Glossary

Scent marking

A dog's deposit of urine, feces or gland scent to leave information for other dogs, not the same as house soiling.

Also called: marking, urine marking, leg lifting, territory marking

Scent marking is how dogs leave messages. A dog may lift its leg, squirt small amounts of urine, scratch the ground or rub its body to deposit scent that tells others who passed by and, perhaps, their sex, age and condition. Both male and female dogs do it.

It is normal on walks, and a good reason to let a dog sniff. It differs from house soiling, which is a lack of training, and from indoor marking, which often arises from anxiety, new people or pets, or lack of neutering, although neutered dogs also mark.

Cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner and supervision help to stop indoor marking. A dog that suddenly marks or urinates frequently indoors should see a veterinarian, because urinary and other medical problems can look similar.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Sense of smell A dog's main sense, thousands of times more sensitive than ours by some estimates, with far more scent receptors and a dedicated airflow in the nose. Vomeronasal organ A small scent-sensing organ in the roof of a dog's mouth and nose that detects chemical signals such as pheromones. House training Teaching a dog to relieve itself outdoors or in a chosen spot instead of inside the home. Enrichment Giving a dog chances to use its natural abilities, such as sniffing, chewing, foraging and problem solving, to improve its well-being.