Is there anyway to cure a "piddling" problem?

Question

When my little dog gets excited she piddles! (urinates a little bit) I don't think she can help it, but it is quite annoying cleaning up after her every time we come home or someone greets her. She is seven years old and she has been doing this all of her life! Any suggestions on how to help this problem?

Answer 1

Yes, this is actually fairly easy to work with! First, take her to the vet to rule out any physical issues that may be at work (especially with a seven-year-old dog).

However, it's most likely something called excitment urination. The first step is to begin practicing serene homecomings, which take the excitement and emotion out of greetings:

http://www.4pawsu.com/Serene.htm

Excitement urination is also often linked to submissive urniation, so it's important to never scold the dog for the accident, as that can actually make it worse - it heightens the emotions of the moment.

Additional resource articles with great information are here:

http://nehumanesociety.org/trainingandpetcare/behaviorproblems/behaviorarticles/dogarticles/excitementurination.pdf

http://nehumanesociety.org/trainingandpetcare/behaviorproblems/behaviorarticles/dogarticles/housesoiling.pdf