Excitable Peeing

[Laura Bogar]

Any suggestions for excitable peeing.? We (the people that live with Heidi) know not to pet Heidi when we first get home. The routine is to say hi Heidi and quickly get her outside. Once she is outside we do pet her as she is begging for our attention. However, the problem is with new people or guests that come over. Many times I even have to ask the guest to wait outside until they meet Heidi. But we have people over often and we can't always take her to meet guests outside. She will pee a pretty big puddle in the house if someone pets her inside while she is excited. I have to tell people to ignore her when they come over but it's hard to do for everyone. I know she is only 7 months but I feel she should be better at not peeing in the house when she is excited. Any suggestions? Thanks! Laura

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

How about taking Heidi out before the guests come over. One person gets the door and the other one take Heidi out. It worked for Auggie, but he was only 3 months old and grew out of it already.

[Laura Bogar]

Yes we try to but she will still tinkle a few drops and if she just went potty outside.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds like submissive peeing to me. If you have ruled out any medical issues, and if she's solidly housebroken, only does this when greeting people, and never has accidents in the house at other times, she may need more socialization. By socialization, I mean more exposure to human society, not to other dogs. Do you take her out to public places where there is lots of human activity? All kinds of sights and sounds, plenty of strangers? If not, start making it a rule to do this at least three times a week. Take her to pet supply stores, farmer's markets, home repair stores, oil change facilities, any place dogs are allowed. Walk her past schoolyards at recess, or past athletic fields when teams are practicing. Walk her in the downtown area of your town at lunchtime. It may sound strange, but this can really help with submissive urination. Also, it's important for now that nobody leans or bends over her, or reaches their hand out to her when greeting her. It may be difficult to get people to comply with this, but if they are your friends and relatives, they will care enough about you to understand and comply.

[Laura Bogar]

She goes everywhere with me. We go to the pet store, dog park, just rides around town, fairs, friends houses, parks, meetings and many more. She pees more often I believe with someone she sees often but they don't live with us, like my boyfriend or my mom. But thank you for your help! We will go walk downtown or go to home depot soon!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Some good articles on submissive peeing:

Wet Greetings

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/submissive-urination

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/submissive-urination.html

And here's Cesar's take on this: http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/trainerscorner/Submissive-Urination

[Laura Bogar]

Thank you I'm going to read all of these!!

[Christine & Shelby]

Laura.... I don't have any experience with this.... but would teaching Heidi to sit when people enter the house or "go to her bed" help with issue?   Might serve as a distraction and give her a focus other than the guests.   If you need people to come visit so she can practice... let me know!

Christine

[Ginny Nightingale]

Put a big sign on the door with directions!! :)

[Julie and Charlie]

I tell my guests to hold off, unless they want pee on their shoes. That gets their attention!