Involuntary peeing

Question
My dog is about 1 year old and has started to pee involuntarily when he gets excited by my parents coming to the house.  Is there anything I can do to help him stop this?

Answer
If he did not do this behavior before, I would recommend the vet checking a urine sample to rule out any underlying problems first.

Best thing is to reduce the excitement level which could include crating him when company comes over, have the visitors talk in a low voice or just plain ignore him and certainly limiting his water consumption a few hours before guests arrive will help AND taking him outside to urinate several times.  It is a submissive behavior and some dogs will outgrow it.

Here is some more info...

Treating Submissive Urination

There are two objectives in treating submissive urination: The first is to increase your dog's confidence, and the second is to avoid situations in which the behavior will occur until your puppy becomes more mature. Begin by observing which situations elicit the inappropriate urination behavior. Knowing these, you can design a plan of action.


 Take your dog to non-confrontational training school. Click and treat training is best. A properly trained dog is usually more confident.


 Try to expose your dog to as many novel environments as possible. But remember, do not coddle. Praise the dog only when she shows confidence and explores the new environment.


 Encourage confidence by playing tug of war, retrieving games or play fighting.


 Scolding and punishment DO NOT WORK. They only make the dog feel more powerless and less in control.


 Do not loom over the dog, touch her nape, or make prolonged eye contact. These are all dominant signs and will be interpreted as such. Ask strangers to avoid greeting your dog or, alternatively, crouch down to the dog's level, avert their gaze, and gently encourage her to approach.


 Limiting your dog's intake of water when you know guests are coming over can sometimes help. Pick up the water bowl (and close the toilet bowl lids) 3 to 4 hours prior to their arrival. Caution: some dogs with medical problems that increase their thirst should never have water withheld. If in doubt, check with your veterinarian.


 If your dog urinates out of excitement when you return home and greet her, try to downplay the greeting by ignoring her for a few minutes until she calms down. If the problem occurs when friends greet her ask them to do this, too.

The above procedures help a great deal in avoiding urination whoopsies until the dog becomes more confident. Positive changes are usually seen in a few weeks, if not sooner. If submissive urination persists after 2 years of age, drug therapy can be instituted at the discretion of your veterinarian. And remember, be patient; accidents will happen.

Prevention is the easiest way to deal with submissive urination. The right style of obedience class can be an excellent confidence booster for your dog. Such classes can also open your eyes to the ways that you unconsciously reinforce a negative behavior, and will teach you the importance of well timed praise (and other rewards) in a healthy relationship with your dog.