Dog question: Submissive peeing (I know, I know).

[Brickbat]

So we adopted two dogs a year ago and the one, who was not very socialized, is very submissive and pees when you greet him. We've been working on it, and he's a TON better than he used to be, but does it ever really go away? Sometimes I hesitate to pet him because I know he's going to dribble a bit. Gah.

[Kingofalldems]

1. Be calm when greeting the dog--in fact walk into the room

and don't even look at him. Dog Whisperer had a whole segment with a dog with exactly the same problem as yours.

[Brickbat]

6. Yeah, that's what I do. I pretty much ignore him until he's calmed down.

But sometimes, when I'm working at my computer and he comes up to me, clearly looking for an ear-scratch, and I put my hand on him without looking at him, he'll dribble. Not a ton, and not every time, but man is it FRUSTRATING! And then sometimes, the kids can play with him for half an hour -- petting him, rolling over and over on the ground with him, playing fetch -- and there's nothing. It's frustrating because it's so bizarre and random.

[surrealAmerican]

2. The fact that the dog has gotten much better ...

... means you're handling the situation correctly. The more secure and predictable his life is, the less he will do this. It may take a long time though.

[Brickbat]

7. Well, thanks. That makes me feel better.

I do feel like we're kind of at a plateau, like it will never be 100% better. So I just remind myself that it used to be that you couldn't even look him in the eyes. He IS better than he used to be.

[skygazer]

3. I've had a couple of dogs who did this

It did eventually go away but it did take a while. I agree that since it's getting better, you must be going in the right direction.

[Brickbat]

8. Thank you.

It's SO frustrating, because sometimes I just want to love up my dog, and I know if I do, he'll pee. I keep telling myself to just be the owner he's comfortable with, instead of rushing him along. Thanks for listening to me vent.

[hippywife]

19. Have you tried this?

When you are in the mood to really love him up, try sitting on the floor across the room from him and let him come over to you on his own. That way you aren't hovering over him and he'll be less intimidated. Could be the reason he doesn't do it with the kids. They're more his size and closer to his level.

[Brickbat]

25. That does help.

Reading this thread is reminding me to just lighten up with him. I just gave him a scratch and while he tensed his legs like he wanted to pee, he didn't. Good boy!

[skygazer]

4. Dupe

:blush:

[HopeHoops]

5. The neighbors have a golden who pisses herself all the time.

Since she was a puppy, she has regularly found a way to escape the house/back yard and race around the neighborhood like the empty-headed fool she is. She'll come if you call her and when she reaches you, stand back. She always rolls over on her back and pisses herself. She's a few years old now and still does the same thing.

The neighbors claim she can't be trained, but I've always been able to get her to heel on a leash (while taking her home). You just have to make it clear you are in a position of authority, both by sound and leash commands. She walks quite nicely for me. They just yank on her chain and yell "Come ON!" Needless to say, this doesn't work. Did I mention that they are far right Republicans? I don't think the dog is.

[Brickbat]

9. He's a peach with everything else.

Comes when he's called, even if he's flat-out chasing a deer. Sit-stays forever. Happily goes to his kennel when told. Doesn't chew. He's learning to heel off the leash. He's trying so hard to be a good dog -- he was a shelter dog who had been a stray, and you can just tell he's excited to learn and please. So STOP FUCKING PEEING ON ME WHEN I TRY TO REWARD YOU!

Thanks for listening. Whew. If he rolled over and peed on himself, I don't know what I'd do. Fortunately, he just puts a little puddle on the ground, then smells it, looking for all the world like he's saying, "Hey, who put that there?"

[flvegan]

10. What kind of dog and how old?

Is the dog generally submissive to other animals as well, or is it just with people?

[Brickbat]

13. He's a rough collie, around two years old.

We have two dogs, and he is the underdog, although he holds his own with the other dog.

ETA: He never pees for the other dog, just people.

[flvegan]

16. From the information given, I can only speculate

Since he came from a shelter (and godknowswhat before that) with a submissive urination issue that has gotten a good deal better over the course of a year, that this will eventually go away. Some breeds seem to have a propensity to excited pissing, but that really isn't one of them. I'd suggest that he's still not as confident as he needs to be, but that will change. Some dogs take a little longer than others, it's really in how you support the dog through the problem as well as how ingrained that lack of confidence is.

[Brickbat]

18. Because they picked him up as a stray at about a year old, I'm assuming he was either a puppy who

who bigger than expected or was a puppy mill dump somewhere. He's better with women then men, so it's possible he had a bad man in his past. It's all guessing, of course.

