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What To Do If Your Dog Pees When Excited

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Dog Pees When Excited: Quick Solutions to Change the Behavior

Dog Pees When Excited
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Oops, my dog just leaked urine on a guest’s shoes! Don’t worry, it happens and can certainly be prevented next time. This is a common dog behavior that happens when a dog gets overly excited.

Some experts call this behavior submissive urination, but I disagree. Don’t let the word “submissive” fool you. Dogs don’t voluntarily or involuntarily urinate to show respect or dominance to humans. As we know, the dominance myth between humans and dogs was dispelled years ago.

When healthy potty trained puppies or dogs involuntarily urinate, there’s a reason. Excitement and fear are usually the causes of dog peeing. Identifying the exact trigger is the first step in changing your dog’s behavior. If you suspect fear causes your dog to urinate, check out this article for details.

Quick Solutions

A full bladder and excitable greetings just don’t mix. As a dog matures, her muscles learn to hold urine within her bladder. If something happens to disrupt this process, urine can leak out. Check out these quick solutions.

If you have a puppy

Younger puppies and dogs pee when excited until they learn bladder control. By six to eight months of age, a younger dog should be able to hold her pee when excited. Until then, take your puppy out to potty right before guests arrive and provide potty breaks every 20 minutes or so.

If your dog pees during greetings

If your dog leaks urine during greetings, it’s best to take her potty before guests arrive. Keep greetings fun, but controlled. Ask friends to reward your dog for “sitting” or “touching” on cue. Not only will this eliminate your dog from piddling on your guest’s shoes, but it also provides positive socialization opportunities and teaches good manners around guests.

If you’re at the vet’s office

Sometimes, dogs get so excited at the vet’s office, they pee. As best practice, arrive 10-15 minutes before your dog’s vet exam. Walk her around the area, so she can completely empty her bladder before meeting new and exciting people. Male dogs take a bit longer to completely empty their bladders, so walk them near plenty of trees and bushes for lots of pottying opportunities.

Bring plenty of treats, and reward your dog for “sitting” as veterinary staff members approach your dog. This will redirect your dog’s attention, and prevent your dog from jumping up or peeing when excited. Additionally, this teaches your dog that vet visits are super fun and rewarding.

What Doesn’t Work

Punishment doesn’t work, and will make the dog behavior much worse. Remember, your dog is involuntarily urinating, which means she’s unable to control this behavior. Never scold or physically correct your dog for this behavior. Just grab paper towels and clean up the mess. Next time, remember to provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to empty her bladder.

Remember….

Dogs peeing when excited is temporary, and will improve by following a few best practices. When in doubt, make sure your dog’s bladder is empty before meeting new people. Don’t forget to reward good behaviors, such as “sit” and “stay.” Punishment never works. 🙂

Dog Breed Of The Week: Havanese

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Havanese Dog Breed Information

Havanese Dog Breed
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The Havanese originates from Cuba, and is known as the national dog. While it’s difficult to determine when and how Havanese dogs were exported from Cuba, we do know “Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens” shared their home with this darling breed (Havanese Club of America, 2016). It’s uncertain when the Havanese arrived in the US, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepted this dog breed into their club in 1996. Another interesting fact about this breed is the Havanese name serves as both the singular and plural form. 🙂

General Characteristics

For the most part, Havanese are between 8½–11½ inches tall at the shoulder and their weight varies by height. This dog breed’s coat color can come in red brindle, sable brindle, white, gold or any variation in between. Havanese have a longer coat with a bit of texture. It’s believed that Havanese are related to Bichon Frises. This long coat protects Havanese from heat and sunrays because their coats are “extremely light and soft, and insulating against the tropical rays” in Cuba (Havanese Club Of America, 2016).

It’s easy to confuse Havanese with Shih Tzus and Maltese, but if you look closely, you can certainly tell the differences right away. Havanese have a longer muzzle than Shih Tzus and have wider bone structure than Maltese. While Havanese’s coat colors may resemble other breeds, look closely at the texture and you can easily distinguish between the dog breeds.

