and the couch is untouched! Makes me more and more convinced that he's just insecure about being left alone. He's been getting longer walks as I've felt so guilty about crating him, which I think has also helped.
This week he's taken to snuggling on the couch with me and sitting on my knee when I'm on the computer. He seems a lot calmer in himself and I've discovered that the word 'stop' instead of 'no' seems to calm him down when he gets a little too boisterous.
Hopeful of a good outcome.

[Susan Stone]

Hi Alison,

so glad to hear Bailey seems to be coping alot better now, learning to relax even when on his own - I'm surethose extra walks help too!

You may be interested in getting this excellent book:
'Ain't Misbehavin' - a good behaviour guide for family dogs
by David Appleby

all the best
Susan