When my dog meets me when I arrive home, she urinates, and I need help getting her to stop

Seeking help
1

Hi there, Despite owning dogs for more than 15 years, I have never had to handle a problem quite like this.

Background information I own three canines. Roxi, 15, Koto, 3, and Maggie, our newest member, are all 1.5 years old.

Last October, we came across Maggie wandering outside. She had a skin issue and was malnourished. We fed her and took her in. Post on all dog loss websites, get in touch with animal shelters and animal control, look for chips, etc. We were eventually able to keep her. Vaccinated and spayed her.

Let’s get to the problem now. Maggie consistently urinates in her box upon my return from work. She is the right size for the crate. neither too big nor too little. She will urinate in her box when I arrive home if I do not take her outside right away. She exclusively acts in this way toward me. She will wait to be taken out, just like the others, when more people enter. I can’t even run to the restroom or unload the groceries when I get in before she urinates. I occasionally send my son inside to get something from the home if we need it quickly before entering so she won’t notice me and urinate. went on vacation last week, so my buddy watched the dogs while she remained at my house. Maggie hadn’t caused her any trouble. However, since I returned, she has urinated in her box every day. When I got home today, her crate was already dry, so I hurried by it to toss out the trash I was holding in the kitchen. A minute, perhaps. She had urinated by the time I returned. I even took her out during my lunch break by coming home.

I’m at my wits’ end and so frustrated. She acts in this way just when she sees me. It was also referred to as submissive or excited peeing by some. Whatever the name of the practice, I need her to stop. It’s not a health problem. Like she does with everyone, she can’t wait to go out and hold it. But I have to clean her box if I don’t run her outside as soon as I get home. If she just does it around me, I am beginning to think that perhaps I am not the greatest owner for her.

Aside from this, she is an incredible dog that I adore, and she has been progressing nicely in her other training. fantastic with children, pets, and other dogs. I even thought about getting her as my new therapy dog because my fifteen-year-old is currently too old to keep up with me.

Would you please offer some suggestions or tips?

2

It’s hard to say without knowing more about both your and her behavior/body language during these interactions. When you immediately let her out, what does she do? Does she pay attention to you, or just go pee? Do you pay attention to her? Do you pet or talk to her before or after she pees? What do you both do after she goes to the bathroom? You might need to alter your behavior around her. Direct attention can be either threatening/scary to anxious dogs or overstimulating for excitable dogs.

I understand your frustration, but it’s important to figure out if it’s excitement or submissive peeing. Identifying the source can help you take appropriate action to mitigate it.

If you really love and care for her, you might want to consider getting some one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer before considering rehoming her.

3

I’m not sure I could help you with this, but know you’re not by yourself. Although my Jack Russell has severe bladder control issues, she only urinates when she is excited to see me or when she is afraid of a stranger on our property. I always run to get her outdoors, even though sometimes I can’t beat her to it. She usually can’t even get off the porch in time before leaving. Though smaller dogs tend to make smaller puddles, it still helps.

4

My dog also exhibits this behavior; I believe that some dogs are predisposed to it. If your dog is excitedly urinating, it’s actually praise, albeit cleaning it up and even tending to her needs may not always feel that way.

You might be able to divert her interest enough to get her outside before she urinates if you can meet her calmly, which you probably already do, and give her a food or toy. It could be a little bit simpler to clean as you work on it with her if she would stay in an X-pen rather than jump out of a crate.

If at all feasible, schedule a session with a trained trainer; they may be able to assist in setting up a situation in which you can encourage calm with her in order to stop her from urinating.

5

When you come home and she’s in her cage, it will be no different than when someone rings the doorbell and someone’s dog goes crazy and rings the doorbell—100% of the time, that dog will not be interested in the doorbell by the end of the day. You can try putting her in the crate on a day you’re not working and going in and out five or six times, ignoring her each time.