Health

Havanese are a healthy dog breed, but they’re prone to inherited diseases like most other dogs. Common health issues with this breed include:

  • Eye abnormalities
  • Heart abnormalities
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patellar luxation (moving kneecap)
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes (abnormal femur head)

Reputable dog breeders will test all dogs for inherited diseases before breeding them. If health screenings and tests show an adult Havanese is afflicted with any of these inherited issues, they will be spayed and neutered immediately. If someone claims their dogs have no inherited health issues, they’re lying.

Grooming Havanese

As with all long-coated dogs, Havanese need daily brushings and weekly baths. If you choose to keep your Havanese coat’s clipped short, you should maintain it every 6-7 weeks. Of course, you should also keep your dog’s nails trimmed to an acceptable length (i.e. nails shouldn’t touch the floor) and brush his or her teeth daily.

Exercise & Dog Training Needs

Even though they’re small dogs, they do need daily exercise. Plan to walk your Havanese at least 30 minutes per day, and provide mental stimulation games and puzzles during mealtime. Havanese puppies should be enrolled in a Puppy group class between 10-16 weeks of age and a Basic Manners group class between 4-6 months of age. As with all dogs, Havanese do best with positive reinforcement dog training methods.

Where to Find Havanese

Of course, adopting a Havanese from a rescue is always best because you’re saving a life. If you decide to purchase a puppy or dog, please choose a reputable Havanese breeder. It’s important to note that reputable breeders charge the same amount or less for a puppy unlike unethical breeders. Plus, responsible breeders will guarantee your dog’s health for his or her entire life and will take your puppy or adult dog. To find out more about this dog breed, please visit the Havanese Club of America. This website is packed with invaluable information about this happy little breed.

Double Merle Dogs Come With A Price

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You Might Want to Think Twice About Double Merle Dogs

Double Merle Dogs
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Lately, it seems pet owners are actively seeking merle dogs and puppies. It’s understandable because merle dogs are strikingly beautiful. However, possessing a gorgeous merle coat color comes with a price that is it carries a recessive gene. This recessive gene becomes a massive problem when two merle dogs are bred together, producing double merle dogs.

What’s the Difference Between Merle & Double Merle Dogs?

Merle dogs have white patches intertwined with blue-and-gray or red-and-tan marbling throughout their bodies and heads. All merle coat dogs carry a recessive gene, as that’s part of inheriting their merle coloring. When two merle dogs are bred, they pass on their recessive genes, which ensures 25% of their litter will inherit two recessive genes (double merle).

Double merle puppies and dogs have large white patches along their bodies and heads more so than merle dogs. Some double merles have completely white coats with little or no merle coloring at all. Dapple and piebald are other names for merle coloring, which means they carry the recessive gene too.

Double Merle Dogs Have a Slew of Health Issues

Double merle dogs are certainly a problem. Recessive genes cause dilation of pigment and coat, producing white dogs. In addition, they carry health issues, including:

  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Severe skin issues
  • Lack of pigmentation (pink skin)
  • Light eyes affected by sunlight (pale blue eyes)

Now, it’s important to understand, merle dogs carry a recessive gene along with a normal dominant gene, and may not exhibit any health issues. But some merle dogs do; it just depends. When two merle dogs are bred together, a puppy inherits double recessive genes. He or she now has a double dose of health issues that could’ve been prevented.

Double Merle Coats are Produced Unethically

Genetics is a fickle game, and much more complicated than filling out a Punnett square with possible genetic outcomes. One thing we do know is breeding two merle dogs will produce a double merle puppy (or puppies, depending on litter size). Knowingly breeding two merle dogs together isn’t fair to puppies and their pet owners. It’s unethical and irresponsible.

Responsible breeders, on the other hand, not only health test all dogs before breeding, but they also have a complete understanding of genetics with possible outcomes. Check out this link for more information on the devastating effects caused by this unethical breeding practice.

Why is This Happening?

