Expert: Jannie Balliett - 10/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: We adopted a male boxer about a year ago.  He is truly awesome. He does have a habit of submissive urination.  Mostly when men greet him.  Although we did go to the vet the other day and he let loose everywhere when the lady vet came in.  Is there any way to get him to stop or curb that behavior?  He'll greet you and then look down to see if he was there is any pee on the ground.

ANSWER: Hello Dan,

First, you didn't tell me his age. Second, when you adopted him, was he a resue, how old was he, etc? Do you know his previous history?

Peeing when excited, is typical of younger Boxers; puppies.

If a male (previous owner) dominated him- then he is being submissive to all males, and the peeing is accidental due to the upset.

So, emotions are the key; excitement and the submissive mode.

When I have all the facts, I will help you.

Reply back with a follow up so I can help diagnose the problem to resolve it for you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: His name is Moses.  We adopted him when he was two and now he's a little over three years old. He was rescued from a shelter.  All we got from the shelter was why he had to be given up.  Supposedly the economy.  No history on his behavior was provided.
He is always super excited to meet new people, hence the peeing.

Answer
So he is 3 years old, and no previous history. Shelters will always tell you that he was given up- because if there was abuse, people might not want a "damaged" dog... But, it might be true, who knows?

They didn't tell you about his peeing? Usually, there is some kind of documentation of quirks; an assessment of the dog prior to adoption to qualify him for adoptability.

They are suppose to "evaluate" them before adoption.

He is awfully old to have this problem, so I am assessing that it has recently developed and is fairly new for you.

Has any family dynamics changed? Moved? Changed working hours? New family in home? Any change what so ever?

When changes occur, especially for a dog that has been removed from his only home he;s ever known, then into a cage at a shelter (and Boxers need social interaction more than other breeds), then into your home-- and even, maybe, someone else's home before you that you weren't told about (i.e. brought him back, etc.) and now, that creates an insecure dog.

So, you have had him approximately 1-1 1/2 years; have you noticed changes in him during that time?

Did you tell the vet when he peed that he does this, and that he is automatically submissive to men and pees then?

I would have his bladder checked- possibly for infection that can cause the lack of control- therefore, when excited or submissive, he cannot control it, as a puppy cannot.

With no bladder problems, then possibly assess the pee times; is he taken out to pee regularly? Is he confined in a crate? Left alone a lot?

I would try to modify the behavior (accidental peeing) by association.

When it happens, do not scold him, but speak to him in a calm and controlled voice stating "outside: or whatever you say to him to go outside to pee (the terminology should be the same related to that- outside time) then take him outside immediately. Stand with him and watch. If he doesn't pee outside (which he probably won't at this point) then stand for at least 2 minutes (that is an eternity to a dog).

Do this each time. Whether a friend comes to visit and he does the submissive peeing, or any excitement pee- stop, and excuse yourself, (explain you are modifying his bad habit and behavior- they will understand) and take him outside for 1 minute. Be consistent.

Give him a treat upon coming back inside whether he peed outside or not. The goal is to have him associate peeing inside (accidental) to being "bad" and taken outside where is it "right" and a treat on entering back into the house.

Dogs learn by association. So associate inside accidents with going outside- and a treat coming back in.

I think he'll learn quickly and if this does not help- then a vet needs to examine him further- bladder inconsistency or other problems. Neurological? Something would be the underlying cause.

Let me know how it goes in a follow-up or post new "question" to me later.

Good luck.