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When is a Inappropriate Urination NOT a Housebreaking Issue?
By Lisa (Laney) Patrona,  Dip. DTBC, CPDT, CBC, and Devene Godau, CPDT

Not all eliminative behaviors are the result of a "housebreaking" problem!

There are some eliminative behaviors that are not related to housebreaking. These conditions present unique challenges that require a specialized approach to treatment. The following conditions have nothing to do with the physical need to urinate. If you think your dog has one of the following conditions, help from a qualified behavior professional, or your veterinarian may be necessary.

Submissive urination
This behavior usually happens during a greeting or approach. The dog will cower, lower the head, and void. Without meaning to, we humans sometimes create a submissive response in dogs. Assuming this posture
is the ultimate way that the dog can tell you that she is recognizing your social status in relation to her; after all, you are much bigger than she is! This is more common in young dogs but older dogs,
especially cocker spaniels, will exhibit this behavior through adulthood. Most times, this is easy to correct and only requires that you modify your method of approach during greetings to help the dog feel more comfortable, which lessens the dogs' need for the submissive display. Using any type of punishment for this behavior is completely inappropriate, and will only make the behavior much worse.

Excitement urination
Exciting situations can create unintentional urination at times and in places that are not typically associated with urinating. Some dogs (especially, young dogs, but older dogs do this sometimes too) just
get so darn happy to see you, or people in general, that they can't help but "tinkle" a bit when someone comes to say "hi"! Modifying the humans approach during greeting, in addition to training a solid
behavior such as a "sit for greeting" can be very effective in treating this behavior.

Urine "marking"
As is the case with all the behaviors in this section, urine marking has nothing to do with the dog "needing" to urinate. "Marking" is a behavior that dogs use to communicate with, and is most commonly seen in adult, intact (not neutered) male dogs. The dog lifts his leg and urinates on vertical surfaces like table and chair legs, or the side of the couch.

First off, if you are having this problem and your dog is not neutered – make the appointment to have it done today! Your chances of successfully stopping this behavior will greatly increase, because
neutering lowers the level of testosterone circulating in the dogs system, which is largely responsible for the behavior.

Many factors need to be considered in the approach to treating this problem. If you think that your dog is urine marking, please call Trainers Academy, LLC to speak to a behavioral counselor.

Separation Anxiety
This behavior can be common in "rescued" dogs, and requires a behavior professional's guidance to work through. In itself, a dog soiling in the house while alone does not indicate this condition, so please do not assume that your dog has separation anxiety just because this is happening. A conclusive diagnosis requires that you seek the help of a qualified professional, so if you suspect a separation-related disorder, please call us for help immediately!

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