If you've recently adopted a puppy or adult dog, you may be surprised and concerned to see your new companion urinate when you scold him after inappropriate practiceIt is important to highlight that urinating is a behavior that can indicate the submission of the dog, without this being something positive, since it could be indicating the appearance of some behavioral problem.
Do you wonder why your dog urinates when you scold him? The best option is definitely to go to a dog behavior specialist, such as an ethologist or canine educator, so that they can guide you and correctly evaluate the case. For now, if you want to know more, in this new article on our site we will explain why your dog urinates when you punish him and how you should proceed to improve this situation and his well-being.
Does the dog urinate by submission?
Urinating is a fundamental physiological need of all mammals that regulates the amount of fluids in the body, as well as to eliminate toxins and other waste from your metabolism. However, the act of urinating also plays an important social role among many animals, including canids. Dogs usually urinate both to mark territory and to transmit information about their identity to their peers. In these cases, most likely, we are dealing with a calm and self-confident dog, who can express himself freely using his body language.
In other circumstances, dogs may urinate out of submission in the face of a negative circumstance that generates intense fear, stress and even panic In In these cases, after urination, we observe a shrunken body posture and various signs of calm: yawning, blinking, turning the head, smacking, turning completely, showing the ears backwards, walking shrunken, lying down, showing the belly, walks away and even tries to run away or hide. In the most serious cases, when the dog is pressed excessively, the animal can go into defensive aggressiveness or defecate while emptying the anal sacs.
The submission is an adaptive response of the organism that appears when two individuals relate and one of them decides to submit his own will to the of the other. It is a key factor for survival, as well as for the establishment of hierarchy in a pack of dogs, however, it should be noted that dominance is not related in any case to aggressiveness: dominant dogs are those stable and calm individuals that they guide the group and allow its survival without the use of violence. The other members of the pack follow him because of his skills, not because of his imposition. Dog aggression is a behavior problem that needs to be addressed.
It is highly desirable for a dog to obey the orders of its guardian, always after doing some previous obedience work, however, for a dog to constantly show submissionis not a positive attitude, since it shows that the bond with its owner is broken or non-existent and that it also responds out of fear, not from trust and security. The application of violent methods, the constant use of punishment or the application of inconsistent techniques and in inexperienced hands, generate an insecure dog.
Furthermore, forcing a dog to stay belly up with the aim of subduing it "by force", causes the dog to increase its insecurities, favors the development of behavioral problems, the appearance of stress and defensive aggressiveness. It is important to remember that dominance is intraspecific, that is, between members of the same species: we should not dominate the dog and he does not try to dominate us.
Why does my dog pee if I scold him?
Dogs, whether we are talking about puppies or adults, can urinate on different occasions: when they get scared, when their relatives come home and greet them effusively, if their guardian scolds them for some prank, when they hear some strong and violent disturbance in their environment (fights, strange noises, screams, etc.), and in more extreme cases, simply when someone approaches him. In these cases we speak of urination due to submission, urination due to fear and urination due to excitement.
We must point out that dogs that pee out of fear do it involuntarily Although it is true that this type of urine contains pheromones signals, we are not able to perceive them, although another dog in the household could. The aversive stimulus, in this case punishment, is so strong that the dog is not able to control its bladder correctly and shows a total loss of emotional control
Generally, before the dog urinates out of fear or submission to punishment, it will show some previous behaviors, such as freezing (staying still or "frozen" without moving before the punishment), learned helplessness (the dog is allowed to do anything since it has seen that by staying still, running away or showing signs of calm it does not get any results or generate any response by your part) and even show your teeth and growl.
When a dog pees out of fear for the first time, he may begin to do so frequently in response to punishment, submission and the appearance of those stimuli that cause fear. In puppies it can go away with age, but it is not always like that
It is crucial not to confuse submission and fear, however, a dog that urinates out of submission may switch to doing so out of fear. By causing fear in our dogs, we not only affect their well-being, we also hinder their learning and favor the appearance of traumas and phobias. If you want to get a balanced, obedient and he althy dog, remember to always apply positive reinforcement (and not violence or threats) in its education and invest in its early socialization.
