Submissive Peeing?

Question
OK So here is the scoop... i have a Pit Bull/GSD mix pup who is about 4 months old.  Extremely smart, loyal, happy, very well mannered... He is seriously almost THE perfect dog... just one problem.  He pee's when you scare him (normal for a lot of puppies)  but on his way outside to go potty he will make a train of peeing as he is going outside... even if he doesn't have to go that bad... if he does something wrong... i don't even have to say anything, he knows he did wrong the second i look at him and he will crouch and pee or run to his crate, peeing as he goes.... its a good thing i have hardwood Floors, but this is CRAZY... i've had a pup with submissive peeing issues before but with Barlow ( my pup ) it is just getting out of hand... i mean he does this right after he was taken out to go the bathroom... he is completely potty trained he just can't always hold it in and it goes everywhere...as he goes when he's walking or running... Any Ideas on how to fix this problem? i can't handle pee everywhere anymore....

Answer
Dear Talisha,
Thanks for the question. I recently answered a question in the Canine Behavior category about inside urination. The title is "I don't understand my dog's urination". Please read it.

First get a medical checkup. He could have medical issues that cannot be addressed except by your vet.

Stop scolding him - you are scaring the pee out of him! (smile). Learn dog-friendly methods to communicate with and to train him. Buy the book, Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnell.

Assuming it is either submissive or excitement - Here is some information to compare submissive vs.excitement urination. It could be both.

Inclusive descriptions of his body language are better clues for determining which type is occurring than describing situations in which it occurs.

Carefully observing his ear, head, tail positioning and his overall body language coupled with a careful observation of how you are interacting with him are the best methods to identify both excitement and submissive urination.  

If he IS NOT actively moving or playing (as in he IS standing or sitting or lying OR he is in the process of sitting or lying down) while he eliminates , the urination is more likely to be submissive in nature - not excitement.

If he urinates when you interact with him via speech, touch or eye contact, it's more likely to be submissive - not excitement.

If he eliminates when he is running to greet you, when he is playing (and you are not interacting via eye contact,touch, verbal greeting), it is more likely to be excitement urination - not submissive.  

If he is not sitting or lying down and he is not in the process of sitting or lying down AND YOU ARE NOT interacting with him in any way, it is more likely to be excitement urination - not submissive urination.

Here is a web link to learn how to address submissive urination. http://www.ddfl.org/tips.htm#dog

Happy Training!
AT