Audible Marking in Dogs

UncleBob

UncleBob

Administrator
Staff member
Hi all,

So, Audible Marking in Dogs. Is that a thing?

If you are a behaviourist, trainer, owner, or just have an interest in dogs, I'd love to get your feedback. What is Harv doing? Is it a form of marking? Is it an 'Ahhhh, that's better' moment after relieving himself? Is he in pain? Is he just clowning about?!

Take a look (and listen!) at this: https://youtu.be/XRVmhX0Yw10
 
edzbird

edzbird

Location
Isle of Man
Is Harvey entire? He looks to me as if he is REALLY interested in the scents. I wouldn't say he was expressing pain at all. Coco (neutered) doesn't do this, he just pees'n'goes but then he's a rather silent boy anyway.
 
UncleBob

UncleBob

Administrator
Staff member
edzbird said:
Is Harvey entire? He looks to me as if he is REALLY interested in the scents. I wouldn't say he was expressing pain at all. Coco (neutered) doesn't do this, he just pees'n'goes but then he's a rather silent boy anyway.
Click to expand...
Yes, he is entire.

And, yes, he is REALLY interested in scents. Given the choice of a 5-mile walk or a 5-yard sniffing session, he'd pick the latter every time!!

A little further information:
- he has always done this, starting as soon as he learned to cock his leg without falling over!
- it is more prevalent at the start of walks rather than at the end
- although all of the clips are on-lead that was just so that I could cue and record, he does it off-lead too
 
Oberon

Oberon

Location
Canberra, Australia
Definitely not a pain sound.

Obi makes these sounds when he’s having a rough game with us (which basically involves wrestling with his head). I’d say it’s just a sound of pleasure. A “that feels good, I’m getting into this” kind of thing.
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
I have never known any of my dogs to do this! Having said that, all but one have been female, so maybe it's a boy dog thing. Looks like a happy boy dog thing, that's what matters most.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Very occasionally Cassie will make a similar sound, but a bit more stuccato. It only happens when she has picked up a really exciting scent off the ground when out walking.

In the book "In defence of dogs" there is a section on how their sense of smell works, I can't remember it in detail, but there are 2 ways I think, one involves a sort of pouch thing in the side of their mouths. I think, I'll check it out later.
Have you read it Richie?
 
Loraseal

Loraseal

Location
The Hague, The Netherlands
He only sounds before he marks right? So I do not think it is pain.
Does he only do it with you or with anybody that is walking with him?
I am no expert but it looks like he is answering your cue to sniff with his own cue saying "yes thanks I am having a good time here"?
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Very rarely Carbon does this when he's really amped up about a scent OR when another male dog is around for him to show off to. Like Harvey, Carbon does the scratching thing nearly ever time. I just take as him being so excited he has to let it out all the ways he can: sniffing, wee-ing, scratching and (rarely) talking. Definitely not pain.
 
M

M.F.

Snowie does this sometimes. He’s intact, 9.5 yo. My interpretation of Snowie’s behavior is that one of his nemeses has marked there. If it’s on a dirt patch, he’ll do high kicks and make a growling wierd sound. Mouth is relaxed, not snarling (actually I’ve never seen him snarl or curl his lips), the sound is very throaty. The first time I heard him make the sound, I was shocked because he’s usually very friendly, or at least avoids confrontations. My guess was: other dog is nowhere near, so I’m going to let it all out with no fear of confrontation!

On a hard surface, he’ll growl/throaty sound while licking up every last drop, followed by thoroughly marking over it.

It doesn’t happen often, and not with every wee—and yet he marks a LOT!!

I’ve noticed Snowie has got far more vocal with age. He was silent up till about 2 yo. Now, he talks to us non stop with the most inventive sounds! We love it! And I think he might do the growly sounds more often now with the high kicks.
 
UncleBob

UncleBob

Administrator
Staff member
Loraseal said:
He only sounds before he marks right? So I do not think it is pain.
Does he only do it with you or with anybody that is walking with him?
I am no expert but it looks like he is answering your cue to sniff with his own cue saying "yes thanks I am having a good time here"?
Click to expand...
Yes, only before he marks (although, sometimes, before he poops too!)

He'll do it regardless of who he is walking with - much to the dog walker's amusement! :)
 
UncleBob

UncleBob

Administrator
Staff member
Jelinga said:
No idea really, but as he is scent marking, perhaps the presence of a growl doubles up as "I am better than you", not you @UncleBob, but the dog who peed before !
Click to expand...
He's a cheeky monkey sometimes so it's entirely possible that he does mean me! ;)

Seriously though, I'm leaning towards the audible marking explanation but it seems quite unusual ...
 
Oberon

Oberon

Location
Canberra, Australia
I hadn’t heard the term Audible Marking before this thread. So you reckon he’s using this sound to mark territory or send a message to other dogs? Seems a bit of an odd strategy given it’s not loud and there are no other dogs there to hear it. I mean, dogs do use sound to announce their presence but by barking - something loud that carries over a distance.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
UncleBob said:

In Defence of Dogs

www.penguin.co.uk www.penguin.co.uk
No, I haven't. Is it one that I should add to my reading list?
Click to expand...
It makes interesting reading :), it was something often mentioned when I first joined the Other Place. I didn't infact read it in it's entirety until last year.
There is a whole chapter on "the world of smells" which for those of us who are fascinated by the canine ability to use their noses is very enlightening, I found. They don't just use their olefactory set up but have a pair of "fluid filled ducts" behind their incisors combined with some sort of muscular pump that can move fluid up and down the nose!
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Interesting question!

I do wonder if the grunting is more related to the marking, and the motivation to mark in the first place. We know that most vocalisations are a form of communication, and so is marking in fact. Dogs mark to let other dogs know more about them. Kicking up the grass, soil behind them scatters their scent. It's like "Hey guys ( or girls...) I am here!" I see the grunt as a sort of "happy fist pump". Benson does this grunt too. If I look at the context, he is usually alone, and a happy bunny. I do suspect a bit "fake it to make it" sometimes with him, as this happens when he is alone. He is not the most confident dog in the world.
 
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