Excited peeing, also known as submissive urination or excitement urination, is a common issue, particularly in puppies and young dogs. It can be frustrating for owners, leaving them wondering if their furry friend will ever “grow out” of this seemingly uncontrollable behavior. The short answer is often yes, with proper understanding, patience, and training, most dogs do outgrow this phase. However, understanding the nuances of the behavior and its underlying causes is crucial for effective management and resolution.
What is Excited Peeing and Why Does it Happen?
Excited peeing isn’t simply a lack of bladder control. It’s a complex response rooted in a dog’s emotional state, often triggered by feelings of excitement, fear, anxiety, or submission. Understanding the root cause is the first step in addressing the behavior.
The Science Behind Submissive Urination
At its core, submissive urination is a signal dogs use to communicate their deference or lack of threat to a perceived authority figure, whether that’s a human or another dog. When a dog feels overwhelmed or insecure, they might urinate as a way of saying, “I’m not a threat, please don’t hurt me.” This behavior is more commonly observed in puppies because their social hierarchies are still developing, and they are naturally more submissive towards adult dogs and humans.
The exact physiological mechanisms behind this behavior are still being researched, but it’s believed to involve a combination of hormonal responses and learned behaviors. When a dog experiences excitement or fear, their body releases hormones like adrenaline, which can impact bladder control. However, the urination itself is primarily a social signal.
Distinguishing Excited Peeing from Other Urinary Issues
It’s important to distinguish excited peeing from other medical conditions that might cause a dog to urinate inappropriately, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder stones, diabetes, or kidney disease. If your dog is suddenly experiencing increased urination, straining to urinate, or showing signs of discomfort, it’s essential to consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues.
Signs that point to a medical problem rather than excited peeing include:
- Increased frequency of urination.
- Straining to urinate.
- Blood in the urine.
- Excessive thirst.
- Lethargy or loss of appetite.
- Urinating in unusual places or while sleeping.
If you observe any of these symptoms, a veterinary visit is crucial.
Common Triggers for Excited Peeing
Identifying the triggers that cause your dog to urinate is key to managing and ultimately reducing the behavior. These triggers can vary from dog to dog, but some common ones include:
- Greeting people: This is perhaps the most common trigger. The excitement of seeing a familiar person, especially after a period of separation, can lead to submissive urination.
- Loud noises: Thunderstorms, fireworks, or even a sudden loud voice can startle a dog and trigger an episode.
- Overly enthusiastic petting or attention: Sometimes, too much affection can be overwhelming for a dog, leading to submissive urination.
- Scolding or punishment: This is particularly counterproductive. Punishing a dog for urinating will only increase their anxiety and fear, making the problem worse.
- Dominant postures or body language: Leaning over a dog, staring directly at them, or reaching for them quickly can be perceived as threatening and trigger a submissive response.
- New environments: The stress of being in an unfamiliar place can also trigger excited peeing.
Strategies for Managing and Reducing Excited Peeing
While most dogs do eventually grow out of excited peeing, there are several strategies you can implement to help them along the way and minimize accidents. The key is to focus on building your dog’s confidence, reducing their anxiety, and teaching them alternative ways to express their excitement.
Create a Calm and Predictable Environment
A stable and predictable environment can significantly reduce a dog’s anxiety levels. Establish a consistent daily routine for feeding, walks, and playtime. This predictability helps your dog feel more secure and less likely to be overwhelmed by new situations.
Positive Reinforcement Training
Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to address excited peeing. This involves rewarding desired behaviors with treats, praise, or toys, while ignoring or redirecting unwanted behaviors. Focus on rewarding calm behavior, especially during potential trigger situations.
For example, when someone comes to the door, instead of letting your dog rush to greet them excitedly, ask them to sit or stay calmly. Reward them with a treat and praise for their calm behavior.
Desensitization and Counterconditioning
Desensitization and counterconditioning are techniques used to gradually expose your dog to their triggers in a controlled and positive way. The goal is to change their emotional response to the trigger from fear or anxiety to calm and positive.
For example, if your dog is afraid of loud noises, you can start by playing recordings of those noises at a very low volume while giving them treats and praise. Gradually increase the volume over time as your dog becomes more comfortable.
Avoid Punishment and Scolding
As mentioned earlier, punishment and scolding are counterproductive when dealing with excited peeing. They will only increase your dog’s anxiety and fear, making the problem worse. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement and creating a positive association with potential triggers.
Body Language and Approach
Be mindful of your body language when interacting with your dog, especially during potential trigger situations. Avoid leaning over them, staring directly at them, or reaching for them quickly. Approach them calmly and slowly, and allow them to come to you.
When greeting your dog, crouch down to their level, avoid direct eye contact, and speak in a soft, calming voice. This will help them feel more comfortable and less threatened.
Management Techniques During Greetings
During greetings, take your dog outside to a designated potty area before anyone enters the house. This gives them an opportunity to relieve themselves before the excitement builds. If they do urinate outside, praise them and give them a treat.
If you know that your dog is prone to excited peeing during greetings, avoid making a big fuss when you arrive home. Ignore them for a few minutes until they calm down, and then greet them calmly.
Address Underlying Anxiety
If your dog’s excited peeing is accompanied by other signs of anxiety, such as excessive barking, panting, or destructive behavior, it’s important to address the underlying anxiety. This might involve consulting with a veterinarian or a certified dog trainer to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Anxiety medications or calming supplements might be helpful in some cases, but they should always be used under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Consult a Professional
If you’re struggling to manage your dog’s excited peeing on your own, don’t hesitate to consult with a veterinarian or a certified dog trainer. They can help you identify the underlying causes of the behavior and develop a personalized training plan to address your dog’s specific needs.
