Nervous Peeing!

Question
I have a 5 year old basset, for 3 1/2 years she has been fine, no behavior problems and very well house trained. In the last 6 months, whenever I take her somewhere new, (a friends house, to a quiet pub, somewhere with other dogs), she leaves puddles everywhere. Even when I have walked her before and she has already done her business. She is acting like she is nervous maybe, or marking her territory. I though that only dogs did this though.The vet says that there are no medical problems. I am getting desperate. People think my dog isn't trained!!

Answer
Hi Lizzie,

You can explain to people that she has a behavioral issue called 'submissive urination'.  Some females will mark territory, but it's rare, and seen in very dominant females.  Your girl isn't doing this.  :)

I don't know why she would have only exhibited this in the last 6 months, most dogs and bitches exhibit this behavior when they are puppies and even possibly during various fear stages.  Did something happen that you can pinpoint?  Was someone overly harsh with her?  Was she attacked or played with too roughly by another dog?

When you take her to a friend's home, before arriving, explain to them that she has this problem.  Ask them to completely ignore her when she enters their home.  No eye contact, no talking, no touching.  She should be permitted to approach people when she is ready and even at that point there should be no contact.  If allowed to approach and investigate on her own terms, she should feel less stressed.

You can do the same at a pub but getting strangers to cooperate is sometimes more difficult.  If you can't gain cooperation, leave her home.  Exposing her to these situations, where you have people refusing to listen, will not help her.

At home, you can do some simple obedience with her to help her regain her confidence.  Google 'NILF' and put that type of training into practice.  As she becomes more confident in your leadership skills, she'll become more confident in her role in your life.

If you have more questions, I'd be happy to discuss this with you further.  :)