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Submissive Urination
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, not the
person’s actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve as your dog
gains confidence. You can help to build his confidence by teaching him
commands and rewarding him for obeying. You should also gradually expose
him to new people and new situations and try to make sure all of his new
experiences are positive and happy.
Your Dog May Be Submissively Urinating If:
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Urination occurs when he’s being scolded.
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Urination occurs when he’s being greeted.
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Urination occurs when someone approaches him.
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He is a somewhat shy, anxious or timid dog.
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He has a history of rough treatment or punishment
after the fact.
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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:
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Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical reasons
for the behavior.
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Keep greetings low-key.
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Encourage and reward confident postures from him.
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Give him an alternative to behaving submissively.
For example, if he knows a few commands, have him "sit" or "shake"
as you approach, and reward him for obeying.
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Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads
as dominant, for example:
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Avoid direct eye contact – look at his back or tail
instead.
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Get down on his level by bending at the knees rather
than leaning over from the waist and ask others to approach him in
the same way.
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Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
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Approach him from the side, rather than from the front,
and/or present the side of your body to him, rather than your full
front.
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Don’t punish or scold him - this will only make the
problem worse.
Excitement Urination
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Excitement urination occurs most often during greetings
and playtime and is not accompanied by submissive posturing.
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Excitement urination usually resolves on its own as
a dog matures, if it’s not made worse by punishment or inadvertent
reinforcement.
Your Dog May Have An Excitement Urination Problem If:
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Urination occurs when your dog is excited, for example
during greetings or during playtime.
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Urination occurs when your dog is less than one year
old.
What To Do If Your Dog Has An Excitement Urination
Problem:
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Keep greetings low-key.
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Don’t punish or scold him.
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To avoid accidents, play outdoors until the problem
is resolved.
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Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical
reasons for the behavior.
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Ignore him until he’s calm.
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