Dog pees when excited? Click here to skip below to the 5 steps you’ll need to stop it. This can be a messy and frustrating problem, but it’s actually very common, especially in puppies. Fortunately, today we’re going to teach you everything you need to know on this subject including how to stop excitement peeing in dogs once and for all.

In this guide, we’ll explain why dogs pee when excited including details like whether this behavior is linked to submissive urination. We’ll then provide you with an easy-to-follow process on how to stop your dog peeing when excited (both adults and puppies). Keep reading to learn more about managing and preventing excitement urination in dogs.

Dog Pees When Excited

If your dog pees when excited, the reaction is often involuntary and occurs in moments of high excitement or stress. Understanding the reasons behind this behavior is crucial in addressing it effectively and helping your dog learn more appropriate ways to express their excitement.

Why Does My Dog Pee When Excited?

Your dog pees when excited due to a lack of control over their bladder in highly stimulating or stressful situations. This behavior is more common in puppies who haven’t fully developed bladder control, but it can also occur in adult dogs.

The excitement triggers a reflex that causes them to urinate unintentionally, which is different from regular urination.

Submissive Urination in Dogs

Submissive urination is another reason why a dog may pee when excited. This behavior is often seen in younger dogs and can be a sign of insecurity or submission. It usually occurs during greetings, intense play, or when they feel intimidated.

Submissive urination is the dog’s way of showing that they are not a threat, and it often diminishes as they grow older and more confident.

How to Stop Excitement Peeing in Dogs

To stop excitement peeing in dogs, a calm, gentle, and patient approach is essential. Scolding or punishing your dog will only add stress and can actually make the problem worse by increasing anxiety. Instead, your goal should be to help your dog feel more relaxed and confident while gradually reducing the triggers that cause the excitement.

Here’s what to do:

1. Keep greetings calm and low-key to prevent overstimulation. Approach slowly, use a soft voice, and avoid direct eye contact at first.
2. Reward calm behavior with treats and praise so your dog learns that staying relaxed gets them positive attention.
3. Increase bathroom breaks to keep their bladder as empty as possible, especially before situations that tend to excite them, such as guests arriving or playtime.
4. Practice short, controlled exposures to exciting situations, starting at a level your dog can handle without peeing, and gradually increasing the intensity over time.
5. Support confidence-building activities like basic obedience training and puzzle toys, which help your dog feel more secure overall.

If the behavior continues even after consistent training, schedule a check-up with your veterinarian. Sometimes frequent urination can be linked to underlying health issues such as urinary tract infections or bladder problems.

With patience, consistency, and a focus on confidence-building, most dogs can overcome excitement peeing and greet people with a wagging tail instead of a puddle.

It’s important to remember, however, that any underlying behavioral issues (overexcitement, anxiety, etc.) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see will only be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes last?”

You address your dog’s issues at their root by developing their intelligence, that’s how! When they’re truly given the mental stimulation they need — in a loving, fun, instructional way — all their behavioral problems will quickly become a thing of the past.

To make this happen, you’ll play 21 “brain” games with your dog all developed by Adrienne, a CPDT-KA certified dog trainer whose work has been featured in USA Today and Every Dog magazine. See her incredible results in this video with a dog named Maggie (scroll down).

Adrienne’s training games will end all your dog’s bad behavior while also teaching them to sit, lie down, stay, heel, drop, and walk by your side. It’s all very simple and will be an absolute blast for you both. She explains how her system works here, go take a look!

Puppy Peeing From Excitement

When your puppy pees from excitement, it’s a behavior that’s fairly common among young dogs. This involuntary reaction typically occurs in highly stimulating or overwhelming situations, such as during greetings or playtime. Understanding why this happens is key to helping your puppy learn to control their bladder and react more calmly in exciting situations.

Why Does My Puppy Pee When Excited?

Your puppy pees when excited due to their immature bladder control and an underdeveloped nervous system. When faced with overwhelming emotions like excitement or submission, they may not be able to control their bladder effectively.

This behavior is more prevalent in puppies as they are still learning to navigate their emotional and physical responses. Learn how to stop overexcited peeing by going back to the first section now.

Puppy Pees When Excited: Will They Grow Out of It?

Many puppies do grow out of peeing when excited as they mature and gain more control over their bladder. As they develop, both physically and emotionally, they learn to handle excitement better. Consistent training and positive reinforcement can also help speed up this process.

However, if the behavior persists beyond puppyhood, you should contact your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

How to Stop a Puppy Peeing When Excited

To stop a puppy from peeing when excited, patience and a gentle approach are essential. Avoid overstimulating your puppy during greetings and playtime. Keep greetings calm and low-key, and encourage visitors to do the same.

Reward your puppy for calm behavior, and provide plenty of opportunities for them to relieve themselves outside, especially before expected exciting events.

In conclusion, puppies peeing from excitement is a phase that many go through due to their developing bodies and emotional responses. With understanding, patience, and consistent training, you can help your puppy overcome this behavior and develop better bladder control.

Creating a calm environment and reinforcing calm behaviors are key strategies in managing and resolving this issue.

Dog Peeing When Excited FAQs

Can excitement peeing happen even after my dog has been potty trained?

Yes, excitement peeing is different from housetraining accidents. Even dogs that are fully potty trained may urinate involuntarily when they’re overly excited or emotionally overwhelmed. This behavior is rooted in emotional response, not a lack of potty training knowledge. It’s important to address it through confidence-building, calm interactions, and consistent practice.

Does neutering or spaying help reduce excitement urination?

Spaying or neutering can sometimes help with hormone-driven behaviors, but it is not a guaranteed fix for excitement peeing. This type of urination is usually tied to emotional control, not reproductive hormones. Training and emotional development are the most effective ways to address this issue, regardless of whether your dog is altered.

Should I avoid guests or visitors until the behavior improves?

You don’t need to avoid guests entirely, but it’s helpful to manage the environment when visitors arrive. Ask guests to greet your dog calmly, avoid direct eye contact, and skip high-pitched voices or sudden movements. Short, positive, low-key exposures will help your dog learn to stay calm without removing important social experiences.

What if my dog only pees for certain people or in certain situations?

If your dog only pees for specific people, it could indicate a stronger emotional response or even a hint of submissive behavior toward those individuals. Watch for patterns and try to adjust those greetings to be calmer and more predictable. Over time, you can work on desensitizing your dog to those triggers using gradual, positive exposures.

Conclusion

You’re probably ready to get started now that you have all of your questions about your dog’s excitement urination answered, so I’ll let you get going on things. Best wishes, and thank you for checking out our article what to do with a dog peeing when excited.

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