04/11/2026
Does scent marking make a dog more reactive??
I’m seeing more and more of these dog training videos pop up saying “don’t let your dog mark and kick after” because it’s like “displaying peacock feathers” and “emboldening insecurity.”
i’m sorry but maybe that’s just your ego feeling small when your dog makes choices in their environment 🤷
there is not a single natural context i’ve seen in which scent marking escalates a situation. it’s a regulatory tool and a method of communication at a distance. THAT IS ALL.
blocking this behavior every time you see it can cause unnecessary frustration for both you and your dog. you’re just stopping them from utilizing natural regulation and communication.
take a look at videos of village dogs interacting at a distance then tell me scent marking emboldens insecurity 🙄