Submissive and Excitement Peeing in Dogs: Cleanup and What Helps

This guide covers dogs that leave a small puddle when greeted, played with or scolded: what is going on, what helps, and how to clean the spot so the smell does not draw your dog back. It uses what the American Kennel Club (AKC), the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals and the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) say.

What submissive and excitement urination are

The AKC article "Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?" says: "Puppies often pee during greetings because of excitement or submissive urination, both of which are involuntary." On excitement urination it says:

"Many puppies urinate when they feel overwhelmed during greetings, play, or affection. At a young age, their bladder muscles are still developing, so they may not be able to hold urine during intense emotional moments."

On submissive urination, the same article says: "Some puppies display submissive urination, which is a natural way dogs communicate that they are not a threat. This behavior is more common in shy or nervous puppies and is triggered when they feel intimidated or overwhelmed." The AKC's "Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog" adds: "Submissive urination is a normal canine communications behavior. Dogs squat and urinate to show social appeasement and convey that they are not a threat."

Sources: AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?; AKC, Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog: Tips for Dealing with Submissive Urination.

The body language that goes with it

The AKC says: "A puppy showing submissive urination may:"

"Crouch or lower their body"
"Tuck their tail"
"Roll onto their back"
"Avoid direct eye contact"

The ASPCA describes the same pattern:

"Some dogs may urinate during greetings, play, physical contact or when being reprimanded or punished. Such dogs tend to display submissive postures during interactions, such as holding the tail low, flattening the ears back against the head, crouching or rolling over and exposing the belly."

Sources: AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?; ASPCA, Separation Anxiety.

How it differs from accidents and marking

The AKC says: "This behavior may look like a housetraining problem, but it is different. If accidents only happen during highly stimulating situations, excitement urination is likely the cause."

The ASPCA lists the other causes separately. On house training: "A dog who occasionally urinates in the house might not be completely house trained." On marking: "Some dogs urinate in the house because they're scent marking. A dog scent marks by urinating small amounts on vertical surfaces."

If your dog is marking, see Dog Marking Indoors: Cleanup That Discourages Repeat Marking. For a puppy still learning where to go, see Puppy Accidents: Cleanup Steps That Stop Repeat Spots.

Sources: AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?; ASPCA, Separation Anxiety.

Who it happens to

The AKC says: "Submissive urination, also known as excitement urination, is most often found in puppies and is usually outgrown by age 1 year." Its greeting article adds: "The timeline varies by puppy, but many see improvement as they mature physically and emotionally."

Before working on the behavior, the AKC says: "First, take your pup or dog in to the veterinarian to rule out any medical condition that may be causing the issue."

Sources: AKC, Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog; AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?.

Do not scold or punish

The AKC says: "So remember to never scold or punish your puppy for wetting as this will make him more anxious and worried and will exacerbate the problem." Its "Accidents Happen" article says:

"Owners should not get angry or chastise their dog. This only ensures that the dog will try even harder to appease them, and as pee is the only gift the pup has to give, the problem continues."

Asked whether to punish a puppy for peeing during greetings, the AKC answers: "No, punishment can increase anxiety and make the problem worse."

Sources: AKC, Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog; AKC, Accidents Happen: Submissive Urination; AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?.

Calm greetings, or none at first

The AKC says to "make your greetings very low-key and calm. Do not excite or intimidate your puppy. You may even have to ignore him until he calms down. Instruct your visitors to do the same." Its "Accidents Happen" article says: "Instead, when you enter the house, ignore the dog for a few minutes, giving the pup some time to cool his jets".

From the greeting article: "Keeping greetings low-key can also make a big difference. Speak softly, move slowly, and avoid overly enthusiastic reactions when you first arrive home."

Sources: AKC, Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog; AKC, Accidents Happen: Submissive Urination; AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?.

Body language and building confidence

The AKC says:

"Avoid looming over them, making prolonged eye contact, or using a loud voice. Instead, approach from the side, lower yourself to their level, and use calm, gentle touch."

On the longer term it says: "Building your puppy's confidence is the most effective way to reduce submissive urination."

Source: AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee When They Greet Me?.

Greet outside

The AKC says: "When all else fails, greet your dog outside if possible."

Source: AKC, Tinkle, Tinkle Little Dog.

Clean the spot so the smell does not draw your dog back

Humane World for Animals says: "Eliminate odors wherever your dog submissively urinates, especially if they aren't completely house-trained." and "Clean soiled areas thoroughly with a cleaner specifically designed to eliminate urine odor."

The AKC's urine cleanup guide says: "Lingering scent can draw your dog back to the same area, reinforcing accidents." Asked "Will my dog keep peeing in the same spot?", it answers: "Yes, if odor remains. Thorough cleaning is essential to remove scent markers and discourage repeat behavior."

On carpet, the CRI says "Blot; don't scrub." and "you should still pretest any cleaner on a scrap of carpet or in an out-of-the-way area of your carpet." Humane World for Animals warns:

"Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area."

For a rug, see How to Get Dog Pee Out of an Area Rug; for a tile floor, see How to Clean Dog Pee From Tile and Grout. More on why spots draw dogs back: Why Do Dogs and Cats Keep Peeing in the Same Spot? If the smell returns after cleaning, see Pet Urine Smell Came Back After Cleaning: Why and What to Do.

Sources: Humane World for Animals, How to stop your dog from peeing in the house; AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells; CRI, Cleaning and Maintenance; Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors.

Using P-Cleaner

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Our rinse-free, water-based formula tackles the toughest stains and odors from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard surfaces." It also says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more.", "No scrubbing necessary" and "Odor-Free & Residue-Free". Test it on a hidden spot first, as the CRI advises above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.