Lab urinating all over / even when training

Question
I we got our black lab/golden retriever mix puppy when he was 6 months old. We have 2 small boys and thought he would be great, because the owners had a small child and they played together very well. This puppy is now 10 months old and we are really sick and tired of cleaning up urine. You try to clip his nails, he pees right there, he pees when you try to look at his teeth, try to put a collar on him, try to shake hands with him... anything. We take him outside on a regular schedule..every 1 1/2 hours, and at night just before bed, and early in the morning. Why is this problem occurring. Sometimes he pees all the way through the kitchen,dining room, and living room. Sometimes he will just let lose on the stairway to go upstairs. Has been making me very angry, my house smells even though I clean with bleach and pinesol and things.Help....... Thankyou, Janet

Answer
You have had the vet verify there isn't a physical problem?  it likely is what is called submissive wetting.  Many dogs eventually outgrow it, but you can reduce it by building the dog's confidence up. Start with obedience training. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ As you praise the dog for following your commands, it will build its confidence.

Play tug of war with the dog and lose. However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog. Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds. Ones I made lasted much better. Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot. Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie knots in it. Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer. Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Finally, make sure it has a den to live in. If you are not using a crate, buy one. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work. Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding time for more than one dog.