Submissive and Excitement Urination

Working in a kennel setting, we have all seen the occasional "nervous piddler" or those doggies who seem to potty at the drop of a hat, so we thought we would explore these conditions to get some more facts!

Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he's being punished or verbally scolded, or when he's approached by someone he perceives to be threatening to him. It's important to remember that this response is based on the dog's perception of a threat, and not the person's actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve itself as your dog gains confidence, and you can help to build this confidence by teaching him commands and rewarding him for obeying. You can also gradually introduce him to new people and new situations to make sure his experiences are positive and happy.

Your dog may be submissively urinating if:
-urination occurs when he's being scolded
-urination occurs when someone approaches him
-he has a history of rough treatment or punishment after the fact
-urination occurs when he's being greeted
-he is somewhat shy, anxious or timid
-the urination is accompanied by submissive postures, such as crouching or rolling over and exposing his belly.

What to do if your dog has a submissive urination problem:
-Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical problems
-Keep greetings low-key
-Encourage and reward confident postures from him
-Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads a dominant; for example: avoid direct eye contact, get down on his level by bending at the knees rather than leaning over from the waist, pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head, or approach him from the side rather than the front.

Excitement Urination occurs most often during greetings and playtime and is not accmopanied by submissive posturing. Excitement urination usually resolves once the dog matures, if it is not made worse by punishment or negative reinforcement.
--Keep greetings low key
--To avoid accidents, play outside until the problem is resolved
--Don't punish or scold
--Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical reasons for the behavior
--Ignore him until he's calm

Hopefully these tips will help all of you owners out there who may have experienced these issues~~HAPPY SPRING!!

(from the Humane Society of Indianapolis)