If you recently adopted a dog or puppy, you should be especially vigilant about these behaviors, as they may be a sign that your furry has a history of physical and emotional abuse. In addition, it may also indicate that your partner was not properly socialized and has difficulty relating to other individuals.
A dog that shows fear or is frequently submissive in front of other individuals is an insecure dog that fails to carry out he althy forms of expression. If you also notice that your little one adopts certain obsessive behaviors, such as chasing his tail, chasing imaginary flies or compulsively licking himself, you should immediately go to the veterinarian you trust and contact an ethologist or canine educator. Most likely, your partner will need to go through a process of resocialization and reeducation to restore his self-esteem and be able to express himself with confidence.
What should I do if my dog urinates when I scold him?
Submissive urination or fearful urination are behavioral problems that must be treated immediately and are caused by the sum of genetics, lived experiences and socialization. The guidelines to follow fall directly on the owner, who must modify some habits so that the dog can return to a state of well-being and security. Here are some key points to follow:
- Rule out pathological causes: In some cases, dogs develop behavioral problems as a result of certain pathologies that cause severe pain or affect their sensory functions. In addition, urinary problems can also promote excessive urination. Therefore, if your dog begins to urinate more intensely or out of place, is more tense or insecure than usual, do not hesitate to consult your trusted veterinarian immediately.
- Total elimination of punishment: scolding is usually an inappropriate and counterproductive method for training a dog. Keep in mind that, by scolding your dog, you transmit very negative feelings, such as insecurity and fear, which damage his emotional stability. An inhibited, stressed or insecure dog becomes more vulnerable to many psychological disorders that are usually revealed through learning and socialization difficulties, as well as self-defensive behaviors or obsessive self-mutilating behaviors.
- Avoid the "snowball effect": the first thing to do is to avoid the so-called "snowball effect". Let's think on the logical side: if your dog urinates when you scold him and you continue scolding him for having urinated, you will be causing the animal to urinate again. In addition, if you continue to provoke a feeling of fear and insecurity in your best friend by scolding him more intensely, you will be increasing the level of stress in this situation and favoring the appearance of new behavior disorders and stereotypes.
- Applying positive reinforcement: positive training of a dog allows you to teach without damaging its emotional balance. By using rewards to recognize appropriate or desired behaviors from your dog, you will be stimulating his cognitive, social and emotional capacity. In this way, you will obtain an obedient and self-confident dog, which will be prepared to interact with people, animals and objects in its environment. On the contrary, when the dog carries out inappropriate behavior, it should be ignored and the cause must be found in order to apply the appropriate guidelines.
- Make predictable interactions: habits and routines have a very positive impact on the dog, especially when we are faced with any behavior problem. The marked routines of walks, food, games and mental stimulation will help our dog to gain more confidence and feel safe.
- Use of pheromones and anxiolytics: in the most serious cases, it may be interesting to use synthetic pheromones to improve the dog's well-being and, in others, even the use of anxiolytics, always supervised by the veterinarian or ethologist. Of course, it is important to highlight that pharmacological treatment must always accompany behavior modification therapies.
- Increased walks and exercise: more walks, exercise and activities will improve the dog's physical and emotional state, that you will find an escape route to release stress.
- Improving the bond with the owner: It is important that we improve interactions with the dog, dealing with him in a calm, positive and safe.
- Knowing and respecting canine nature: dogs have their own forms of expression, which make up their canine nature. If we scold or inhibit a dog for performing behaviors inherent to its nature, we will not be educating but repressing the pure and spontaneous expression of a sensitive and intelligent living being. Also remember to take your time to better understand the needs of your best friend and respect the freedoms essential for his well-being.
- Seek the help of an ethologist or canine educator: if your dog has behavioral problems and is excessively shy or nervous, It is best that you consult an expert in canine ethology or a professional educator. A dog that has not been properly socialized or has been abused should undergo a resocialization and reeducation process based on specific guidelines.
- Proper cleaning: finally, it is always advisable to properly clean the home in order to eliminate urine and pheromone remains that can be found in the environment and we are not able to perceive. The use of enzymatic products is the key, on the contrary, we will avoid the use of bleach and ammonia, since they cause more desire to urinate and do not always eliminate 100% of the organic remains.
