Does your doodle get excited then start urinating on the floor?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

We can be gone for a few hours & come home & Dexter gets so excited to see us that while we're trying to put his leash on to walk him he starts peeing on the floor. Almost every time....he does it going to my mom's, he does it going to the groomer's. He never did this before....I've gotten peed on before when he gets excited & jumps in my lap. He's 10 months old...this shouldn't be happening now should it? I could see if he were smaller but now?
Has anyone had this problem? And if so what did you do to stop it?
We've talked in a really low, calm voice before putting the leash on but as we snap it on there...he dribbles a little bit.He's housebroken now...so he won't go til leash time but while it's being put on him he let's go a little...like I said when we come home from the store the same thing.

Thanks for any responses or answers,
Heather

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Sounds like Dexters peeing has nothing to do with housetraining, he is most likely submissive peeing. Dexter is just telling you in dog language "Your the Boss, and he know's it". Other signals of submission are lowered ears, lowered tail, lowering his body or sometimes even laying down and rolling over. Found these techniques on the web...hope they help...

Wait when you come home. Say "hi" and be verbally friendly, but don't touch or pet it for about 5-15
minutes. Try not to make the moment more exciting than it already is.
When you greet your dog, get down on the dogs level. Rather than standing and bending at the waist, bend at the
knees (or sit) so that your face is about level with his and you are not looking down on him. This is a
less dominant position, and less likely to trigger a submissive posture.
Don't pet your dog on the head. Rather, tell him to sit, maybe "shake hands", then scratch him under the chin and
on the chest. This is less dominating than the pat on the head (because you avoid standing over it).
Giving s/he an alternative behavior will help. He can’t submissive pee and sit and shake hands at the
same time.
When you correct this type of dog, do so with your voice only (avoid direct eye contact). If it starts to
urinate, then say immediately, "OK, let's go out!" in a happy tone of voice -- and take it out. Or, take a
toy out (something it likes to do) and play with it. What you are doing here is telling your dog, "OK, I
see your submissiveness. That's good."
When guests come over, ask them to ignore your dog and not look at it even if it comes up and sniffs
them. After a bit, when people are sitting down then have them gently put their hands out and talk to
your dog, without looking at it. Usually after about 15 minutes or so everything is fine.
In general, show signs of low-key approval immediately when the dog becomes submissive. Then
distract it with something else. When you ignore submissiveness or get mad at it, you're in effect
telling the dog "You're not submissive enough!" so the poor thing intensifies its efforts -- and
submissive urination is about as submissive as it gets.
Be really positive with your dog, this type lacks self-confidence and will look to you quite often to
make sure everything is OK.
One technique that helps many dogs with this problem is called "Flooding." You need a group of
people, preferably ones who will stimulate the undesired response (in this case, peeing). You find the
UVHS Behavior Tips
Upper Valley Humane Society
www.uvhs.org

[Adrianne Matzkin]

How about a slip on leash so you don't have to fumble while he is excited to see you. I wouldn't say a word at all.
I have these leashes that I purchased for agility. They are just braided fleece, you choose your colors, style (try the slip leash - you don't need to clip to a collar), inexpensive and the company is fantastic to work with.

doodlekisses.com/forum2/topics/braided-fleece-leash-and-tug

[Adina P]

Does he have to be leashed in order to go out in the yard (unfenced yard?)? Or can you just run out there with him unleashed (fenced yard)?

[Karen & Lucy]

I have had this problem, at times, with Lucy. She is 3 1/2 years old now and she doesn't do it at all now except when my Grandson comes. She is afraid of him for some reason. i can not tell you what to do about it b/c I really don't know what I did, but it has pretty much stopped. The suggestions given so far sound pretty reasonable to me. Good luck