# Help me. My dog pees on people. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160 "2003-06-02T17:31:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nimbokwezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Nimbokwezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimbokwezer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/1 "2003-06-02T17:31:19Z")
AAAAAAAAAGGHHHHH. My family got this Pomeranian a few months ago, because my sister insisted on getting it (This of course means she never takes care of it at all). Recently he’s been unable to control his bladder when someone he hasn’t seen before comes up to him. It’s not an issue of fear, as he runs up to them with his tail wagging. I don’t believe he even realizes he’s doing it. Is there anything we can do short of putting a freakin’ diaper on it? Right now I’m just hoping he’ll outgrow it. I think he’s about 4-5 months old. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/2 "2003-06-02T17:57:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nimbokwezer \* > **Is there anything we can do short of putting a freakin’ diaper on it?** heh heh Doggy Depends. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/3 "2003-06-02T17:59:22Z")
Best. Thread Title. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![kenibbling\_pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kenibbling\_pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenibbling_pin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/4 "2003-06-02T18:00:33Z")
The lil’ guy will grow out of it. Same thing happened with my do when she was a pup. - A little advice though, keep a rag/rug near the door that most of your guests arrive at. This way you can throw it down prior to opening the door. ---
**Author:** ![kenibbling\_pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kenibbling\_pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenibbling_pin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/5 "2003-06-02T18:00:43Z")
The lil’ guy will grow out of it. Same thing happened with my dog when she was a pup. - A little advice though, keep a rag/rug near the door that most of your guests arrive at. This way you can throw it down prior to opening the door. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/6 "2003-06-02T18:41:57Z")
Mom? Is that you? ---
**Author:** ![Madame\_Zelda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Madame\_Zelda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madame_Zelda)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/7 "2003-06-02T18:49:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*heh heh > > Doggy Depends. \*\* PAWPERSTM ---
**Author:** ![Nimbokwezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Nimbokwezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimbokwezer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/8 "2003-06-02T19:02:28Z")
Thanks for the advice K Pin. ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/9 "2003-06-02T19:33:32Z")
The behaviour is called submissive urination. I haven’t had to deal with it but if you google that term you should find some pointers. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/10 "2003-06-02T19:46:13Z")
It sounds like your dog might be submissive peeing. It is not uncommon in puppies but most outgrow it before 8-10 months or so. [Here is an article with tips on preventing submissive peeing](http://www.doggiedoor.com/doghouse/pee2.htm#She). Basically he is saying to you, “you are dominant, I am submitting to you.” Or it could also just be he is so excited to see people his little bladder is not strong enough to hold it yet. ---
**Author:** ![spinningplates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@spinningplates](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinningplates)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/11 "2003-06-02T20:03:11Z")
My sister’s pom does the exact same thing. It was much worse when she was a puppy. Now I’m going to send her the links on submissive urination and see if we can’t take care of the rest of it! And here I thought this was going to be a thread about dogs being aggressive. My family’s first dog wasn’t called Whizzer for nuthin’. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/12 "2003-06-02T20:03:48Z")
The best thing to do is to ignore it. Absolutely do not correct the behavior as it will only make the dog more submissive and make the problem worse. One thing that may help is to teach the dog sit-stay with positive reinforcement (treats and praise only). When guests arrive, put the dog in a sit-stay. This will give the dog more confidence, and a dog in a sit-stay will obviously not be running up to guests and peeing on their shoes. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/13 "2003-06-02T21:37:26Z")
Why is it a bad thing? Can you train it so it pees on them after given subtle commands? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/14 "2003-06-03T00:35:00Z")
Or when they’re sleeping. “Yeah, I never thought I’d get my wife’s deadbeat brother-in-law to move out, but the third time he woke up with the dog squatting on his chest…” ---
**Author:** ![a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@a\_bird\_on\_the\_wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_bird_on_the_wire)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-my-dog-pees-on-people/179160/15 "2003-06-03T06:58:06Z")
Man I **wish** I had that problem. My people pee on dogs. Explain that away at Pets 'r Us.