How to Stop Submissive Urination

How to Stop Submissive Urination

While you do not want an overly aggressive dog who thinks he is in charge, an overly submissive dog can be a problem as well. Submissive dogs will often coward in the presence of humans and can urinate as they do so. Submissive urination is a dog behavior that shows your dog is submitting to your dominance and confirming your status as the pack leader. While being a pack leader is a good thing, overly submissive dogs do not require the firmness that aggressive dogs do. You will still need to be a leader, but you will have some work on your hands to reassure your submissive dog and shape this unwanted urination. Before trying to change your dog’s behavior it is a good idea to consult with your Veterinarian to ensure that your dog does not have a urinary tract infection or other health problem causing excessive urination.

Once you have confirmed that there are no underlying health problems it is important to understand why or when your dog is exhibiting this behavior. Dogs often urinate submissively when you arrive home after a period of absence. He will also do so when new people visit or if there is loud arguing within the home. Some dogs urinate out of fear when scolded while others urinate when frightened by a loud noise like thunder or fire works. Once you have identified the triggers that cause your dog’s unwanted urination you can begin to modify his behavior. Here are several tips to create a calm and appropriately submissive dog thus ending the submissive urination problem:

1. Calmly and quietly compliment, praise or reward your dogs with treats when he urinates outside. When he urinates inside never scold or punish your dog. Simply say no in a firm, even tone, ignore your dog and quietly clean up the mess. Aggression or loud response will only reinforce the behavior by assigning attention to it. Also, submissive dogs do not require severe scolding as it can make them even more fearful, submissive or stressed out in the future and only make the problem worse.

2. Greet your dog calmly from a standing position. When you bend down and your dog lies down to say hi, he will be showing more submissive behavior which reinforces other behaviors of this nature such as submissive urination.
3. Avoid direct eye to eye contact when you first see your dog upon returning home from an absence. This can be intimidating to a timid pooch and precipitate submissive behavior.

4. Do not grab and hug your dog when you walk into a room where submissive urination has occurred. Once again, a shy pup may see this as an act of dominance and the result will be submissive urination. Simply come in the door quietly and immediately take your dog outside and allow him the opportunity to potty in the proper location.

5. If submissive urination occurs at a specific time like before sleeping or just before you go out, try limiting your dog’s drinking water during those times. Be careful not to deprive your dog’s water access for more than just a very short period of time as water is essential to his well being. Dogs can become dehydrated quickly as they do not have the same ability to cool themselves as we do.

6. Do not make your homecoming a grand event. The excitement in your voice and greeting can be a signal to your dog that he should submit to your entrance and respond with submissive urination. Enter the room calmly and ignore your dog until he is calm and even keeled. Allow your dog to come to you and he will relax and be less fearful or excitable. He will learn that this is not a time for him to respond to dominant behavior with submissive urination.

7. Join a group dog training class. Submissive urination can extend to areas outside of your home and the group setting will allow for proper socializing with other dogs and their handlers. By helping your dog to build his confidence in a variety of situations you will help him to create balance and an even mood which will cut down on his fearful response of submissive urination. As your dog becomes more confident remember to be firm yet quiet and calm to encourage his new attitude without turning him into a spoiled pooch.