When you come home, the last think you want to be greeted with is a puddle of dog piddle. Many dogs, even those who are completely house trained, can exhibit submissive urination, or piddling out of excitement or anxiety. By understanding what your dog is communicating when he piddles and learning a new approach during stressful or exciting moments, you can help your dog overcome his submissive urination.
A Calm Entrance
The best way to help solve your dog's submissive or excitement wetting is to maintain a very calm attitude when you leave and enter your home. Your dog will be happy and excited to see you, but try to ignore him for a few moments, until he calms down. Tell guests and visitors to refrain from touching or talking to your dog until he has settled down and is no longer jumping or barking.
Teach Incompatible Behaviors
Animal behaviorists recommend teaching your dog "incompatible behaviors" to perform in an otherwise problematic situation. For example, you might consider training your dog to go and sit on his dog bed when people come to the door. This way, your dog can avoid becoming too excited or anxious when guests come in the door, and he'll be less likely to urinate.
Build Confidence
For some dogs, submissive urination is their expression of fear or anxiety. Even excited behavior can be rooted in uneasiness. You can help boost your dog's self-esteem by teaching him tricks or commands. When your dog learns something new, he learns to trust you and becomes more confident in new situations. You can also take your dog on "sightseeing" field trips to a park or outdoor cafe to watch people walking by without actually interacting with strangers. As your dog sees unfamiliar people coming and going, he will gradually become more comfortable when new people come around.
Considerations
If your dog seems to have piddle problems that are not necessarily triggered by excitement, or if after training and conditioning your dog's urination issue does not improve, consult your dog's veterinarian. Incontinence or a leaky bladder can be a symptom of a more serious health problem.
References
Writer Bio
Olivia Kight is an experienced online and print writer and editor. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012, and has worked on education, family life and counseling publications. She also gained valuable knowledge shadowing a zoo veterinarian and grooming and socialize show dogs, and now spends her time writing and training her spunky young labradoodle, Booker.