submissive urination

[rhenthornone]

I have a 3 1/2 month old female rott. I have had her since she was 4 weeks old. (Mother died.) At about the age of 2 months she started urinating on the floor when petted by men. She still does this, and I take her everywhere and let everyone pet her. She is submissive other than this also. When you pet her she usually lays on her back. She is a great dog, but this is annoying. Any suggestions on a way to go about getting her to stop?

Thanks in advance.

Rachel

[RottiMomCT]

Could it be that she is not urinating out of submissiveness, but out of fear? She didn't have her mom or littermates to teach her stuff, so it's all up to you.

Don't fuss when she does it (tough, I know!), but go about your normal business of cleaning it up, make a BIG fuss about meeting people, even people she already knows. Make it all FUN to meet people.

Let HER make the approach to people. It's hard NOT to have a crowd of people around you when you've got a puppy, but let people know she's a bit shy, and a big crowd might frighten her. Allow her to approach things on her own, don't tell her "Its OK..." in a soothing voice when she shows hesitancy to approach things...tell her what a silly dog she is, and that the silly thing isn't going to hurt her - all in a fun voice - if YOU sound like it might be frightening, she 'll pick up on it...make it fun, and the dog has fun...

PRAISE, and more praise when no piddles, do not get angry when she pees - she really doesn't have control over that...

[brunie's mom]

RottiMomCT, has given you good advise:)
I would also enroll her into puppy kindergarden classes, this will help to socialize her and to build up her confidence. The more socialized she is and the more confident she is.. the less she will shy, scared and nervous.

Gina

[rhenthornone]

I don't believe she is shy, she will go up to anyone with her stub just wagging. She loves everyone big or small, male or female and wants to play, play, play. I have tried very hard to act like her mother in every aspect. She also has my 11 year old Rott/Lab mix as a mother figure and my 1 1/2 year old Lab mix as a big brother. There is myself, my husband and 4 kids. Ages 4 1/2, 7, 11 and 12 1/2. Three of my kids play soccer and she goes to all the practices and games I can take her to. I am already doing what you said for the most part. Maybe it is something she will grow out of if it is ignored??!!

[rhenthornone]

They still call it dog obedience classes here. I have her enrolled to go into one in about another 3 weeks. She has to be 4 months old.

[TrishB]

Submissive piddling is one of those irritating habits - it's also embarrassing! :o

The best way to correct the problem is to understand it. Dogs within a pack will pee when approached by an alpha pack member. This both ensures that the alpha is reassured that the submissive KNOWS he/she is submissive and leaves no doubt that there is no chance of a challenge from this member of the pack.

When men approach a puppy, they tend to stand straight (dominant stance to a dog), they have deep voices (dominant to a dog) and they automatically reach over their heads for a pat (another dominant move). To your puppy, she's just seen 3 major moves that he's asserting his dominance over her! So, to ensure that he knows that SHE knows she's submissive to him - she piddles.

When she does this - ignore her. Don't pat her, don't talk to her - just clean it up and don't react. Any reaction would only enforce that she was right in being submissive! ;)

When dealing with new people petting her - have them wait for her to approach. Have them go down to one knee, speak in a soft, higher pitched voice and pat her on the chest.

She's very submissive and you'll need to work on her confidence. That isn't to say that you should try to get her to dominate you - but that she doesn't need a lot of "I'm the boss around here." training. ;) She already knows!

When you're with her trainer, get them to give you some confidence building techniques. Often submissive dogs will develop fear aggression problems. It sounds like she's doing well - but if you adjust your training for her own aptitude, I'm sure you'll find that she'll develop into a confident, non-piddling dog. :D

[rhenthornone]

Thank you for your help everyone. Hopefully by following your advice and time it will stop.

[SRipplinger]

Hi

I am no expert on this by any means, but we have had to deal with the same problem. However, Angel is a very dominant puppy and was that way in her litter. BUT she will do this but its only when she hasnt been to the bathroom in a while, for example first thing in the mornings when she comes out of her crate when she is ALL EXCITED, etc ---if you pet her, thats it, she is going to pee!!!

We just started making sure she goes straight outside, no petting, no major attention until after she goes and then she is fine...because if shes got a halfway full bladder and gets excited and starts doing the wiggle butt dance, etc ---then she is going to pee!

It always made me wonder because she is so ALPHA in every other aspect???

[Jada]

Clayton still does this at 6 months old. He started doing it back at 10 weeks when I attempted to get him over his food aggresssion. He would not even allow me to pet him when he ate. I would usually yell a firm No! and give him a scruff around his neck, after a while he got the point but now every time I attempt to pet him while he is eating he just urinates. I have asked our dog trainer and she told me that, that was his way of saying that "I win" Well he no longer growls when I attempt to touch while he eats but he has traded that for submissive urinating. The trainer said to try empowering him, through letting him eat of my hand and allowing him to eat dinner while we eat dinner, but none of these strategies have worked. By the way, this is the only time that Clayton will submissively urinate. I think he just feels like he has to let me know that he wont growl while he is eating. I hop he grows out of it. I guess I coud always just leave him alone while he eats ;)

[German Vanegas]

Ignore it. Your pup will outgrow this stage, albeit is not pleasant at the time, but if you don't make a "big deal" out of it, he will stop this submissive urination soon enough.

[Chiclid]

Rock did the same thing about that age... I started taking him directly outside without touching him so he did it outside. Have you ever heard of the saying, "They made me laugh so hard I could just pee."? That was Rock, The very minute he got happy to see anyone. And yes very embarrassing but he did learn to control it as his bladder got stronger. ;)