Why Do Dogs Pee When They Get Excited Or Scared & How To Stop It

Dogs, especially smaller puppies, pee when they are in an overwhelming situation. It may appear involuntary and often leaves a puddle at their feet or drops on the floor as they walk around the area. The condition is not the same as dogs with urinary accidents in the house.

Submissive urination is a common behavioral issue in dogs, often characterized by accidental urination when a dog is anxious or fearful. This behavior helps them to communicate their vulnerability and desire to appease.

On the other hand, excitement-based urinating means dogs accidentally urinate at home when overly stimulated or excited. This behavior is usually unintentional and often disappears with age and training.

Excitement peeing is mostly found in happy and younger dogs who may not have full bladder control when excited. They frequently outgrow this form as they mature but emotionally calm down gradually. Sometimes, it is worse if your dog is awakened or startled and gets very animated. 

A few reasons why your dog might pee when they are excited, include showing they are not a threat or due to their uncontrollable excitement on seeing their human companion.

1. Overwhelming Stimulation

It is a common trigger for exciting urination in dogs due to excessive playtime, loud noises, the anticipation of walks or treats, or enthusiastic greetings. This response can cause a massive shift in the dog’s psychology, leading to increased heart rate, respiration, and adrenaline levels.

2. Lack of Bladder Control

Often mistaken for behavioral issues, excited dog peeing can sometimes stem from underlying bladder control problems. When a dog intentionally urinates out of excitement, the lack of bladder control is a physical inability to hold urine.

The excitement causes the heart level to increase, putting additional discomfort in the bladder.

3. Genetic Predisposition

Some breeds are predisposed to experience difficulties with bladder control under excitement. The dog's inherited characteristics, such as the nervous system, muscle tone, and hormonal regulation, can influence its ability to manage bladder function during heightened emotional states.

Certain breeds might exhibit a higher prevalence of this issue due to shared genetic characteristics that impact bladder control.

4. Adrenaline Rush

Adrenaline is produced when a dog gets excited or overwhelmed. While this hormone serves as a defense against unwanted mental states, it can also cause the dog to lose control of its bladder.

5. Submissive Instinct

Dogs are hardwired to follow every command of their owner, without caring for their personal safety. As a result, when they come across a dominant dog or human, the canine may pee as an act of submission.

6. Territorial Marking

Dogs show dominance by spreading their smell at home or in the neighborhood. Its urine possesses a unique smell that can easily be noticed by other dogs and animals with a keen sense of smell.

By dropping its urine while excited, the dog is establishing its authority at home.

7. Learned Behavior

Not disciplining a dog properly can become a huge problem as the dog grows up. If a pup wrongly associated excitement with peeing and was never corrected, it may show similar behavioral issues as an adult dog.

Dogs peeing when excited won't necessarily lift their legs like usual. They often pee while walking, standing, and even bouncing up and down.

Your dog is excited if it holds its tail higher than normal, wags its entire body and tail, or holds its head up while barking or whining. 

1. Accidental Urination

Unlike intentional urination, where a dog adopts a specific posture, accidental urination happens without noticeable preparation. It is a crucial indicator of excitement peeing. The urine might leak in small amounts or a sudden, uncontrolled flow.

2. Small Amounts of Urine

What makes excited peeing stand out is the amount of urine a dog releases. It is often limited to a few drops or a small puddle rather than a full bladder emptying.

3. Timing

The timing of the urination is crucial. Excitement peeing typically occurs during moments of high arousal, such as greeting people, playing fetch, walking, or receiving treats.

If urination consistently happens in these situations, it's a clear sign of the problem.

4. Body Language

A dog experiencing excitement peeing exhibits classic signs of excitement. These include tail wagging, jumping, whining, and enthusiastic behavior.

Monitor the dog's body language to distinguish between exciting peeing and other urinary issues.

5. No Squatting

Unlike normal urination, where dogs usually squat or lift their leg, dogs with excitement peeing don't assume these positions. The urine leaks out without any apparent effort.

6. Frequent Occurrence

Excitement peeing is often a recurring issue. It happens regularly in situations that trigger excitement. If the problem of dog peeing too much occurs frequently, it can be exciting peeing rather than an occasional accident.

7. No Signs of Distress

Dogs experiencing excitement peeing appear happy or excited rather than fearful or submissive. There are no signs of discomfort or pain associated with urination.

8. Consistent Triggers

Identifying consistent triggers for the excitement of peeing can be helpful. Certain people, places, or activities might consistently provoke the issue.

