What do I do for a dog that pees when scolded?

Question

I got a 10-month Wiener Dog from the Humane Society & know nothing of her past. When I scold her, she pees on the floor. If she's not listening to me, and I gently tug on her collar to get her attention, she pees too. My home and is beginning to smell like dog pee. How do I break this problem? Please help me! I'm ready to return her to the Humane Society.

Answer 1

From Humane Society of United States>http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/submissive_and_excitement_urination.html

Your Dog May Have a Submissive Urination Problem If:

* He urinates when he's being scolded.
* He urinates when someone approaches him.
* He urinates when he's being greeted.
* He has a history of being treated roughly or being punished long after he has displayed unwanted behaviors.
* He is a somewhat shy, anxious, or timid dog.
* He urinates while making submissive postures, such as crouching, tail tucking, or rolling over and exposing his belly.

What to Do If Your Dog Has a Submissive Urination Problem:

* Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons for the behavior.
* Keep greetings low-key.
* Encourage and reward confident postures (sitting, standing) from him.
* Give him an alternative to behaving submissively. For example, if he knows a few commands, have him "sit" or "shake" as you approach, and reward him for obeying.
* Avoid approaching him with postures that he reads as dominant. To do this:
o Avoid direct eye contact. Look at his back or tail instead.
o Get down on his level by bending at the knees rather than leaning over from the waist. Ask others to approach him in the same way.
o Pet him under the chin rather than on top of the head.
o Approach him from the side, rather than from the front, and/or present the side of your body to him, rather than your full front.
* Don't punish or scold him. This will only make the problem worse.

If this is a big issue for you, and your home won't tolerate any more urine odor, it would be much better for the puppy to return him and allow him to find a more relaxed home setting..At 10 months, this little guy really needs to find his forever home quickly..Evidently, this isn't the right dog for you.

Answer 2

Right now I have 3 dogs adopted from shelter/HS.
All of them had behavioural problems, incl. yours. All the answers with the Love and Patience are good! The dog Does need to feel safe and loved and confident in your environment and also needs to learn "the rules/customs of your household". Lots of positive reinforcement, and LOTS of walk incl. rewards for peeing outside!

No scolding if possible, just try to be 'neutral' in this case, and reward all the 'good things' she does. Yes, "create" the opportunity for her to 'be good". (she 'may' pee of the excitement a little bit as well, but that will eventually stop/diminish too)

I can guarantee you she Will stop doing it for most of the time - as soon as she gains her confidence, feeling of 'being part of the pack' and knowing 'your rules"

However it may take a long time if she was abused and it's of the more submissive type, so if you don't have the patience, and time, you probably should return her.

To the lady who "puts a dog nose into his pee" - gee, lady which century you are from? This is the method being used by some Retards who knew Nothing about the dogs some 30-40 yrs ago! FYI: the dogs have oversensitive snouts and putting their nose into pee is simply an Abuse of the dog!

Fexana
a Certified Dog Trainer from Europe
Ethologist

Answer 3

This dog was traumatized, very possibly from her former owner and/or because of the experience of losing her home and going to a shelter. What she needs most is for you to be very calm around her. Don't raise your voice and scold her. Dogs want to please people but one that has been abused is very sensitive to yelling or a tug that feels gentle to you can feel frightening to a dog that just came from a shelter.
Get her some toys, some treats and take her for walks at least twice a day. If possible and you have a neighbor with a dog that she gets along with or may get along with, try to do this with the neighbor and their dog.
Just act like you expect her to come along and don't make a big deal out of whether or not she seems to like it. Shelter dogs I have adopted in the past that had abuse histories often walked with their tails between their legs for the first week or two but then transitioned into a confident walk with the tail held high.
Let your dog approach you to play and sometimes gently coax her to. Offer her small treats like "Yogurt drops" or "Freeze Dried Liver" bits. These are treats that most dogs love, especially the latter.
Once she feels safe and accepted in your home she will stop doing that. If not then take her to a Vet and see if she has a physical condition that causes this.
She'll be a real gem once you work with her and she gets her confidence.

Answer 4

Catch her doing something right.
If you praise the behavior you want, she will repeat it.
Praise her for sitting quietly, praise her for nothing at all, just say "good, (use her name), good girl". And rub her head.

Lay on the floor with her. Talk to her. Tell her all about your day. Coo a little, talk baby talk in a high pitched voice.

Right now it should be about getting her trust and teaching her she won't be hurt.
Stop scolding!
Think about ways that you can help her "do right". Like taking her out more. "Empty" dogs can't make puddles when they are nervous.

Answer 5

Her previous owners may have severly abused her when they punshied her for something so she is afraid when you are scolding her of the punishment she is use to. Show her lots of love and get some vinegar water in a bottle to get rid of the pee smell (also deters her from peeing in the same spot more than once if she does it on purpose).

Answer 6

try positive reinforcement instead of scolding her she is overly submissive and needs to gain confidants but whatever you do do not pet her or give her any attention when she is acting like that it tells her that that is how you want her to be and she will just get wears be patient and give her time and be consistent she doesn't know she is doing it so it can take a little time but i think it'll be Worth it

Answer 7

Ignore her when she pees, she is peeing out of submission. When she pees, merely pick her up and carry her outside and tell her to pee outside. When she does, praise and treats. Don't stand over her, it will only make her pee more, when you interact with her, bend down to her level, and reach out with your hand, and let her smell your hand. You want her to learn that you aren't a big meanie and aren't going to hurt her.

Answer 8

My dog used to do that.
I stuck his nose in it and say no no.
He eventually stopped.

He does it when my daughter visits. I am asking her to put the dogs nose in it and say no no, evetually the dog gets tired of his nose in his pee.