[metre]

hello all, i am getting to the end of my rope with this problem. i have adopted three dogs from shelters. two labs and a chessie. the chessie is the newest. i had no problems with the labs but the chessie has a real issue with submissive urination. i have tried all the suggestions i have found so far. don't punish. don't look them in the eye when you approach. enter sideways to house. teach them tricks to built confidence. let him "overpower" me so he feels that i am not a threat, etc etc etc. there seems to be no rhyme for reason to it either. going up or down stairs can be an issue...sometime he stops and urinates and sometimes not...i can be betting him while watching a movie and he will suddenly let go...when i leave the house for even a few brief minutes he goes...but not always... he does this several times a day i even tried taking him with me to the laundry room thinking he would know where i was and be ok, he immediatly squatted and went. i work out of my home so i am not leaving him for extended periods of time. i walk them often during the day and he seems to be very housebroken otherwise. he is very smart and knows several commands and does them with out more than a quick word. i.e. sit, shake. i had him neutered about a month ago and he was given a full physical by the vet and she stated that he was in excellent health. please can anyone help me....this is beginning to drive me crazy. thank you in advance for all your help.

[Renoman]

Have you had him to the vet to rule out a uti or bladder infection? His physical was a month ago - he could have developed either one in a month's time. Just a thought.

[metre]

Originally Posted by Renoman

Have you had him to the vet to rule out a uti or bladder infection? His physical was a month ago - he could have developed either one in a month's time. Just a thought.

actually he has been doing it since i first got him two months ago. i spoke to the vet about it and she said that there was no infection. she felt that it was because he was new to me and being a rescue was not well cared for previously and would "adjust" quickly.

[briteday]

We had an aussie shep from the shelter with the same issue. She eventually grew out of it but I think she was about 3 by then and we got her as a pup. I finally gave up greeting the dog in the house. We worked through an obedience class so that I could teach her a reliable recal an to stay by my side when she was outside. So then I put her crate next to the door, opened it, and let her run out front to greet me. So the piddles happened outside. And then one day it just stopped.

But I did notice a big improvement after the obedience class. She seemed to have more confidence. We also went on to agility after that.

What YOU are describing though sounds a bit different. Do you know if the dog was abused?

[Renoman]

If it's not a medical problem then you might just need to give him more time to adjust. Some dogs take longer than others to get comfortable and secure in new surroundings. Maybe someone else has another sugggestion.

[TooneyDogs]

You say this is submissive urination which is all about intense fear. You're seeing all the fear signs, ears back, lowered head, lowered body, eyes darting from side to side, nervous body movements, rolling over on his back and urinating on himself when he does this? If you're not seeing those things it's not submissive urination...it's a lack of potty training.

[metre]

Originally Posted by TooneyDogs

You say this is submissive urination which is all about intense fear. You're seeing all the fear signs, ears back, lowered head, lowered body, eyes darting from side to side, nervous body movements, rolling over on his back and urinating on himself when he does this? If you're not seeing those things it's not submissive urination...it's a lack of potty training.

yes, most of the time i see fear signs, (except for urinating on himself) but not always and most often without prompting or cause. i.e. he could be sitting contently with me as i watch a movie and i am petting him he will get up and want to play catch which i do. he plays for a few minutes and then will get up and let go. i could be coming down the stairs with him and he will just stop and let go. it doesn't matter if i am behind him, in front of him, talking to him (good shankar, good boy!) or not, alone or with the other dogs. again no rhyme or reason. as you can tell this is very trying and very confusing. he seems to be a very happy very smart very intelligent guy. he doesn't even seem to have been abused by his former owner as he is very trusting and receptive of me otherwise. he is secure around the other dogs and even is willing to be aggressive in his play with me. i am just hoping that someone out there understands what is going on and can help me. i will not give up or give him away. i am not the kind of parent who only wants perfect pets and is not willing to do what is nessesary to care for them. i just need help in correcting this situation. again thanx to all.

[TooneyDogs]

You're going to need professional help to determine what is setting him off.
It could be a specific word, a sound or even a specific body motion on your part that's causing the fear and hopefully an outside observer can spot it.