Though it is adorable to see your pup's excitement, it can be less precious when it results in indoor accidents. Excitement urination can be frustrating at times, but it's a common problem with a solution.

You can help your dog overcome this behavior and create a happier home by using these ways as mentioned:

1. Frequent Walks With Your Dog

Getting the dog out of the house once in every few hours encourages it to pee outdoors. If they have an empty bladder, they have less urine to release when excited.

2. Relaxing Your Dog

The second way is to teach your dog how to relax. Not all dogs have the instinct or desire to relax and may need help from their humans.

For dogs having difficulty settling down, you can teach them how to relax with short and daily training sessions.

3. No Interaction With Dogs

Avoid interaction with your dog during situations that trigger exciting urination. First, ensure your dog can hold their bladder and has been trained fully.

This form of peeing is often characterized by accidental urination when they feel anxious or submissive. It is a way of communication, indicating the dog's desire for calmness. 

1. Fear and Anxiety

Feelings of fear and anxiety are the major triggering factors for submissive urination in dogs. They are highly sensitive creatures and various stimuli can induce fear. 

Factors such as loud noises, unfamiliar environments, strangers, or even dominant dogs can help trigger anxiety in dogs. When a dog is threatened or fearful, they may resort to submissive urination as a coping mechanism, accompanied by other body language such as tail tucking, cowering, and licking lips.

2. Lack of Confidence

Dogs with low self-esteem or a lack of confidence may be depicted as submissive peeing. They may feel insecure adapting to social situations or when interacting with unfamiliar strangers, people, or dogs.

3. Past Trauma

Pups that have suffered trauma may develop deep-rooted fear and anxiety even after they get rescued from the abusive household. The dog may also have difficulty in trusting humans, often triggering aggression when approached.

4. Overly Exuberant Greetings

The first chore of every pet owner after returning home is to shower their beloved furry companion with love. However, this behavior can sometimes overwhelm a submissive dog.

Our towering over them, making loud noises, or invading their personal space during greetings can be perceived as prevalent behavior. To clear this perceived threat, dogs may have submissive urination to calm and avoid conflict with us.

5. Dominance Display

A dog's social structure is hierarchical, and they instinctively understand their place. Dominant displays can trigger submissive urination in dogs, with a clear communication of deference and submission.

When they feel overpowered or threatened by these behaviors, they may resort to submissive urination to de-escalate the situation.

The submissive signal on the dog can be seen as it lies flat on its back with its tail tucked and front legs pulled tightly into its body when urinating. This occurs when a stranger approaches a dog, it lies down and pees a trace amount. 

Some of the common signs and symptoms regarding peeing when afraid include:

1. Exposing Their Groin

Exposing their groin is a clear signal that a dog exhibits submissive peeing. This behavior is a clear sign of submission and vulnerability. They expose their most vulnerable areas to communicate their desire to avoid conflict. 

2 Urination when Scolded

When a dog is scolded, they often feel afraid or anxious. This emotional state can trigger submissive behaviors, including urination.

It is crucial to remember that scolding can further worsen the problem and create a more fearful dog.

3. Tucking Tail

Dogs resort to submissive behaviors to calm a perceived threat. Tucking its tail is a clear sign of the submissive posture. The lower and tighter the tail, the higher the level of submission or fear the dog is experiencing.

4. Hanging Their Heads Down

An anxious or intimidated dog may lower its head to appear less threatening. This is often used as a visual signal that they mean no harm.

5. Avoiding Eye Contact

Direct eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge or threat. Averting their look, a submissive dog is attempting to ease the situation and avoid conflict.

6. Trembling or Shaking

Trembling or shaking is a common physical expression of fear or anxiety in dogs. When a dog feels threatened or submissive, their body's natural stress response can include these physical symptoms.

Understanding these physical and behavioral cues is essential for recognizing and addressing submissive urination.

Controlling submissive urination requires a case-by-case study of the dog as each case is unique. Usually, the identification of the trigger jumpstarts the healing process.

1. Change the Approaching Way 

For pet owners and other humans, this means not leaning over your dog, making direct eye contact, reaching toward your dog, hugging them, or approaching them head-on. 

You can sit on the ground to make yourself appear smaller. Check the side of the dog's hip to avoid direct eye contact and allow them to approach you.

2. Desensitize Your Dog To Certain Triggers

The other step is to monitor your dog's movements that trigger submissive peeing. First, you need to identify the situations that trigger them and start making smaller movements.

Reward your dog when they don't react or pee in response to the movements. Once your dog calmly accepts smaller movements, gradually jump to larger ones.