Training Guide to Stop Submissive Urination in Puppies

Welcoming a puppy in the house is a fascinating and joyous occasion. However, it requires a lot of responsibilities. Dog pees when excited. Also, a dog urinates when scared. I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it is true. A puppy has very little control over his bladder. As a parent, you need to be patient to deal with the situation. 

In this blog, we will talk about the situations that can lead to excited peeing in puppies and also how to avoid them. But peeing unexpectedly doesn't always mean he is excited or afraid. So it would be recommended to take him to a vet if you think it is suspicious.

What is Excitement Peeing in Puppies?

Excited peeing in puppies can be a common situation. If your housebroken puppy or rescued dog takes a dump on the floor for no apparent cause, they may have a submissive or excited urination problem. Any abnormal urine, irrespective of where it occurs, could indicate an underlying health concern, so it's essential to understand the difference between submissive and excited urination—and when something more serious is going on with your dog.

Excited peeing in puppies is frequently the cause of accidents during play or welcomes without the accompanying scared body language.

When dogs are enthusiastic, they usually pee when they play or greet family and friends. The good news is that this is most common in puppies under one year, and most dogs outgrow it. The worrying thing is that it will take time.

Why Submissive Urination in Puppies Happens?

When dogs are aroused, they will almost certainly wag their tail. Also, the dog urinates when scared. Submissive urination is an innate, physical response common in young puppies.

Submissive urinators attempt to appease someone they perceive to be "socially dominating" to avoid punishment. Submissive dogs will pee when greeted, approached, or if there has been a history of harsh treatment or punishment for inappropriate peeing. Rescued dogs, as well as shy, apprehensive, and timid canines, are prone to this.

If your dog doesn't urinate while you're in a dominant posture (i.e., looking your dog in the eyes, bending from the waist, greeting your dog face to face), it likely has an excitement problem. On the other hand, It is most likely a submissive issue if your dog urinates when you get home, when you're in a dominant posture or while you're reprimanding it.

Submissive Urination Problems as a Behavioural Issue

Excitement peeing in puppies can happen a lot because they haven't learned to regulate the urge to pee. This is a behavioural issue, not a medical one, because these dogs act naturally. This can be caused by several circumstances, including:

If your dog is under the age of 12 weeks, they are more likely to urinate in submission to demonstrate that they are not in charge. This is a common occurrence in puppies. 

Puppies may also be unable to regulate their urine since they are still developing. However, they'll learn to recognize when they need to urinate and improve their ability to hold it through housetraining.

If you adopt a dog over the age of 12 weeks, it's possible that they haven't been adequately trained. In addition, adopted dogs may not always comprehend the norms of their new home, leading to submissive urinating due to their uneasiness.

Some dogs have a history of being mistreated and seek to show that they acknowledge you as the leader to avoid being punished.

When you're about to leave the house, your dog may leak pee due to its emotional discomfort at being abandoned.

Stop Submissive Urination in Puppies

Excited peeing in puppies can cause embarrassment for the parent. You can take these steps to avoid the situation overall -

Maintain as much consistency in their schedule and environment as possible, and stand up for them in situations that can trigger the behaviour. For example, if your dog urinates when visitors bend down to welcome them, kindly encourage strangers to keep their distance and instead toss a treat to your dog.

Introduce them to new people and settings gradually, and attempt to assure that their new encounters are positive and enjoyable by bringing high-value rewards with you at all times. For example, ask your dog to sit if they know how to sit, or reward them with treats as the stranger walks away.

Remove odours from areas where your dog obediently urinates, especially if they aren't housebroken.

If your dog is genuinely fearful, speak with your veterinarian about drugs that may aid in the retraining process.

Why Do Dogs Urinate When Excited

Excitement peeing in puppies is not the same as submissive urinating. When extremely excited dogs lose bladder control during activities that include social stimulation or put them in an arousal state, this happens (i.e., heightened reactions). For example, during really vigorous play, excitement urinating might occur.

The good news is that excitement peeing is most common in pups under one year of age, and they usually outgrow it. The bad news is that they won't kick the habit overnight. These are the dogs who pee while playing, when you return home, or when strangers come around. Patience and tolerance will go a long way in training a puppy to stop behaving in this way.

How to Stop Excited Peeing in Puppies?

What to do if you have to face excited peeing in puppies? Almost the same as submissive urination. Here are some more tips for your help -

To assist your puppy with this issue, always take him outside for a bathroom break before beginning play sessions, and maintain calm body language and tone of voice while interacting with him.

Use dog toys as a barrier between you and your dog if touch during play is a trigger. Keep welcomes low-key. For example, please don't reach out to your dog when greeting guests and ask them to do the same.

Do not criticize or scold your dog if there is an accident. Instead, simply clean up the mess quietly and let the puppy alone for the time being. Give your dog lots of praise and rewards when he pees while on a stroll.

Whatever you do, keep in mind to be gentle with your dog as he grows up and evolves to be a more self-assured friend.

Health Issues That Can Cause Excited Peeing in Puppies

Excited peeing in puppies can easily be treated. But there can be other reasons for their peeing uncontrollably. 

Take your dog to the vet first to check any health issues before attempting behaviour retraining. For example, a urinalysis will reveal whether your dog is suffering from a urinary tract infection, which can be cured with antibiotics. Other diagnostic procedures can indicate if your puppy has bladder stones or cystitis - bladder inflammation. Your veterinarian will also look for signs of kidney disease or diabetes, both of which can cause excessive or inappropriate urinating.

Medical treatment is available for various diseases that cause your dog to urinate uncontrollably, though kidney stones may necessitate surgery.

After your male dog has been neutered, he may continue to urinate in the house. It's not understood why dogs desire to define their territory after this operation. If the peeing persists after neutering for more than a week, consult your veterinarian.

What Not to Do for Dogs Peeing When Excited

Suppose your dog pees when excited. You obviously want to change it, right? You did your research and tried your best, but your dog still pees in excitement. Did you do something wrong? Let us discuss what you shouldn't do while training your dog. 

Positive, consistent, and encouraging commands are essential.

Don't look at your dog with a frown or a sneer. Negative responses may scare or confuse your dog, exacerbating the problem.

Make no angry or frustrated remarks. This may also frighten or confuse your dog, causing them to continue peeing in compliance. Positive reinforcement works effectively with dogs.

During submissive urination episodes, don't avoid communicating with your dog. Your dog will not understand your reaction to this behaviour if you simply walk away. Instead, try to divert their attention and instil trust in them by utilizing orders they are familiar with.

Consider contacting a dog trainer to learn more about submissive urination if you believe you need assistance educating your dog to cease this undesired behaviour.

Conclusion

We hope that we have given you a brief idea about submissive and excited peeing in puppies. A Dog urinates when scared. It is not a big deal. The critical factor of successful training is your patience. Make them comfortable in the house. Give them some time when they arrive first. If you get excited, they will be either scared or excited as well. Both of these can lead to unexpected peeing. Stick to their routine so that they can eliminate time to time. This can decrease the chance of peeing in an unpredictable situation.

Since we’re at the end of our discussion, we would like to take this opportunity to tell you that Dry Paws has some excellent dog-friendly products, which will help to make your dog cozy in the house.