A professional can also rule out any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to the problem.
When Will My Dog Grow Out Of It?
The timeline for when a dog might grow out of excited peeing varies depending on the individual dog, their breed, their temperament, and the consistency of your training efforts. Some puppies might outgrow it by six months of age, while others might continue to exhibit the behavior until they are a year or even two years old.
Factors that influence the timeline include:
- Age: Puppies are more likely to exhibit excited peeing than adult dogs.
- Breed: Some breeds are more prone to submissive urination than others.
- Temperament: Dogs that are naturally more anxious or submissive are more likely to exhibit excited peeing.
- Training: Consistent and positive training can help dogs overcome excited peeing more quickly.
- Environment: A calm and predictable environment can help reduce anxiety and minimize triggers.
Patience is key. Remember that excited peeing is not a sign of disobedience or spitefulness. It’s a communication signal rooted in your dog’s emotional state. With patience, understanding, and consistent training, you can help your dog overcome this behavior and build their confidence.
While it can be frustrating to deal with, remember that your dog isn’t doing it on purpose. By understanding the causes and implementing appropriate management strategies, you can help your dog overcome this behavior and enjoy a happier, more confident life.
Consistency and positive reinforcement are your best allies.
FAQ 1: What is excited/submissive urination in dogs?
Excited or submissive urination is the involuntary release of urine when a dog is feeling overly excited, fearful, anxious, or submissive. It’s most common in puppies, but can sometimes persist into adulthood. The behavior is often accompanied by other submissive signals, such as flattened ears, tucked tail, lowered body posture, excessive licking, and avoiding eye contact.
It is important to differentiate this behavior from a lack of housetraining or medical conditions. While an accident in the house might seem like submissive urination, context matters. True excited/submissive urination will occur during specific interactions that trigger the emotional response, not simply due to needing to relieve themselves. Consulting with a veterinarian is crucial to rule out medical issues before assuming the cause is purely behavioral.
FAQ 2: Do puppies typically grow out of excited pee or submissive urination?
Yes, most puppies do eventually grow out of excited and submissive urination. As they mature and gain confidence, their nervous systems become more regulated, and they learn to control their bladder muscles better. The frequency of these incidents typically decreases as the puppy gets older, particularly between 6 and 12 months of age.
However, it’s important to actively help your puppy overcome this behavior through positive reinforcement training and creating a calm and predictable environment. Ignoring the problem or punishing the puppy can actually worsen the issue, as it increases their anxiety and fear, leading to more frequent and intense episodes. Professional training can also be very beneficial.
FAQ 3: What are the common causes of submissive urination in dogs?
The most common cause of submissive urination is fear or anxiety. This can be triggered by perceived threats, such as a person towering over the dog, making direct eye contact, or using a harsh tone of voice. The dog perceives these actions as dominance challenges and urinates as a way to appease the perceived threat.
Another cause is over-excitement. Some dogs, especially puppies, have difficulty controlling their bladder when they become overly enthusiastic during greetings or play. This excitement overload overwhelms their bladder control, leading to accidental urination. This is why it is important to manage interactions to avoid overstimulation.
FAQ 4: How can I tell the difference between submissive urination and a medical problem?
Submissive urination is usually triggered by specific social situations involving excitement, fear, or submission. It’s typically accompanied by other submissive behaviors like tail tucking, lowered posture, and lip licking. The dog is usually otherwise continent and pees normally on walks.
A medical problem, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, or kidney disease, can cause frequent urination, accidents in the house, straining to urinate, or blood in the urine. These symptoms are generally not tied to specific emotional triggers and will happen regularly. A vet visit and urinalysis are important if you suspect a medical issue.
FAQ 5: What are some things I can do to help my dog with excited/submissive urination?
Avoid situations that trigger the behavior if possible. Greet your dog calmly and avoid direct eye contact or towering over them. Approach them from the side rather than head-on. Speak in a soft, gentle voice and avoid loud noises or sudden movements that could startle them.
Employ positive reinforcement training techniques to build your dog’s confidence and help them learn to control their bladder. Reward them for calm behavior and ignoring distractions. Avoid punishing or scolding them for accidents, as this will only increase their anxiety and worsen the problem.
FAQ 6: How do I greet a dog with submissive urination issues when I arrive home?
Avoid making a grand entrance. Enter the house calmly and quietly, ignoring your dog initially. Wait until they are calm before acknowledging them. When you do greet them, do so gently and avoid direct eye contact or reaching down to pet them immediately.
Instead, crouch down to their level and speak in a soft, soothing voice. Offer a gentle scratch under the chin rather than a full body hug. If they start to show signs of excitement, such as wiggling or tail wagging, try to redirect their attention to a toy or a simple command like “sit.”
FAQ 7: When should I seek professional help for my dog’s submissive urination?
If the submissive urination persists beyond puppyhood (after 12 months of age) or if it’s severe and significantly impacting your dog’s quality of life, it’s time to consult with a veterinarian or a certified professional dog trainer. A vet can rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to the problem.
A qualified trainer or behaviorist can assess your dog’s behavior and develop a customized training plan to address the underlying anxiety or fear. They can also teach you how to manage triggering situations and help your dog build confidence. Do not hesitate to seek professional guidance, as it can greatly improve your dog’s well-being and your relationship.