Pees when praised, excited, scared...help!

[kenyalove13]

I know it's normal for puppies to piddle when excited but my 5 month old puppy pees huge puddles when I praise her for doing a trick. I thought maybe I was praising her too much, making her excited so I started just saying "good girl" once and didn't pet her. She still did it today! Every time she meets someone, even if she knows them well, she will pee a huge puddle. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do? Will it stop? It's driving my husband crazy...he calls her stupid for it and I hate it when he does because I keep trying to explain it's not like she wants to pee. I don't ever hit my dog so I don't know why she would be so afraid...I've had her since she was 5 weeks old...could that have something to do with it???

 

[Krikkit]

Some dogs just are more sensitive and more reactive than others.... Have you noticed a lower incidence of this now she is a little older, or is it still the same as when she was very young? It may be worth getting her vet checked just in case there is some type of problem with her bladder ....

How do you react when this happens? What does your husband do when she does this when she is with him? Sometimes we have to take care that we are not reinforcing the problem or adding to it...

Here are some articles on excitement and submissive urination that may help:

SUBMISSIVE URINATION

Submissive Urination in Dogs

Wet Greetings

Submissive and Excitement Urination

All the best with this. She sounds like a great girl

Sharon

 

[kenyalove13]

When she pees, I don't do or say anything...I just clean it up =). It has become worse over time...I guess I should take her to the vet. My husband yells when she pees though but I have convinced him to be quiet...thanks for the help!

 

[mom2ash]

I have the same problem with my 5 month old boxer, Bo. He only does it when he is really excited and knows he is about to get loved on. I've been told that he will out grow it....hopefully sooner than later! It gets very frustrating. But, I'm trying to be patient with him. I do tell him "no" and rub his nose in it before I clean it up....but I just wonder how much good that is doing? My parents always had boxers when I was growing up, and my husband and I just lost our first boxer to cancer, but none of those had this problem. I guess this is one of those things that some puppies go through! I hope your baby gets over this fairly quickly!!!

 

[Krikkit]

I do tell him "no" and rub his nose in it before I clean it up....but I just wonder how much good that is doing?

I'd guess it's not doing much good at all, and in all likelyhood it would be intensifying the problem with Bo. Dogs do not understand this sort of thing at all :( Ignoring the wetting and cleaning up the mess when the dog is out of sight is a better plan. I know 'rubbing their nose in it' has been a common practice in the past but the 'science' behind this type of training method is urban ledgend and myth. I'm sure that deep down as a caring Boxer parent you are probably not really comfortable with training methods such as this one (they can be quite horrific from a dogs point of view).

Take a look at the articles posted above as they suggest a few better ways to cope with this

A really great book you might enjoy is 'Culture Clash' by Jean Donaldson. - it is wonderful, shows us there are better wasy to do things so we don't have to rely on the urban ledgeds (and tips from well meaning neighbours who probably don't really understand dogs) to have lovely trained well behaved dogs. Check out our books forum here for more info.

Sharon

 

[mom2ash]

I have actually been paying close attention to how we greet him for about a week now, and (knock on wood) he hasn't done it anymore. I have been telling him to sit before I walk up and love on him and it seems to work. I'm no dog expert by any means--I usually learn through trial and error, but this seems to be working for the time being. And, no, I don't like rubbing his nose on the carpet after he sprinkles. Bo is a very loving pup, and doesn't take scolding well at all. That is why I didn't want to do it, but I was at my wits end. Anyway, so far we've been "sprinkle free" now for a week!!! I hope he continues to do better.

 

[yobdlog]

If its any consolation....

My poochie did the same thing when I first got her home. I know it was definitely anxiety and submissive related as she only did to me and not my wife.

I've trained myself to not react at all to when she does it but quickly lead her outside and have her relieve herself more calmly and with a lot of praise when she hits the lawn.

After several weeks, it worked like a charm and its rare that she'll do it when she's excited, but now when she does, she knows not to let it all out and she actually trys to control it and gives that 'sorry' look and starts skittling her butt to the door knowing that I'll open it and let her head to the outside to relieve herself!

It'll take time but it'll happen. Best of Luck!

 

[kenyalove13]

"I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem" (Says Kenya). The info has been a lot of help...when I come home I ignore her. (telling her to sit when I come doesn't help cause she will get reallly excited about me even talking to her) I tell my guests to ignore her too but it's really hard to do that seeing as she's so darn cute =). It seems to be working well, no piddles yet! Progress! Yay!