K9Kapers Dog Training

Piddles, Puddles!

Submissive Urination

pub/behavior/dog lit/dog to dog/p65

rev 11/03

WHAT IS SUBMISSIVE WETTING ?

Just like people, dogs have different personalities and traits. Some dogs are

bold and confident while others are shy, tentative, and unsure. Sometimes these

types of dogs urinate when approached by people or other dogs, picked up,

pushed or scolded, stared at, or when someone bends over it and pets it. The

this way due to excitement, apprehension, or even fear. The dog is reacting on

an emotional level to something in the immediate situation that produces

extreme feelings of submission. It is a confidence problem. Submissive wetting

can also occur if the dog becomes very excited (when greeting his owners after a

period of separation, or when welcoming guests into the household).

HOW DO I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT JUST A HOUSE TRAINING PROBLEM?

The key here is that submissive urination occurs when you or someone else or

another dog is interacting with your dog (such as petting, scolding, picking up,

etc.) If it is a house training problem the dog would be urinating whether you

are interacting with him or not. Submissive urination is usually small amounts,

little squirts, or tiny puddles. House-training issues usually large amounts that

may be done when you are not watching the dog. The exception to this may be

an un-neutered male dog who is marking territory (lifting his leg in the house,

depositing small amounts of urine to say this is mine), which may be done while

the dog is out of sight and not interacting with you.

WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM ?

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards submissive urination, such as

Cocker Spaniels. Other develop it if they were not socialized well as young

puppies. If not socialized well enough, dogs become fearful and unsure. Some

dogs develop it because they were severely or inappropriately punished. Some

develop it when the owner unintentionally reinforces it (e.g. owner stops doing

something to the dog or comforts/reassures it in response to urination). Puppies

often will urinate when excited, but they can grow out of it with proper positive

handling and training.

HOW CAN I HELP MY DOG WITH THIS PROBLEM?

There are several things you can do to help your pet overcome this problem.

bladder easily, and deposit small amounts of urine about the house. It is

always very wise to have your veterinary doctor do a full medical check up to

make sure something physically isn’t causing the problem.

Piddles, Puddles!

Submissive Urination

He is not doing it to “get even” with you or to annoy you. Be calm and do not yell. Simply

ignore your dog for two or three minutes if he piddles; stop all petting, eye contact and verbal

contact.

something, call him, or when you pick him up? Write down all situations in which he has

submissively wetted so you know what you will have to work on.

the floor, try ignoring your pet the first 20 minutes when you come home until he is calmer.

When you go to greet him, keep it cool and low key. Try squatting down and petting under his

chin (rather than the top of head) as you avoid eye contact with him. Have your guests do the

same thing when they greet your dog, but only after they have been in your house for 20

minutes.

If your dog wets when you approach him, do not approach him. Instead crouch down and

turn your side to the dog. Let your dog approach you. If the dog appears calm, pet him

lightly under the chin. If petting produces wetting, then stop, but try it again in a few

days.

Avoid talking to your dog in the situations that produce urination. As your dog’s confidence

builds, you can begin to add words spoken in a gentle and soft tone. After a few days of this

routine, ask the dog to sit using a food treat and then softly praise him for doing so. If this

stimulates wetting, withhold it for a few days and then try again.

Run through situational training at least several times a day. For instance, if your homecoming

produces submissive urination, follow the above directions, then go out and come in immediately

again. Then do it again and again. This desensitization should help eliminate the

behavior over a period of time. As your dog gains confidence, see if you can approach him in

a standing position instead of a crouch. Let the dog’s reactions tell you how to behave. If you

see the telltale squat start in the back, than back off a step and start over until you can

proceed.

Involve others in the program. Have family members or friends go through he same routine

as described above. When several others have gone through it with your dog, it will greatly

benefit the permanence of the correction. If backsliding occurs, just start over again at the

beginning. Above all, be patient and understanding. Your dog can sense your mood

and will react to it accordingly.

Another option is to teach your dog to come to you willingly with a food treat. When allowed to

approach happily on their own, most dogs switch from fear to happiness thus avoiding the

wetting. Your dog should never be punished for coming to you when called. This will only teach

him to avoid doing the command, or he may start submissively wetting when completing the

command as he thinks he may be punished for doing so.

While you are working on this problem, it makes sense to keep or greet your dog in the kitchen

so you can clean up easily if he piddle. Don’t baby your dog should he wet. This will only

reinforce it.

firm verbal “NO”). Do not punish or scold. Set the dog up for success, not failure.

6 .GET YOUR DOG INTO A POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM .

This type of dog needs confidence building and a good training program will teach you to

communicate effectively with your dog. He will then understand what is expected of him. A

submissive dog needs a training program that uses a lot of food, toys, and praise to teach him.

Stay away from any program that encourages you to strike, swat, push at or shake, throw

things at or jerk him on the leash. These are all outdated, ineffective training methods that will

erode his confidence further.

fairly. Develop household rules that the whole family understands and enforces. This will help

with the dog’s confidence as he will understand what is expected of him, since it stays the same

day by day.

prevent many of the things that cause us to become angry. When crated, the dog can’t

chew or mess up the house, sleep on the furniture, etc. Please refer to our crate training

handout for detailed information on crate training.