An adult cocker spaniel was returned to a rescue after peeing 25 times in the house in a single afternoon. The adopters of a young female lab called in tears, unable to touch their sweet girl without her flipping onto her back and peeing all over. An exhausted young mother sent an email begging to be talked off the ledge, pretty sure the dog was trying to express her unhappiness by leaking on the nicest carpet.
Submissive/excitement peeing is a frustrating issue, but there are things you can do make things better, and almost all dogs can improve fairly quickly with the right approach. After checking with your vet to make sure it’s not a urinary tract infection (UTI), here are some tips to make life better for you and the dog.
A Roadmap to Solving Submissive Urination
First, realize the behavior is involuntary. The dog can’t help it, and means nothing nasty by it, so you cannot stop it or correct it mid-action. It is a natural canine way of expressing “I’m not a threat.” It’s actually a (poorly chosen) way of showing respect. So take a deep breath and don’t get angry in the dog’s presence.
Second, while working on it, move greetings outside. This can make the dog feel less vulnerable, and at the very least, if she does have an accident, it won’t be on a prized rug. Also, take the dog out more frequently. Empty the bladder as much as possible. Reward her for going outside. All of this will ease the process.
Third, the peeing is more likely when the dog gets excited. So ignore the dog upon arrival and leaving. Have guests do the same. No loud hellos. No hands reaching over the dog’s head. No eye contact. No direct approaches. Keep in mind that dogs read body language really well, so if you enter like an angry football coach, that’s going to put them on edge. ‘Playing it cool’ will feel a bit odd at first, but you’ll get used to it. (Bonus tip: Don’t excitedly yell, “He didn’t pee this time!” I did this once and yep, you guessed it, stepped in pee two seconds later.)
Fourth, keep a journal/list of the accidents. This both allows you to identify triggers AND to find positive points to build upon. Set the dog up for success as much as possible. Don’t give them practice doing the bad behavior. If your neighbor thinks it’s hilarious to provoke peeing, plan your walk in the other direction.
Fifth, build up confidence and train alternate behaviors. Teach her that touching a person’s hand is a game (and a way of paying her respects without peeing all over their shoes). Teach her to shake. Teach her to follow a target stick or your finger.
Finally, remember that most dogs grow out of it with proper training, and that the accident she had an hour ago does not mean you’ll be cleaning pee the rest of your life. Focus on a day at a time. Small improvements. Things will get better.
And thank you for taking the time to work with her. I know it’s not the most fun or convenient thing you could be doing right now. Your patience literally saves lives.
Additional Resources:
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/5_6/features/5459-1.html