Excitement Urination In DogsExcitement urination in dogs occurs most often during greetings and playtime. It's usually the result of infant bladder muscles that can't hold their urine when the pup gets excited. The vast majority of dogs simply outgrow this problem as they become more mature and gain bladder control.
Petting or reassurance after a dog urinates when excited actually reinforces his behavior, too. (That's just telling him, "Good dog! Pee some more!") If your pup is more than one year old and is still having this problem, the first step toward solving it is to take him to the veterinarian to rule out medical reasons. If he checks out physically OK, keep reading for some ideas to keep him dry. Curing Excitement Urination In DogsIt's always fun to be welcomed enthusiastically when you walk through the door. But it's not so great when you have a dog urinating in the house because he's thrilled to see you.If your Golden Retriever makes a puddle at your feet when you return home and greet him, try ignoring him for a few minutes until he calms down. Ask your friends to ignore him, too. I know that's tough to do when puppies are so adorable, but you'll solve the problem faster if everybody cooperates. Using a barrier such as a pet gate can also help your dog get used to the guests before actually greeting them. If you don't trigger a wet reaction by just walking in the door, try some very calm words of greeting and gradually add a little bit of petting over the next few minutes. After the petting, if your dog is still dry, you can tell him "good boy" and give him a treat. One advantage of using food in this situation is that it's difficult for a dog to urinate and eat at the same time. Your dog would subconsciously rather eat than make a puddle, so he ends up staying dry, thus reinforcing the correct behavior.
Since this most likely happens when you return home, just ignore him totally for several minutes at first. Don't even look at him. Then leave again for a few minutes, return and ignore, leave, return and ignore. Keep doing this until your dog is actually getting bored with the whole thing. Recruit some friends to practice this exercise, too, so your dog can learn to stay dry with visitors. Here’s another idea for treating excitement urination in dogs: Try meeting your Golden Retriever at the door with a treat or toy. He'll quickly learn to anticipate food or play when you come home and will be less likely to urinate. Wait for him to sit calmly before giving him the toy or treat. That helps him gain a bit of self-control in the process. Don't Punish For PuddlesMost importantly, never punish a dog for making a "greeting puddle" at your feet. Your pup may not even be aware that he's urinating, and any punishment will only confuse him.Since he doesn't know why you're angry, the excitement urination can quickly turn into submissive urination as he attempts to apologize. Just stay calm, clean up the puddle (using pet odor eliminators) and keep working with your pooch. Until your excitable pup conquers his disability, you might try using doggy diapers for awhile. Your local pet supply store should carry them. You might also want to protect your carpet by placing a plastic drop cloth or thick towels in the entryway where accidents are most likely to occur. Using a Crate For Excitement Urination in Dogs If you're returning home after leaving your pup in his crate for several hours, you need to realize that his little bladder is just about ready to burst. He needs to go outside NOW!So if you try to greet and play with Puppy Pete, you're going to end up with a puddle. Instead, open his crate, gently lift him out, and quickly carry him directly out to his potty area. After he's empty again, you can greet and play all you want to. If your pup wets on you while you're carrying him outside, or piddles while you're opening the crate door, you might want to reconsider your schedule. Have a pet sitter or trusted friend come over frequently during the day to give your puppy a potty break. Remember, he's just a little guy with a little bladder. Be patient--excitement urination in dogs isn't the end of the world. Just take it one day at a time, and you'll both come out winners. Search here for more information on Golden Retrievers |
In some cases, however, the problem can persist if a dog is frequently punished for making a puddle while greeting you.
Another treatment for excitement urination in dogs is to expose your Golden Retriever to the situation that excites him, over and over, until it no longer excites him.
