What causes dogs to urinate when they are excited or scared?

If your house-trained puppy or recently adopted dog urinates on the floor when visitors arrive or when you come home, it might be dealing with submissive or excitement-based urination. Any form of inappropriate urination, regardless of when or where it happens, could indicate an underlying health issue. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the signs of submissive or excitement-based urination and be aware of when there might be a more serious problem with your dog.

For older dogs, occasional incontinence can be normal, but it’s essential to have your dog checked by a veterinarian to rule out any health issues. For house-trained puppies, determining the cause of the problem often requires some investigation.

We’re here to help you differentiate between submissive and excitement-based urination in your dog and learn how to manage it.

What Are Submissive and Excitement-Based Urination in Dogs?

Dogs, particularly puppies, sometimes urinate in exciting or overwhelming situations. This behavior may seem involuntary, often resulting in a puddle at their feet or small drops of urine scattered around as they move. This differs from dogs having urinary accidents in the house or those that lift their leg to mark territory.

What Causes Dogs to Urinate When They Are Submissive or Excited?

There are several reasons why your dog might urinate when excited or scared, such as signaling they are not a threat or due to their excitement. It’s also important to consider that an underlying health issue could be causing this behavior.

• Showing They Aren’t a Threat:

Dogs that urinate while displaying submissive behaviors are usually trying to signal that they are not a threat. They might pee when someone approaches them, stands over them, or uses a loud voice. Ironically, dogs with a history of rough treatment or punishment for inappropriate urination may urinate submissively more often; the more they are yelled at or scared, the more they urinate to further reduce the perceived threat. This behavior is often observed in rescued dogs, as well as those that are shy, anxious, or fearful. Other signs of submissive behavior include cowering with their tails tucked and ears back, or rolling over to expose their bellies.

• Excitement:

Excitement peeing typically occurs in puppies, and they often outgrow it, though not immediately. These dogs tend to urinate when they get excited—during play, when you come home, or when meeting new people or dogs. Patience and understanding are crucial for training a puppy out of this behavior, and you might need to adjust your routine temporarily to help prevent these accidents.

• Health Problem:

Inappropriate urination isn’t always linked to submissive or excitement-based behaviors. Various health issues can impact your dog’s urinary patterns and bladder control, such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, cystitis (bladder inflammation), kidney disease, diabetes, nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, and other physical disorders. Some dogs may also have conditions like incontinence, where they leak urine or urinate involuntarily due to congenital factors or later-life developments.

Managing Submissive or Excitement Urination in Dogs: https://territory-uae.com/index.php/2024/07/07/managing-submissive-or-excitement-urination-in-dogs/