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Submissive urination is a normal form of communication between dogs. For many dogs, though, it can become a problem. It is common in puppies but also occurs in older dogs too. Generally, dogs submissive urinate due to lack of confidence and to show that they are not a threat. Sometimes a puppy will urinate when they are excited. Typically, a puppy will outgrow this type of urination. So, how do you cure your dog from this submissive urination?
Rule Out Medical Cause
The first thing to do, is to rule out a medical cause for the inappropriate urination. If your dog has just started inappropriate elimination, then there’s a chance it could be a medical issue. Urinary tract infections are common and typically easy to treat. It could also be caused from the spay or neuter procedure. There are several medical reasons why a dog could start inappropriately urinating. If your dog is on medication, this could be a side effect. The best option is to get your dog checked out by a vet.
Rule Out Housetraining Issue
The next thing to rule out is if it is a normal house training issue. It takes time and consistency to housetrain a puppy. Some puppies figure it out right away while others take a bit longer. Your job is to figure out if this is normal house training or if it is beyond that.
If your dog is older, something may have happened to make him not want to go outside for his potty breaks. Anxiety and stress can cause dogs to have house training issues. If your dog is showing signs of anxiety or stress the urination could be a result of this. Be sure to read our articles, 9 Tips To Help Your Dog Deal With Anxiety and Reducing Stress In Dogs. In these articles we discuss the causes and symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Urine Marking
Some dogs will “mark” in the house by urinating on things. Dogs do this for a variety of reasons. They may want to mark their territory. The dog may want to let other dogs know that they were there. They may do it out of anxiety too. They mark on vertical surfaces by lifting their leg and urinating. Many people believe that only males will mark but some females will do it too.
Once you know that there are no medical reasons and that’s not a house training issue you can start dealing with the behavior.
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How To Stop Submissive Urination
Some puppies may grow out of submissive urination even if their owners ignore the problem. Other dogs do not outgrow it and it becomes a constant problem. This can be messy and make it hard for you to take your dog to public indoor places. The following tips should help you to manage, minimize or stop the behavior.
1. Greet Your Dog Carefully
Ignore your dog when you come home. Wait for your dog to calm down before you acknowledge him. When you do greet him, do so calmly. Do not make eye contact and get down to his level. Avoid towering over him or anything else that he could mistake for you dominating him.
2. Distract Your Dog
As your dog runs up to greet you, toss a few treats on the floor in front of you. If your dog isn’t interested in treats, find something that he likes such as a toy or ball. This will distract your dog. He will stop to eat the treats or play with the toy. This distraction will take his mind off of being submissive.
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3. Teach A Calm Way To Greet
Teach your dog to sit when greeting you. Start by teaching the sit command in a quiet and calm manner. Once your dog knows the sit command incorporate it into his greeting. He will learn to calmly sit before you greet him.
4. Build Your Dog’s Confidence
Do obedience training with your dog. Teach him games and tricks. Take a training class. Build your dog’s confidence through training, tricks and games. Your dog will love having the extra attention and it will be a great bonding opportunity.
5. Remain Calm
Do not yell at your dog. If your dog submissive urinates and you yell at him or get angry, the problem will get worse. Instead, remain calm and quietly clean up the accident.
If these tips do not help, be sure to consult with a professional dog trainer or a professional dog behaviorist.
