There may be three reasons for this behavior. One is a doctor. Have your vet examine your puppy or dog. With a medical problem eliminated, the second reason may be submissive urination. The third reason, puppies have yet to learn to control their bladders. It takes time for them to learn the trick … be patient!

Submissive urination is an involuntary and perfectly normal behavior for some dogs. They usually do so when they have been constantly scared, upset, or confused. It is a common form of canine submission. Some puppies, and even older dogs that were bullied by littermates, or teased by humans unknowingly pee when stressed.

It is not unusual for some dogs to show submissive behavior with men, due to a previous negative experience, or because of their size, body language, and deeper voice.

Five steps to help your dog overcome this behavior are:

1. If your dog has a problem with men, make your time together fun and not threatening. By making a positive association with that type of interaction, your dog should slowly get over his fear. Lower your voice and watch the body language … try to sound less threatening.

2. Keep corrections consistent with the violation. Try not to raise your voice when making a correction. Instead, just sound firm.

3. Find a local dog trainer who applies positive reinforcement, obedience training without punishment. Reward good behavior right away, with lots of praise, to boost your dog’s self-confidence.

4. Don’t let anyone tease or intimidate your dog!

5. If your dog is still a puppy, take him outside more often. By emptying their bladders frequently, there is less chance that they will involuntarily urinate when they get too excited.

Enrolling in an obedience training class without punishment and positive reinforcement will be beneficial for you and your dog. You will learn the leadership skills necessary to have a successful dog, in a calm and non-threatening manner. It will also help you build your confidence! You can successfully train a dog, without showing anger or frustration.

IN BRIEF: If your dog is especially afraid of men, have the men in the house practice positive reinforcement training. Long walks together are also a wonderful way to help you bond. The more time you spend together doing something fun, the faster you will bond and the less you will see submissive urination.