The Calgary Humane Society


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Dogs
	Aggressive Behaviour, Part 1 Aggressive Behaviour, Part 2 And Baby Makes Four... Barking Calming Signals Children and Dogs Cognitive Dysfunction Controlling Jumping Controlling Pulling and Lunging Crate Games Crate Training Your Dog Deaf Dog Training Destructive Chewing Developmental Stages of Puppy Behaviour Digging Dogs Dog Interactions Dog Toys and How to Use Them Dog Training Classes Dog Training Equipment Excitable and Disobedient Dogs Exercise For Dogs Fearful or Shy Dogs Food Bowl Exercises Head Collars Housetraining Your Adult Dog How To Handle a Dog Fight Inside or Out? Introducing Your New Dog to Your Resident Dog Kong Recipes and Information Leash Induced Aggression Microwaved Beef Liver Training Treats Muzzles Nothing In Life Is Free Puppy Nipping and Rough Play Relationship Building Separation Anxiety Step In Harness and Double Ended Leash Submissive and Excitement Urination The Best Dog For You Training Tether Understanding Dog Aggression
General
	Bibliography Fears, Phobias and Anxieties Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet Helpful Websites and Calgary Contacts Plants That Are Dangerous To Your Pet Preparing Your Pet for Baby's Arrival Successful Cleaning to Remove Pet Odors and Stains Unusual Eating Habits in Dogs and Cats

Submissive and Excitement Urination

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:

Urination occurs when he's being scolded.
Urination occurs when he's being greeted.
Urination occurs when someone approaches him.
He is a somewhat shy, anxious or timid dog.
He has a history of rough treatment or punishment after the fact.
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 reasons for the behaviour.
Keep greetings low-key.
Encourage and reward confident postures from him.
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.
Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads as dominant, for example:

Avoid direct eye contact - look at his back or tail instead.
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.
Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
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.
Don't punish or scold him - this will only make the problem worse.

Excitement Urination
Excitement urination occurs most often during greetings and playtime and is not accompanied by submissive posturing. 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:

Urination occurs when your dog is excited, for example during greetings or during playtime.
Urination occurs when your dog is less than one year old.

What To Do If Your Dog Has An Excitement Urination Problem:

Keep greetings low-key.
Don't punish or scold him.
To avoid accidents, play outdoors until the problem is resolved.
Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons for the behaviour.
Ignore him until he’s calm.