There are many causes that can cause a dog to urinate on itself, however, when we observe that it carries out this behavior after a caress or a simple approach, we must consider that something is wrong and that it is necessary to act to improve your well-being.
In this article on our site we will review the most frequent causes that can explain why a dog urinates when we pet him, the steps to follow that we must carry out and some extra tips that can help us improve your physical and emotional state. For this reason, if your dog is one of those who urinates when you show them affection or affection, this article will guide you to find a possible solution.
Why do some dogs pee on themselves?
Urinating is a physiological need that the dog's body carries out naturally. Puppies begin to have a voluntary control of urination during the transition period, which includes between 15 and 20 days, although it is not until four or eight weeks when they are able to voluntarily urinate on a newspaper. Later, they will be able to learn to urinate in the street, between three and six months of life, when they have received their first vaccinations and are ready to go outside.
Disorders related to urination in dogs
Before considering that urinating may be due to a behavioral problem, it is essential to rule out a possible illnessApart from those pathologies that are directly related to the urinary system, such as cystitis and urethritis, there are many pathologies that could be causing incontinence and that we are wrongly relating to caresses.
For this reason, if your dog urinates on himself not only when you pet him, but also in other circumstances, it is essential Go to the vetand perform a general examination that can ensure that this behavior is not due to any disorder. The most usual thing is that the specialist performs a blood test and an ultrasound.
Lack of manipulation during socialization
As the dog grows and develops, it goes through the socialization process, a stage in which it must experiment with all kinds of people and environments that it will encounter in its adult stage, since it will depend on whether or not he can be a balanced dog in the future.[1] If during this period we have not worked on manipulation, including caresses, it may It may happen that, once socialization is over, which ends with the appearance of fears, the dog begins to experience behaviors related to fear when touched.
If you don't know your dog's past or notice that during the socialization stage (which includes between three and twelve weeks of life) you didn't spend much time handling it and getting it used to petting, it may be that this problem is due precisely to a lack of handling at this early stage.
Sensory deprivation syndrome
If, in addition to not working on handling, we have prevented our dog from interacting with people during its socialization stage, thus causing dog isolation, we could be facing a case of sensory deprivation syndrome. It is quite common in families that have not let their puppy go outside until they are three months old, which causes an inability of the dog to adapt to new situations, environments and people. It is also common in cases of Noah's syndrome.
Dogs suffering from sensory deprivation syndrome are generally unable to interact naturally and experience fear and panic at almost any stimulus. Sometimes even a simple approach is not necessary, the dog pees even when people come to the house
Negative experiences, fears and phobias
As we have commented previously, the dog begins to experience fears when the socialization process ends. From then on, negative experiences can begin to affect them emotionally causing them to engage in fear-related behaviors, such as urinating on themselves. In the most serious cases, negative experiences can become phobias, which are especially difficult to work on and treat definitively.
It is important to note that genetics also influences fear, so if your dog's parents were especially fearful or skittish, it is likely that your dog has also inherited this characteristic. [two]
A dog that experiences fears will try to avoid situations that generate conflict, it may try to flee, attack and even remain motionless, as if it were petrified. None of these four typical reactions reveals that the dog may be more or less afraid, but it is certainly a clear indication.
If we have also decided to punish and scold our dog when he peed, it is likely that we have aggravated the situation even more. It has been shown that the use of techniques that include punishment compared to techniques that include positive reinforcement, cause stress and fear in dogs, as well as a greater number of appeasement signals towards the owner.[3]
Dogs that urinate from excitement
Besides fear, we find dogs that come to urinate on top of emotion. Do you wonder why your dog pees when he gets excited? These situations generally occur when we get homeand are basically due to the great excitement our dog feels when he sees us. In these cases it will be essential to avoid manipulating him, talking to him and even greeting him, with the aim that he begins to have greater self-control and that the situations do not act as a trigger for urination.
What can I do if my dog urinates when I pet him?
After ruling out any disease, it would be advisable to go to a canine behavior specialist, such as an ethologist, a trainer or an educator Why? Unlike a "common" owner, with basic knowledge of canine language and behavior, a specialist will be able to evaluate the case correctly, offer you an approximate diagnosis, specific guidelines for your case and will even be able to carry out with you behavior modification sessions to work on the problem as much as possible.
It is important to note that not all dogs will be able to successfully overcome their fears. Sometimes, a combination of genetics and bad experiences can cause our partner to not be able to overcome their fears definitively, but in other cases the recovery can be simply spectacular.
How to prevent my dog from urinating?
Here are some 10 basic tips that can help your dog be more confident and relaxed with you, however, they do not constitute any definitive therapy, for this you should seek professional help that can give you the personalized attention that your dog requires, do not forget:
- Do not force the dog to interact with you or with other people, he must always take the initiative.
- Avoid punishment, even if your dog urinated in front of you, that will only make the situation worse.
- Make sure your interactions are totally predictable so the dog always knows what is going to happen.
- Respect your dog when he hides or runs away, leave him the space he is asking for
- Assess the option of acquiring synthetic pheromones for dogs with anxiety that improve their emotional state.
- Always maintain a relaxed body posture, don't lean over him, better approach from the side.
- Avoid staring at him, chasing him, yelling at him, or any other action that might upset him.
- Offer prizes, toys and talk to him using a sweet, high-pitched and soft tone.
- Place a carrier or "nest" in an area away from your house so that the dog can hide if he wishes.
- Perform an active routine of walks, exercise, mental stimulation or smell games, always gradually.
Fear is a very common behavioral problem and it is common to mistake the behavior of a dog that is afraid for socialization problems or traumas with abuse, for that reason, you may be interested in discovering what are the 5 most frequent signs of abused dogs. If your dog has also been adopted, you can also benefit from the advice we offer you in the article on tips for a fearful adopted dog. Start today working positively with your dog and don't forget to see a specialist if the case doesn't improve or gets worse.
