by Evangeline Uriyu

Created on: July 19, 2009   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

How to make a Belly Band

A belly band is an indispensable item to have if one owns a male dog. It is used to prevent a male dog from marking or urinating inside the home. This is a behavior that causes a lot of angst in both the pet owner and the dog. The reasons are usually because of improper training as a puppy, an adopted dog with an uncertain past, a puppy mill survivor who had no training, or male dominance. It can even be a reaction to a new pet in the home, a new home, or any changes that stress him. It is a behavior that is especially prevalent in homes with more than one male dog in residence. Whatever the reason, once this behavior starts, it is very difficult to break. One must be sure to remove all traces of urine scent from the floor, sofa, table leg, or wherever he favors marking. There are products on the market that work well for this.

Belly bands need to be custom made since every dog has different measurements in front of his pelvic bones, or waist if you will. There is also the distance between his genitals to just before the front of his legs to be considered. A belly band that is too wide will restrict his movement and be very uncomfortable. One that isn't wide enough may slip off the "target area" allowing him to mark. A belly band should be wide enough to do the job, without so much material that it becomes a discomfort for the dog. It is of benefit to be wide enough to enable a sanitary napkin to be stuck to it. That way it can absorb any excess urine that the belly band itself cannot absorb. In the case of a small dog, like a Yorkie, I wouldn't sacrifice comfort in order to accommodate a sanitary pad. The inner layer should have enough absorbency.

I like to pick out fun cotton patterns at the fabric store. I've used cowboy themes, chili peppers, sail boats, and sports themes like footballs, baseball and soccer. You can use your imagination when picking out fabrics. I use a coordinating solid color on the side that holds the sanitary napkin nearest the dogs genitals. Often, you can find deals in the remnant section of a fabric store.

Getting Started:

You will need to measure your dogs "waist" right in front of his hips where his legs start. This measurement will give you the length of material you will need. It should be snug, but not so tight that you cannot insert a finger between the measuring tape and his body. You will add 3 inches onto that measurement for overlap.

Next, measure the distance from the tip of your dog's genitals,

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