submissive urination
Submissive Urination is something that is very natural for dogs, and it is a nice, clear way of communication between other dogs. It is typically a younger dog submitting to an older, or more dominant dog. It’s their way of saying "I'm not a threat to you", or "I won't challenge you", or "I'm not worthy!"
When dogs do it with people it is often coupled with excitement too – They’re so excited they just can’t help themselves!
Owners often ask me if their dog will outgrow it. Some do, but in the majority of the dogs I see, that is not the case… Hee are some tips to help your dog through this phase, and come out dry!
The two most common situations where a dog may show submission are:
- When you come home from being gone
- When your dog meets a new two-legged friend
I would certainly be crating your dog while you’re gone. If he’s in a crate, you can proof it, by having it on a tile or linoleum surface… It’s much easier to clean! One thing you can do is to make your comings and goings very “blah”. Not exciting at all… Your dog will feed in to your excitement, and right now that is the last thing we want! Our dogs can get themselves excited very easily; our job is to help keep them calm. So, come home and just tinker around for a while. This will be very easy to do if your dog is crated. Go in the same room as your dog (so you’re not building more anticipation and anxiety by staying out of sight). I like to come in, put my keys and purse away. Maybe put away groceries. Wait a few minutes for your dog to calm down. All the while, I am not looking at my dog, not talking to him… Once he is calm, go over to the crate. If he starts to get too excited, walk away. Repeat. When you get to the crate and he is able to compose himself (if not, be sure to talk to us about ways to help increase his impulse control!), let him out and go *straight* outside! Once you’re outside and he’s gone potty, you can start to give him attention in slow increments. First your attention is given to him by looking at him (yes, looking at your dog is definitely considered a level of attention!). Then if he’s still refraining himself, you can give him a soft scratch under the chin. Then if he’s still keeping his composure you can increase the attention slowly – And then after that you’re home free and can sit on the ground with him and give him all the love you want! The key here is – take it slow, not all at once. We are working on keeping him below his threshold, because once he hits his threshold… Well, we all know how that goes!
If you give him attention and he starts to have an accident, simply walk away. Don’t say anything to him, but calmly withdraw your attention. If you make a big deal of it, it will become a big deal. This isn’t something that they can turn on and off, so making them feel bad about it isn’t going to help the situation at all.
When your dog meets a stranger
If you have someone come over to the house, I would create a similar scenario. The dog is in the crate, or on a leash with you, standing at least 5-10’ away from your friend. When your friend comes in, he ignores the dog for the first 10-15 minutes. That is usually the most exciting time, someone new – Yay! The energy of the room completely changes! After everything has calmed down, let your friend greet your dog. In the beginning it’s simple (just like when you come home from work), maybe they look at the dog. Then a few minutes later they look at the dog and talk to him at the same time. Then a minute later it’s a gentle scratch on the chin. As long as your dog is doing well you can slowly increase the attention. Remember, the key here is – take it slow, not all at once. We are working on keeping him below his threshold…
If you see someone when you’re out on a walk and they want to pet your dog, it’s a-okay to have them *stop*, take a step back and wait. Tell them you’re training your dog and need just a moment! Most people are pretty receptive when you are asking them for help. Practice your greeting skills just like you have been doing in your Dog Face Class. Once you are ready for them to greet your dog, tell him “alright”, and let them just take step forward to do a little scratch under the chin and then that’s it. If you tell strangers you’re trying to train, they are usually pretty nice about following instructions ☺
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Giene Keyes
Giene Keyes is the owner of Moon Dog Training, LLC, providing positive in-home training, behavior consultations and group classes. After receiving “Best of Madison'' multiple years in a row, Giene sold her dog daycare to focus on her dog behavior work. Giene has been working with pets and their owners for over 30 years. She is a professional animal trainer and behavior specialist in Southern Wisconsin. Giene divides her time between teaching group classes and private lessons – Specializing in manners and aggression cases. Giene works with vets, rescue groups and shelters, evaluating dogs for adoption, developing Canine Aggression Management Programs, and educating staff on dog language and behaviors. She consults for dog daycares and training companies by educating staff on dog body language, cues, managing a pack, difficult dogs and much more. She provides behavior consultations for service dog organizations and rescue groups in the Midwest. She has been an Instructor with the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid, a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and a Licensed Judge with the WI Dept of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection. Giene is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. She routinely presents seminars on dog behavior and training, as well as chicken training seminars to promote team building. Giene has been a regular guest on popular Madison radio shows and evening newscasts. Giene has also been featured in numerous local magazines, including the cover for Wisconsin Woman. Giene is a published author (see her Chicken Training Book!) and loves demonstrating to people how clever dogs, chickens and pigs can be.
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