Dog Community

Submissive Urination??

Posted : 2/9/2012 10:17:08 PM

We are new here and also our Millie is new to our family. Things have been going pretty good..........one thing that we are noticing is when she hears noises or if the adults in the house raise their voice (my husband is half deaf so we tend to talk louder) or if she thinks shes in trouble...........she will pee. It's not a lot............more like dribbles. I have been reading online and what I came up with is submissive urination. Does anyone here have experience with this and any tips on how to work through this with her? We would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

aerial1313

Posted : 2/9/2012 10:48:27 PM

How old is Millie? First suggestion is always to have a thorough exam at a vet to rule out any possible medical causes.

My Harry is a submissive/excitement urinator. While most dogs will grow out of it, he is 4 and still does it. It's something we just have to manage. We have learned what actions can trigger it, and we do our best to avoid those situations.

For example, if someone leans over him, he will piddle. We have to tell guests that if they want to pet or interact with him, they are to stand to his side and crouch down. It is a less threatening approach for him.

If hers is noise-triggered, that makes me think she is easily frightened by loud noises. Try researching noise phobias/thunder phobias and management techniques for those dogs. If you are able to teach her that she doesn't have to be frightened, the physical reaction may lessen.

Good luck!

lovedogs2

Posted : 2/9/2012 11:07:11 PM

Thank you for your information...........she is a year old. We will be taking her to the Vet and will talk to him about that. Will do research for noise phobias.

Thanks again.

JackieG

Posted : 2/10/2012 7:19:10 AM

Building her confidence through training can be helpful for dogs who submissively urinate. It's something that some dogs will do to some extent all their lives and others will gradually get better as they gain confidence and trust. It's imperative that no one expresses any displeasure at her when she does dribble as this will add to her stress.

Welcome to you and Millie.

organictroll

Posted : 2/10/2012 10:07:46 AM

My dog had what we called "excitement pee" until she was at least a year old, perhaps a little over a year. Any extra excitement would result in dribble. It was so bad that if guests were coming over I would take her outside to greet them so I wouldn't have the mess to clean up. Perhaps with training for confidence and bonding with you, and getting used to her new home, she will outgrow this? She's still quite young. They have no idea they even do it, it's all an instant reaction.

lovedogs2

Posted : 2/10/2012 10:50:02 AM

Yea we have not scolded her for it...........I kinda wondered if it was her getting used to us and her new surroundings. Her little short life went from kennel, to home, to back to kennel and then to us. Thanks for the advice. We are going to enroll her in some obedience classes to build her confidence. Thanks for the welcome.