He really is much better, as far as confidence goes. When we got him, he wouldn't even greet us. He didn't know how to play or interact with people. He was really pretty pathetic. Now he acts happy to see us, is learning to fetch, and will romp with the kids quite comfortably. I feel like with everything else going so well, he should just STOP with the pissing.

[Schema Thing]

11. Tell him he's good enough and that doggone it, people like him

[phasma ex machina]

12. It seems that every dog has one disgusting and/or irritating trait.

My sister's golden pees too.

[Brickbat]

14. That is the damn truth right there.

It was NOT my idea to get dogs.

[janx]

22. Not if they're raised reponsibly.

My dogs are the love of my life, and it's because my mother (who was good at raising dogs) impressed on me the fact that raising a dog is close to raising a human child.

[phasma ex machina]

34. I love my dogs too, but every single one of them had a disgusting or annoying trait. nt

[quakerboy]

27. Yeah, but try and find any other mammal that doesnt

Especially people...

[phasma ex machina]

35. Bunnies seem well mannered. LOL. OTOH the innate creativity of humans

enables them to indulge in a virtually infinite range of disgusting and/or annoying habits.

[quakerboy]

40. They poop everywhere

Little rabbit pellets. Plus they have disgusting disturbing mouths. I do not care for lagomorphs, let me tell you.

[Jamastiene]

38. +1

"Especially people..."

[Mutley]

15. Snuggle him and tell him he is so cute

and that you love him so much, but that he really has to stop piddling in the house.

:P

[Brickbat]

26. I've tried reasoning with him.

I really have. :)

[rcrush]

32. That works with me

If I dont get a hug I will pee on your floor!

[Orsino]

17. I've got a seven-year-old lab/pit that still does it...

...when meeting strangers on his own turf. He's kind of a chicken, generally.

[janx]

20. Crate train him.

He's not going to like it, but if you give him lots of love and reinforcement, it shouldn't take much time. He will not pee where he sleeps. If you provide him with a small crate, or cave, and if you let him outside immediately to pee in the morning, he will understand. It doesn't take long.

[Brickbat]

21. He's already in a crate. He's totally house trained; this is peeing because he feels submissive.

[janx]

23. OK then--he's still young. He's overly submissive, but he's still young.

Can you anticipate this and then say ah-ah-ah-ah! and whisk him out the door to let him piss and then praise him? I've lived around dogs all my life, and even when I hear a dog start to puke in the middle of the night (no fault of the dog) I say that and try to get him or her out into the yard. Then, it's "GOOD DOG!" and lots of hugs and kisses.

[Brickbat]

24. No, that just makes him more anxious and makes him pee more.

It's very different from elimination pissing, pooping or puking.

[janx]

30. Try it!

You don't have to scare him. I understand what you're saying--that he's doing this as a reaction, but try it.

[tonekat]

28. I had a miniature dachshund

His name was Schnapps. I must have been about 12, when I was in the front yard one day, with Schnapps on a leash, talking to a friend from down the street. The college prof across the street came home and wanted to see "the little doggie", he was in a nice belted trenchcoat. He picks Schnapps up under his "armpits" and holds him at eye-to eye level and is talking to him in person-cute dog talk when Schnapps just lets loose in a stream down the front of the guy's coat. Without a word, the prof put him down, turned on his heels, and walked across the street to his house. My friend and I burst into uncontrollable laughter.

[XemaSab]

29. The first time my mom met Maddy

she peed all over the floor.

She's in a home now. :(

[flvegan]

31. Your mom or Maddy?

[XemaSab]

39. I'm sure the gravy at the home is ok

:D

[Rhiannon12866]

33. The cocker spaniel we had when I was a kid did that...

She'd piddle whenever she greeted my Dad when he came home, so he'd step back into the garage to greet her. She just got awfully excited and really loved my Dad. BTW, she was an eight-week old puppy when we got her and I trained her to do everything I could think of and she was a very quick study. She did get over it when she got older, but we had her for 15 years... Have you checked with your vet? He/she may have a suggestion or a check-up might reveal something... Sounds like a terrific dog, otherwise. :-)

[Inchworm]

36. It goes away

I would suggest to spend more time with the dog.. umm.. outside. Eventually, the pissing will get old even to him. ;)

:hi:

[Born_A_Truman]

37. If all else fails, use a belly band