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From: cushner@ttidcb.UUCP (Jeffrey Cushner)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: dog problem (submissive urination)
Message-ID: <409@ttidcb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Jul-85 13:01:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: ttidcb.409
Posted: Mon Jul 15 13:01:26 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 01:34:45 EDT
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
Lines: 74

What you are experiencing is an involuntary action over which the dog has
no control.  It is called submissive urination.  It is usually caused by
an emotional upset.  Specifically among the various causes are:
over correction, isolation, shyness, exited greetings and exits.

First things first.  This is not a conscience act by your pet and you should
NEVER repremand, scold or punish your pet for it.

Try to imagine a person who loves his family but never gets a chance to
see them.  Also imagine that this person has been isolated and is on the
nervous edge of a breakdown.  When his family does come to see him, they
barge in the room, yelling and hollering, jumping up and down, hugging
and kissing.

Also imagine when they leave, they make a big scene crying and telling
him that they'll miss him alot, then they rush out the door and they're
gone.

   Although exaggerated, these emotional ups and downs are what these kinds
of dogs don't need in their lives.

If you haven't trained your dog to sit and stay, you might try doing that.
Also keep a calm attitude toward her.  Keep your entries and exits subdued.
Rather than coming home and saying "HI GIRL!!  How'ya Doin!!  GOOD GIRL!!"
etc.  just give her a pat on the head, say hello, and go about your normal
business.

You mentioned scold.  Check into proper correction.  If you have overcorrected
her, she will roll over on her back, show her neck, and submissivly urinate,
when corrected.

Although it's too late to correct how you bought her and the existing
conditions, I thought that for the other future dog owners out there this
following bit of information will help.

  Dogs from pet shops are usually churned out of "puppy mills" where
  little regard is made towards their psychological needs.  These puppies
  are taken from their mother when "very" young.  Shipped and isolated,
  these puppies undergo severe psychological trauma during their most
  sensitive mental growth period, between 6 and 12 weeks of age.

The fact that you got your puppy from a pet store at 3 months means that
your dog probably has undergone plenty trauma.

So, to straighten out the problem the best you can:

   1.  Train your dog properly.  Take her to classes, secure private
       training, or buy a few training books.  This will help her
       make sense of life and calm her down.

   2.  Keep all your entries and exits calm.

   3.  Correct her properly.

Besides this urination problem, she sounds like a great dog!

			 Regards,
-- 
==============================================================================

			 Jeff Cushner @
			 Citicorp-TTI
			 Santa Monica CA 90405
			 (213) 450-9111 x2273

	      {randvax,trwrb,vortex,philabs}!ttidca!ttidcb!cushner

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