Submissive urination

Gryff'sMom

My six month old golden mix pees when he meets some strangers. I've read everything I can find, and am trying to do what I'm supposed to (not scolding him or makig a big deal about it, having new people "ignore" him until he calms down), but some times I can't control him and it is really embarassing! He's a wonderful pup otherwise, smart and friendly, and I'm hoping we will take our Canine Good Citizen next year to work as a therapy team. When will this nasty behavior stop? Is there anything you can recomend to help stop it?

TooneyDogs

You don't control him.....you control the strangers. Ask them to not approach, touch or even look at him. Let him go to people on his own terms and even then, the people need to ignore him....still no petting, talking or looking at him. Let him develop confidence by just getting close. When he looks at you (he will eventually) quietly praise him for his calmness and confidence.
To state this another way, if you try to control him, you're putting pressure on him and he really doesn't know how he is supposed to respond. The 'pressure' can be just a worried look from you or a hasty body movement towards him. Let him sniff and investigate at his own pace.
To 'control' your guests/strangers step between them and your dog...deny them access to him.

Gryff'sMom

I had heard this, but I'm having a hard time getting people to cooperate (he is pretty darned adoreable!). And if we are just outside of my office so he can get a litlle excercize and someone happens by,he approaches them, and even if I can get them to ignore him, he is peeing and flopping on his back. Must I always have him on a lead? Even at the dog park?

K9companions

I hate it when people don't listen. Lol. My dog was abused before I got him from the pound and he specially doesn't like men. He looks like a shepherd and has a cute face and is medium sized so a lot of people just come up to him. I'm trying to train him to not be scared, but right now he is and I tell people "hes in training, please don't approach." On one occasion I had to tell a women "he bites, please don't pet him" because she would not get the hint. She finally left after I told her that. Geeze.

jsand

I always wondered how you get a handle on that one, and what Tooneydogs said makes complete sense to me, I had some friends who have had a dog do that.
Thanks