In this post you'll learn exactly how to stop a dog from nervous peeing.
As a dog trainer, former vet assistant, and 5x foster dog mom, I have met a lot of scared and nervous dogs. My most recent foster was notorious for nervous and submissive peeing whenever we gave her attention and it was beyond frustrating! All we were trying to do was give her love and welcome her home.
We were able to eventually train her not to do this, but it took some commitment to reading her body language. In this post, I'll share some of the best tips for helping your dog become more confident and stop nervous peeing.
How to Stop a Dog from Nervous Peeing
Why do dogs pee when they get scared?
A nervous pee is much different than a dog missing their body's cue to go outside. A submissive, excited or nervous pee comes from the physiological response to a dog's emotion. This could be nerves, excitement, lack of confidence or because they are trying to keep themselves safe.
The body language that goes along with nervous peeing is usually submissive, even when the dog is excited.
Submissive peeing is a way to let the other dog or person know that the dog is very uncomfortable. The dog may crouch down, tilt their head to the side, engage in lip licking, tucked tail and small tail wags as well.
On the extreme end, a dog could completely freeze and pee out of fear.
If you can't seem to break the habit of your dog nervous peeing, don't worry! It's probably because you've encouraged the behavior, and this, you can change!
When a dog nervous pees, it can be a sign of submission and fear. However, more often with our pet dogs, they nervous pee because they learn submissive behavior is what gets them what they want.
Sure, at first when a dog nervous pees, it is human nature to try to comfort them.
We react to the nervous pee with baby talk, pets, and lots of eye contact. Even a nervous dog can learn to see this as a reward, or at the very least learn that if they pee, you go away.
Do dogs grow out of excited peeing?
Many dogs will eventually grow out of nervous peeing. However, there are many benefits to being proactive in teaching your dog not to nervous pee.
How to stop submissive urination
The easiest way to prevent a dog from submissive peeing in the house is to great them outside. They may still pee, but at least you don't have to clean it up.
-But-
The best way to teach a dog not to nervous pee is to not pet them when they are nervous. In fact, your best line of defense is to ignore a dog if they approach you nervously.
Nervous peeing is rarely the first submissive behavior a dog gives.
This trick takes discipline on your end because, well, you're a human. We want to comfort our dogs and pet them. However, we are doing a disservice to our dogs when we offer engagement when they show us submissive or fearful body language.
What we end up doing instead is encouraging their lack of confidence and ability to approach people and other dogs without fear.
How to stop a dog from nervous peeing:
Next time your nervous dog approaches you with crouching body language, tucked tail with a small wag, or with a head twist, ignore them.
You can also move away from them to encourage a dog to move closer.
And, if they're up for it, encourage a small chase game. A game of chase will encourage confident strong body language from your dog.
Then, when the dog is confident in their body language, you can reach out to pet.
If at any time they start to behave submissively or nervous move away and ignore your dog.
In this method, you are teaching a dog that engagement with you happens when they are confident. And then you don't have to wipe up excited or nervous pee.
A great game for increasing a dog's confidence is the Focus Game! Learn how to play in the free download below!
The Focus Game : Training Exercise to Decrease Your Dog's Distractability
Submissive urination in rescue dogs
It is not just about watching body language when the dog approaches you. You want to be on alert for submissive body language at all times.
Many dogs offer warning signs they're about to nervous pee by doing other things that indicate they're uncomfortable.
Signs of a dog who is offering submissive body language:
1. A dog seems to shrink or melt when you reach down to pet them. This can be as subtle as tilting their ears back when you go to pet their head.
2. A dog who is laying down and shifts to the side when you pet them. A dog should be accepting of the pet, not trying to avoid conflict.
3. Tail tucking, especially with a slight wag at the end.
4. Lip licking, head tilting and avoiding eye contact.
5. Licking the person who is too close.
6. Offering a paw or pushing the person away.
How to stop a male dog from peeing in the house
This may be the complete opposite from a nervous dog. A male dog who is repeatedly peeing in the house is claiming space. This dog may need help and encouragement with potty training.
Related: Top 5 Mistakes Made When A Puppy Won’t Pee Outside
On the other hand, you may want to check what cleaner you are using. Utilizing an enzymatic cleaner will help lift the smell. This way, the house doesn't also smell like a bathroom to the dog.
Enzymatic Cleaner
Even when you wipe up the urine, the smell can remain detected by your dog. This may help encourage them to continue to use the house as a bathroom.
If you are still struggling with potty training in the house, it may be time to enlist the help fo a professional dog trainer.
Don't have a dog trainer? Schedule a consult now to discuss a custom plan for you and your dog!
