Nervous dogs sometimes spontaneously urinate. Remember, this behavior is unintentional and should never be scolded.
Similar problems with similar solutions
Young puppies commonly lose control and pee at times when they get really excited or nervous. When this happens because they're overstimulated, perhaps because you're returning home or engaged in rambunctious play, this is called "excitable urination." At other times, if the puppy experiences an instinctive fear response and pees as a result, this is called "submissive urination."
Submissive urination is not unusual behavior for puppies, and they sometimes outgrow it on their own. For some dogs, however, the behavior can continue into adulthood and needs to be addressed.
It is important to note that even though we call it "submissive urination," this behavior is almost never related to a "dominance issue" in your household. The concept of dominance is vastly misunderstood and should not be a concern for guardians with pups who suffer from submissive urination.
Submissive urination can occur when a puppy or dog is:
- Being scolded, which we don’t recommend
- Experiencing a traumatic or stressful episode
- Greeting a person
- Being approached by or approaching a person or dog
- Showing other submissive behaviors such as cowering and lip licking
Excitable urination can occur when a puppy or dog Is:
- Overly excited
- Playing vigorously
- Greeting a person or dog
- Engaging in a high-energy activity
How do I stop submissive or excitable urination?
Whether your dog urinates when excited or scared, the technique is the same.
- Dogs with either submissive or excitable urination should never be scolded. Elimination can be an expression of anxiety, shyness, and an inability to cope with a particular situation, even if the dog is excited. Punishment only makes the behavior worse.
- Create a consistent and predictable routine for your puppy or dog. This saves your dog from too many surprises, which can be difficult for a dog with this issue to handle without urinating. :
- Gradually expose your puppy or dog to new situations to build up positive experiences and confidence. Don’t push your dog if he is afraid or put him in situations that he would be too excited to handle without urinating.
More tips
- Have excited dogs greet people outdoors so that if they urinate, your house stays clean.
- People coming into the home should give limited attention to your dog. Give him some time to process the new arrival first, because too much attention right away will likely increase his excitement or fear. Wait until he is calm or shows a willingness to engage.
- When you do engage with the puppy or dog, do so in a gentle and calm way. Use a calm voice, as excited, high-pitched sounds might prompt him to urinate.
- Your dog should make his own decision about whether or not he wants to greet a person. Giving him a choice about greeting will relieve any pressure he might feel and give him more control. Let him approach, or not, at his own pace; never force him. Greet your dog by getting down to his level and try not to lean over to pet him as this body position can be overpowering.
- For a nervous dog, note when he shows confident behavior and gently praise him. Use a calm but positive voice
- All high-energy activities and play should take place outside the home in case your dog gets overly excited and feels the need to urinate
If your dog continues to urinate submissively or when he gets too excited, contact a positive reinforcement trainer and your vet for more help.