Due to the overwhelming request for merle and double merle dogs, uneducated breeders are breeding two merle dogs together assuming this will increase the likelihood of an “all-merle” litter of puppies. Plus, unethical breeders advertise and charge more money for merle or “rare” white coats, which is despicable.

If someone advertises “rare white” puppies for a breed that rarely produces white coats, you can beat your bottom dollar that these puppies are double merle or albino. Breeding dogs should only be done to improve a dog breed and not create puppies with severe health issues that impact their lives forever.

Please, if you decide to purchase a dog or puppy, only purchase from a responsible and educated breeder.

UP NEXT: White Australian Shepherd Dogs

Dog Breed Of The Week: White German Shepherd Dog

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White German Shepherd Dog Breed Information

White German Shepherd Dogs
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Americans are very familiar with German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs). They’re the second most popular AKC dog breed nationwide. When Americans think of German Shepherd Dogs, they picture sable, black-and-silver, solid black, black-and-red, and black-and-tan color varieties. However, there’s a controversial white coat color rarely discussed called the White German Shepherd Dog.

History of White German Shepherd Dogs

German Shepherd Dogs originated from Germany where they’re called Deutsche Schäferhunde. In 1889, Captain Max von Stephanitz created a breed standard for GSDs, which included white varieties in the show ring and whelping box. Many years later, the white variety was extinguished from the original GSD breed standard. We don’t know exactly when and who started removing white GSDs from the gene pool, but history points toward the Nazis.

White dog coats are usually caused by a recessive gene.

This carries:

  • Deafness
  • Blindness
  • Diluted skin pigments (pink skin)
  • Light eyes
  • Complicated skin issues
  • Other serious health concerns

Basically, a recessive white dog coat is called an albino dog. So it makes perfect sense why ethical breeders would remove this problematic gene from their breeding programs.

Are White German Shepherd Dogs Albinos?

No, White German Shepherd Dogs aren’t albinos. Interestingly, the White German Shepherd Dog recessive gene doesn’t cause albinism. White GSDs have dark mouth pigment, dark-colored eyes and normal health issues associated within the German Shepherd Dog breed.

Even though White German Shepherd Dogs continue to pop up within a litter, responsible dog breeders remove them from their breeding population by placing them in pet homes that will spay and neuter them. It’s understandable that breeders aren’t willing to take the chance, so white GSDs are disqualified from the show ring.

However, things have changed a bit, and it seems an entire breed club was created entirely for White German Shepherd Dogs. After researching several of these white GSD breed clubs, I’ve discovered that their by-laws are very loose—buyer beware.

Are White GSDs Different?

No. In a nutshell, this white breed variety requires the same dog training, health and grooming needs as any German Shepherd. They’re a medium to large dog that needs daily exercise, mental stimulation and grooming just like any other GSDs.

Remember, white is just a coat color variety and not a different breed. White German Shepherds are the same as German Shepherd Dogs except they’re a white version. 🙂

This color variety is strikingly beautiful with a gleaming white coat, black lips and mouth, and a total GSD appearance. Expect lots of stares and questions from strangers! 🙂

Beware of False Promises

This is where it gets tricky. In an effort to market white GSDs, some breeders promise friendlier temperaments compared to “traditional” German Shepard Dogs, but that’s impossible to guarantee and promise. All dogs are different, and each puppy in a litter will have his or her own individual personality. Saying a specific coat color will be friendlier than his littermates or other GSDs is just not true. Plus, it’s completely unethical to charge more money for a white puppy than his typical colored littermates.

Where to Find White German Shepherd Dogs

Purchase

Honestly, there’s no real reputable White German Shepherd Club or organization that follows very strict dog breeding practices. Strict breeding practices ensures all dogs used for breeding must be health tested. If they don’t pass, they’ll never be bred. Additionally, dogs must be over 2 years old before being bred.

Many white GSD clubs don’t include these vital rules in their by-laws. If you’re interested in purchasing a white GSD, it’s best to contact reputable German Shepherd Dog breeders and request a white-colored coat puppy.

Rescue

Even better is to check out local rescue groups. They have plenty of white German Shepherd Dogs looking for forever homes. Plus, you’re saving a life.

