Submissive Urination in Puppy....Help! - Page 1

Hello - I'm dealing with a behavioral issue. The puppy is 16 weeks old out of West German Showline bloodlines. Male. He urinates EVERYWHERE when I reach down to pet him or grab his collar...or anything of that nature. But yet barks aggressively and acts over confident if anyone comes close to my car (if he's in the back) or comes into the house....Charges, Barks aggressively and I have had to grab him once when he leaped to nip their hand.....he's fine with them after they've been inside the home for awhile, but still weary. I've had him since he was 8 weeks old, and have taken him EVERYWHERE with me to get him nice and socialized. I don't want to necessarily punish him for his defensive behavior, since I plan on working him in Schutzhund. And don't want to punish him for urinating and make things worse....! Is this a sign of weak nerves???? What can I do to help this situation???? This is my first showline pup.....I also have a showline male that is 3 weeks younger and VERY bold and confindent. Help, Advice please!! I have NEVER dealt with this issue...my other GSD's are adults from Working lines. I've always been told that they will grow out of this type of behavioral issue...

I have a 3 yr old male-working/DDR lines--and he had the same problem as a pup and youngster. When I was teaching him to stack he would pee and don't let me reach under to move a leg--once he peed all over my hand and arm. I was sort of reaked out too because he had all the confidence in the world and I am like oh no my puppy........but then one day--about 2 yrs old he just grew out of it I guess. He is from slow maturing lines and I guess it took that long. This is probably no help to you b ut I just wanted to share my experience. Good luck with your pup.

I have a Zamp daughter who also urinated when she was a pup. She would squat if I reached down to hook her collar or to touch a toy in her mouth. I thought it would never end, but I tried to not show any emotion when it happened and to clean it up without freaking out. She eventually grew out of it. I was so worried when we started protection training when she was 18 months - that she would embarress me by squating when the helper approached or threatened, but she never did. It gradually happened less and less, but cannot really remember when it stopped entirely. She is doing well in her training, so I don't think this had a huge impact on her nerves, but I am new at this. Goodluck with your pup - it does get better (But I would make sure that there is not underlying medical reason. I had my pup checked for a urinary infection - which came back clean). Better to be sure though. Cheryl

Thank you....I'm hoping he goes grow out of it. Yes, he pees when I try to stack him as well...and I also got it all over my hand!!

Many pups, from all kinds of bloodlines, submissively urinate. It is irritating, but in general, the best thing is to anticipate it, make sure it does not happen in a place where you have a mess to clean up and then are angry, and wait for the pup to grow up a bit. In the meantime, do make sure the dog knows you are in charge, but give it also every opportunity to be successful and enjoy the world and begin to learn it does not need to be nervous or afraid. Some pups just mature slower physically as well as mentally too. Good luck.

Hello Allison, I agree that this is something that he will grow out of. LOL.... dont forget to wash your hands.

It's not a sign of weak nerves, it's a sign of wanting to please it's master, he knows you're top dog. I had 2 girl dogs that did that, they really did out grow it. Don't make a big deal out of it, if he pees when you pat him, stop patting him for a while, keep it nonchalant, make him sit and give him a treat, they stop peeing eventually if you---say----change the subject when he starts to pee, like hook him up to a leash and have him on the move, his mind will be busy thinking about walking, hopefully, he can't pee & walk at the same time. Usually they like to make sure you noticed them peeing, so just pretend you didn't see a thing, step in it if you have to, that will make him feel like he's doing it all for nothing. Also, hand him off to someone else that can take him for a walk, he sounds like he needs a change of scenery, preferably a big burly man should take hold of his leash, even if it's for 5 minutes. I let one of my girl GSD's get so used to only me at the end of the leash, that when I handed her leash to the trainer she acted like a maniac, and flipped out, I've learned alot from that, believe me everyday is an adventure owning a GSD! Good Luck, and remember, it's no big deal!

Thank you Thank you to all! I was getting so worried.....and sometimes I did make a big deal about it and it only made things worse...so I've been acting like nothing happened or avoiding to pet or fuss over him until he's been inside for a little bit (like if he's just come in from outside). I feel MUCH better!!! And yes...trust me..I definately remember to wash my hands! LOL

He is 4 months old and unsure of himself, (A baby!) and that is the reason for the submissive urination. Do not stop the socialization. My male did this as a pup,(submissive Peeing), and grew out of it. Just my opinion, but a dog has to have manners, and be a good canine representative of the breed with or without Schutzhund. I do not think that charging and barking is the thing to do. I would not let this continue. If there are bad habits beginning, they should be stopped at an early age. He is going to be a big guy, and if you can't control him as a pup, then what happens when he is full grown? Two males from two different breeders, and different bloodlines? Two totally different personalities and parents? It is not fair to this pup to compare him to the other pup. Whoever this pup is from, I would ask his breeder for advice since the breeder is the one who owns the parents. This does not mean that the pup is weak nerved. Dawn

The breeder bought the mother already Pregnant in Germany and had her shipped and was whelped in the US. She doesn't know the sire personally, but he is well known and not known to pass on weak temperments from what I'm aware of and is why I wanted this pup, and the mother is a proven producer. We have worked on the charging at the door and his aggressiveness towards strangers, but not gone overboard. The trainers I've talked to said to not punish him for this, but work on more obedience and socialization.