Submissive behavior may occur in situations where a dog feels inferior toward a person or another dog. The submissive dog may flatten his ears against his head, tuck his tail between his legs or hold it low to the ground, lower his head and neck, or crouch low to the ground. It's not uncommon for submissive behavior to include a little dribbling of urine during greetings, particularly in young dogs and female dogs. Most often this resolves itself as the dog grows into adulthood.
In order to treat submissive urination you must concentrate on your greetings. Keep your entrances and exits calm, controlled and brief. Avoid being overly excited and also avoid prolonged eye contact. Do not pet your dog on the head or back during these times. In fact, it's best not to pet your dog at all if he is exhibiting submissive urination so that you do not unintentionally encourage the behavior. Make sure that everyone who enters and leaves your home follows these same rules. Also make sure that your dog has enough opportunities to go the bathroom. Do not punish your dog for his behavior as this may only increase his anxiety and thus worsen the problem. |
