Submissive Urinating-- HOW IN THE HECK DO I FIX THIS?!

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Submissive Urinating-- HOW IN THE HECK DO I FIX THIS?!

Posted : 10/21/2013 11:31:58 AM

I adopted my dog Cooper last year as an adult dog (no younger than one, no older than three) and I've had him for a little more than a year. He is a good boy and he is sweet with my 8 month old (nine days out of ten). It has always been evident that he was severely abused in his former home. He used to suffer from SEVERE separation anxiety (chewed up doors, ripped up carpet, and howled when I would leave) but we have moved past that as he has become more confident and has since been crate trained. He would not use stairs, get into cars, and has a strange fear of boxes, balloons, and stuffed animals (perhaps terrorized with aforementioned things in former household?). He has overcome his fear of cars and recently stairs, which were the important fears that needed addressing. His learning and overcoming of everything I have mentioned lead me to believe that there is still hope for our biggest struggle: his extreme submissive urinating. It seems that if he is even LOOKED at the wrong way, he pees. We cannot scold him or discipline him, as it REALLY makes him pee. If we tell him to get off the couch or bed, he pees. Get out of the kitchen, he pees. Go lay down, he pees. We don't yell at him or hit him and we're always very kind to him. We live in a very calm household with no loud noises other than the vacuum when vacuuming needs done. I had to pay to replace all the carpet in my dad's rental house because of him (goodbye $1,500 and his $1,500 deposit...) and he is now peeing all over our roommate's white carpets. If something doesn't give, and soon, I fear I will have to get rid of him. I don't want to, but we are broke as it is. All that being said, I come to you guys in search of friendly advice and wallet-friendly solutions. I have no idea how to deal with this or fix it. It CANNOT continue.

PLEASE HELP!

JackieG

Posted : 10/21/2013 1:02:15 PM

The first thing I'd do is get a wrap designed for male dogs to prevent anymore urine on the carpet. Make sure you keep it changed and clean. I had to use one for a dog once and I used feminine light day napkins instead of the pads you buy as the human products are much cheaper. Most of the large big box pet stores carry these wraps or you can buy them online.

The other thing you might try is to stop talking to him when you want him off the furniture or out of the kitchen or in any situation that requires you to tell him to do something. You might not be yelling but something about these scenarios is causing him to feel fear and to urinate in submission. He may be reacting fearfully because of previous scoldings in his former life.

Try luring him off the couch or out of the kitchen with a treat or a toy. Don't say anything just show him the treat or toy as you toss it in the direction you want him to move. High value treats work best. Praise him when he moves in the right direction. Teach him to lay on a dog bed or to get in his crate at these times. This may take many repetitions and much patience on your part.

You may not feel you are scaring him when you tell him to do something but consider that you may be transmitting an unhappy vibe to him. You're anticipating that he's going to pee when you tell him to do something. Inside you are probably not feeling good about him at this time. He senses that emotion through your body language and facial expression and some scientists believe dogs can sense chemical changes that occur when we are happy or when we're upset/mad.

Good luck and please don't give up on him. His problems, that have been overcome, show he can improve with some training and a patient owner.