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Help! My Dog is… Peeing When Afraid

May 1st, 2016

12376357_1095222557167007_4400178828781783228_nIf your dog is peeing when he’s afraid, or senses that people or dogs around him are dominant, that’s a subconscious response that cannot be controlled.

You should never punish the behavior — that can make it worse. True submissive urination is just your dog reacting to your body language, and punishment can make it worse.

Don’t worry, there are some things you can do to help this behavior taper off. The best thing you can do is increase your dog’s confidence and redirect your dog’s mind to something other than urinating when concerned or excited.

Here are 10 tips to help:

  • If you see it happening, don’t reassure or comfort your dog. Stay relaxed and ignore the behavior.
  • Introduce your dog in small steps to noises, people, and other animals. Don’t rush it. Avoid situations that you cannot control until your dog is more confident and can control his bladder.
  • Crate your dog when you can’t be around. When you do come home, wait until your dog has calmed down before going over to him.
  • When you go to the crate to let him out do so quietly. Don’t talk to him.
  • Take her on plenty of walks so her bladder doesn’t get and/or stay full.
  • When on a walk or in the yard, tell her “let’s go potty”, and offer praise when she does it.
  • Stay grounded and mellow. Keep your energy and your body language calm. Speak in a low, soft voice.
  • Spend time sitting side by side with him on a leash. Offer gentle affection from time to time, but have your dog get used to spending mellow time being near you.
  • Take him for walks where he can gradually be exposed to the situations that trigger his urination.
  • Ask friends not to touch, talk to, or make eye contact with your dog until your dog has peed, and everyone is calm and grounded.

Submissive urination can cause a lot of extra work, but getting annoyed with your dog or punishing her will only make it worse in the long run. Keep building her confidence, keep a positive attitude, and hopefully one day the problem will be gone!