How to STOP Excitable Urination in Dogs!
- rickmillertx1
- Jun 8
- 4 min read
by Nancy Miller
June 5, 2025
There's nothing more exciting to a new puppy owner than running into the house after a long day at work as your precious pup romps across the floor to meet you! And then he pees! You quickly pick him up as he sprays the room around you and leaves a drippy, little trail all the way out to the backyard. Welcome to the world of excitable urination, usually affecting females, but take it from experience, it affects males too!
What is excitable urination?
Excitable urination and submissive urination are most common in younger pups, who will usually outgrow it. Sometimes it's referred to as "appeasement urination," and it frequently occurs in happy, hyper pups who still don't have complete control of their bladders. (For the sake of brevity, let's lump these together and call it "inappropriate urination" because the two are sometimes difficult to tell apart. Regardless of what they're called, they both occur at inopportune times and places!)
It can occur when the pup is standing or walking, during playtime or when greeting someone they know well or don't know at all. Depending on the puppy, signs of submission might occur whether they're excited or trying to be submissive or both. A dog who had been firmly reprimanded in the past about an excitable urination could urinate excitedly because his owner had come home but also submissively urinate simultaneously because of the past harsh response.
The urination may be a few drops or an emptying of the bladder. They may get over their inappropriate urination when greeting you but continue to exhibit the behavior when greeting strangers.
They can excitably pee in any body position, and often you may not notice it until you see the urine on your clothes, the floor, or your dog. They can pee inappropriately even though they've just been outside and urinated what you thought was the entire content of their bladder.
If your dog inappropriately urinates, you KNOW what it is, and it's exasperating. Do NOT get angry, speak harshly, or punish because that will only make it worse since you will add fear to an already complex problem. You don't want to do anything to damage the bond you're trying to build with your puppy, and they physically cannot help it.
What can you do to make it stop!
First, give your puppy more time to grow up. Don't expect it to stop if your puppy is still not completely housebroken, and even then, there are often breakthroughs especially in new and anxious experiences.
Check with your vet to make sure that your puppy does not have a urinary tract infection, which is not uncommon with young, female puppies.
Take frequent walks with the puppy. Hopefully, all his sniffing will remind him that the great outdoors is where his urine belongs. If this isn't possible, let him outside often, every two hours at the least, and always after eating and awakening.
Don't interact with the puppy when he is in an excitable mood. Turn away from the pup and wait for him to settle down.
Allow your dog to come to you rather than you going to the dog first. Don't reach for him, lean over him, approach him head on, or hug him.
Your puppy needs both mental as well as physical stimulation daily. Make sure he has plenty of chew toys, food puzzles, plus one-on-one training and plenty of play with you to fulfill his mind and body and to help him relax. A tired puppy is not as easily excitable.
Ask your guests not to engage with the puppy for the first 15 minutes or so of their arrival. Then wait until the puppy approaches them after he's had some time to settle down. Give your puppy a moment to get used to the sights, smells, feelings of the new people in the room. If he starts getting excited again, have the guests turn away and let the puppy settle down. You might want to fence the puppy off in his own, safe area where he can see what is happening, but he doesn't have to take part in engagement because he's not quite mature enough.
When you first arrive home, calmly take the pup outside, if possible not making any eye contact or giving any physical touch. Get some of that energy out of him before taking him back inside.
The three best pieces of advice I ever received about entering a room with my young, easily excitable puppy were these:
1. Do not touch.
2. Do not talk.
3. Do not make eye contact.
Just keep on walking across the room and don't acknowledge that the puppy is even present for at least 5-10 minutes. Then quietly sit down on the floor and let the pup approach you. Usually he will have calmed down enough then to approach you without urinating. Pet the puppy under his chin, not on top of his head, which some see as a threat. If he is not calm enough, stand up again and don't acknowledge the dog. I know, I know! This is hard to do, but it worked with my pup.
If this inappropriate urination continues well past the point of the puppy being potty trained, you might want to consult a behavior professional. Also, if it suddenly begins in an adult dog, your vet should be notified for advice.
Above all, have patience, a gentle tone of voice, and lots of positive reinforcement. Give treats instead of physical praise until this inappropriate urination stops because something as simple as touching or reaching out can trigger inappropriate urination.
The good news is that most puppies outgrow this condition as they mature physically and are better able to handle their emotions (and their bladders!) better. So, stay calm, remain loving, and create an atmosphere of trust because the way you react now is building the foundation for your forever bond with your pup!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bibliography
“How to Stop Dog Submissive Urination and Excited Peeing.” Best Friends Animal Society - Save Them All, Best Friends, bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/how-stop-dog- submissive-urination-and-excited-peeing. Accessed 19 May 2025.
Keller, Megan. “Why Dogs Pee When Excited or Scared.” PetMD, 24 Mar. 2022,
Kuo, Kendon, et al. “Submissive and Excitement Urination in Dogs.” UC Davis Veterinary
Medicine Clinical Animal Behavior Service, UC Davisi Veterinary Medicine,
files/Submissive_and_Excitement_Urination_in_Dogs.pdf. Accessed 19 May 2025.
Comments