dog behavior problem

Submissive and Excitement Urination

Submissive Urination:
Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he’s being
punished or verbally scolded, or when he’s approached by someone he perceives to be
threatening to him. It’s important to remember that this response is based on the dog’s
perception of a threat, not the person’s actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve as your dog gains confidence, but you can help build his confidence by teaching him commands and rewarding him for obeying. You should also gradually expose him to new people and new situations and try to make sure all of his new experiences are positive and happy.

Your dog may be submissively urinating if:
›› Urination occurs when he’s being scolded.
›› Urination occurs when he’s being greeted.
›› Urination occurs when someone approaches him.
›› He is a somewhat shy, anxious or timid dog.
›› He has a history of rough treatment or punishment after the fact.
›› The urination is accompanied by submissive postures, such as crouching or rolling
over to expose his belly.

What to do if your dog has a submissive urination problem:
›› Take your dog to the vet to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
›› Keep greetings low key.
›› Encourage and reward confident postures from him.
›› Give him an alternative to behaving submissively. For example, if he knows a few
commands, have him “sit” or “shake” as you approach, and reward him for obeying.
›› Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads as dominant, for example:
››Avoid direct eye contact. Look at his back or tail instead.
››Get down on his level by bending at the knees rather than leaning over from the
waist and ask others to approach him in the same way.
››Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
››As you approach, present the side of your body to him, rather than your full front,
and avert your gaze.
›› Don’t punish or scold him. This will only make the problem worse.
›› Until the problem resolves, you might want to protect your carpet by placing a plastic
drop cloth or an absorbent material in the entryway where accidents are most likely to
occur. Alternatively, you can purchase “doggie diapers” at your local pet supply store.

***Excitement Urination (revised 12/2003)
Excitement urination occurs most often during greetings and playtime and is not accompanied by submissive posturing. Excitement urination usually resolves on its own as a dog matures, as long as it isn’t made worse by punishment or inadvertent reinforcement.

Your dog may have an excitement urination problem if:
›› Urination occurs when your dog is excited; for example, during greetings or during
playtime.
›› Your dog is less than 1 year old.

What to do if your dog has an excitement urination problem:
›› Keep greetings low key.
›› Don’t punish or scold him.
›› To avoid accidents, play and greet outdoors until the problem is resolved.
›› Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
›› Until the problem resolves, you might want to protect your carpet by placing a plastic drop cloth or an absorbent material in the entryway where accidents are most likely to occur. Alternatively, you can purchase “doggie diapers” at your local pet supply store.
›› Ignore him until he’s calm.

Dog Behavior Problem Training:
Dog behavior problem training encompasses every aspect of canine education, from the species specific responses that's inherent to canines, to learning theory and operant conditioning, to traditional training methods. When these training techniques are properly implemented, most people notice results immediately. A well mannered pet is now within your reach, all you need to do is optimally structure your pet's environment.

A dog behavior problem can often be directed and controlled by training. Dog behavior can be thought of as responses that are specific to their species. These responses are controlled and directed by manipulating the social and the environmental variables. We call this training. Training can increase responses that are desirable, just as those that are undesirable can be decreased.

Your dog behavior problem is often a direct result of the animal's inability to cope with the stress of everyday life. The purpose of training is to raise the pet's stress threshold so your pet can tolerate higher levels of stress.

A human and dog behavior problem should not be confused with each other. The response patterns and intellect of a canine is very different from that of humans, although we do share some common traits. One of these traits is the drive to form close social groups with strong bonds to significant others. This bonding can be thought of as a kind of love. Even though this type of bonding is a natural trait in both canines and humans, we must avoid endearing our pets with human emotions. Learning to differentiate and respect a dog’s different needs from our own human needs, is the first step in conquering a dog behavior problem.