Dog Breed Of The Week: Chihuahua

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Chihuahua Breed Information

Chihuahua Breed Information
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The Chihuahua is a mighty little dog that is easy to recognize with his small stature, erect ears and big dog personality. Chihuahuas were rightly named after the state they originated from in Mexico. How Chihuahuas ended up in Europe and the US is much debated, but we know that this dog breed can now be found worldwide. Chihuahuas have become so popular that the majority of dogs surrendered at the LA animal shelter are Chihuahuas.

General Characteristics & Personality

Chihuahuas are irresistibly adorable with large eyes, pricked up ears and a pint-sized body. Chihuahuas must weigh fewer than 6 pounds to be shown at a dog show, but Chihuahuas weighing more than 6 pounds are still fabulous pets. 🙂 This tiny dog breed can be any solid color or have spotted and patched markings scattered along their bodies. Plus, Chihuahuas have two varieties of coat length: short or long.

These tiny bodies are filled with a huge personality! They will certainly bark to warn strangers are approaching and will fiercely protect their property. Chihuahuas love the finer things in life, such as a warm lap, soft bedding and complete human devotion.

Buyer Beware: Teacup & Merle Chihuahuas

Before bringing a Chihuahua home, it’s important to know a few important details about this breed. Unethical breeders are using marketing ploys to charge more for runts within a litter. Plus, some are causing horrible health issues.

Teacup Chihuahuas

In the dog show ring, Chihuahuas should weigh under 6 pounds. However, it seems unethical breeders are using marketing tactics to increase the value of smaller sized Chihuahuas. Don’t be fooled by celebrities touting “teacup” Chihuahuas in designer bags. Smaller Chihuahuas shouldn’t cost more than their littermates. If a “breeder” proclaims a higher price tag for a smaller Chihuahua than his normal-sized littermates, you know this is a marketing scam.

Merle Chihuahuas

Oh, this is a big one. Merle coat coloration is certainly beautiful to look at with those blue dapples interwoven with white and gray. Sometimes, not always, merle coat coloration produces lighter colored eyes too. But there’s something you should know about the merle color gene, and it’s recessive.

In other words, merle coat coloration carries several nasty health issues with it, such as deafness, blindness, skin issues, aggression and so forth. And if an unethical breeder breeds two merle Chihuahuas together, this is a recipe for disaster.

This poor double merle puppy has received a double dose of these nasty health issue genes, which is completely unfair and could’ve been prevented. Be careful of this coloration. Purchase a puppy from a responsible dog breeder, and spay or neuter your merle dog.

Health

For the most part, Chihuahuas are very healthy and live long lives (15-18 years). Before a Chihuahua can be bred, they must complete health testing to ensure they’re not affected by congenital disease. All Chihuahuas, after two years of age, must have their hearts, paellas (knees) and eyes health tested and pass OFA requirements.

Responsible breeders health test all of their dogs before breeding—there’s no exception. If your breeder doesn’t complete health testing, or is unable to provide official OFA certificates, then walk away. It’s important to note that responsible breeders charge the same or less than unethical breeders.

Grooming Requirements

Short-coated Chihuahuas should be brushed once or twice a week while long-coated versions should be brushed more frequently. You should trim your Chihuahua’s nails every week and brush his teeth every day.

RELATED: Small Dog Dental Care Tips

Exercise & Dog Training Needs

While this dog breed is small, Chihuahuas still need plenty of physical and mental exercise. Daily walks for 30 minutes a day are recommended. Enroll your Chihuahua into puppy and basic manners class too, so they’re exposed to different sized dogs and myriad people. Small dogs should also learn polite manners, such as sit, come, polite leash walking and no jumping.

Where to Find Chihuahuas

Rescuing a dog is always strongly recommended. Local shelters are packed with Chihuahuas, so start your search there first. Also, you can contact a rescue for dogs and puppies in your area. If you decide to purchase a puppy, please choose from this list of reputable breeders who health test dogs before breeding.

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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