Understand Submissive Peeing

Does your puppy or dog urinate when someone greets them or when you come home or when you speak to them?

Some dogs have very submissive or "bottom of the pack" temperaments. This is part of their nature and is nothing to be alarmed about. They are truly subordinate dogs and they often feel unworthy of the attention or adulation that is being paid to them. A dog of this temperament would not receive any kind of "regard" in a wild dog pack as they know they are at the bottom of the pecking order. The same applies to puppies, as they have yet to mature and become confident enough to jockey for top positions. They are usually ignored or reminded of their place by the other adult dogs.

As a result of them wanting to acquiesce as much as possible, they grovel and avert their eyes, and wet themselves and you clean up.

Some puppies outgrow this submissive peeing as they become more confident.

To speed up the process, here are a few tips:

• When you first come home, don't greet your pup in any way. This means no looking, no talking, and no touching them.
• Don't rush to them to let them in or out if they have been outside or crated.
• Instruct any visitors to pretend they are not there when they first come in. This includes looking at them! A look can be very threatening and your pup cannot handle this kind of focus.
• When they no longer feel the pressure of the greeting, they will come to check things out. Do not attempt to pat or talk to them! Allow them time and space.
• Don't make it a goal for visitors to "meet" your dog. Respect their soft nature and allow them to decide when they feel secure enough to make a gesture or not.

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