Female 5 Month Old Lab Urinates In Presence Of Pack Leader

[baker_girl]

Hi,

I have a 5 month old female Labrador. She is mainly an outside dog and has learnt to do her business on the grassed areas in the yard. However often when my OH goes out to play with her or goes out to greet her in the morning she urinates where she happens to be in his presence. At times he could be playing with her for a long period of time and then she'll just urinate, without attempting to move to her usual area. She has done this while being greeted, rewarded, played with on her bed, on mh OH, on her sleeping cushion, on the patio area. Her temperament when she displays this behavior is more of or a nervous/excited behavior.

Could she just be completely submitting to my OH who she recognises as the pack leader?

[Lablover]

Hi,

I have a 5 month old female Labrador. She is mainly an outside dog and has learnt to do her business on the grassed areas in the yard. However often when my OH goes out to play with her or goes out to greet her in the morning she urinates where she happens to be in his presence. At times he could be playing with her for a long period of time and then she'll just urinate, without attempting to move to her usual area. She has done this while being greeted, rewarded, played with on her bed, on mh OH, on her sleeping cushion, on the patio area. Her temperament when she displays this behavior is more of or a nervous/excited behavior.

Could she just be completely submitting to my OH who she recognises as the pack leader?

She sounds submissive/nervous/excited. Some dogs never change, but can be improved significantly with safe outings, more human contact which includes being in the house more often, friends visiting., obedience creates communication also.

Being mainly an outside dog some owners do not have the opportunity to notice urinary infections. A vet visit may be in order.

Have you rung her breeder to discuss these issues. Other owners may have noticed nervous siblings.

[baker_girl]

She sounds submissive/nervous/excited. Some dogs never change, but can be improved significantly with safe outings, more human contact which includes being in the house more often, friends visiting., obedience creates communication also.

Being mainly an outside dog some owners do not have the opportunity to notice urinary infections. A vet visit may be in order.

Have you rung her breeder to discuss these issues. Other owners may have noticed nervous siblings.

Yes, she is excited when she displays this behavior. I should have also pointed out that she only does this with my OH. No one else and not me. She gets quite a lot of human contact, we walk her at least once sometimes twice a day just to get her more used to her surroundings. She doesn't display any nervous/excited behavior on these occasions. She is not a timid dog by nature but very outgoing.

I have not to contacted the breeder. I have tried to contact in the past to keep her updated and share our experiences however have not received any replies.

I understand it is just something that we will need to work at improving but just wanted to better understand the psychology behind it. We are starting basic obedience training with a reputable trainer that covers many other facets of dog behavior so will also bring this up then.

Thanks.

[MonElite]

What does your OH do when he sees her, I mean when he walks in.

[Kavik]

It sounds like excitement/submissive urination. Diesel did this for a little bit when a pup when around my OH. We tried to not get too excited on greetings etc and it went away on its own.

[baker_girl]

What does your OH do when he sees her, I mean when he walks in.

It sounds like excitement/submissive urination. Diesel did this for a little bit when a pup when around my OH. We tried to not get too excited on greetings etc and it went away on its own.

When he walks in the house, usually he will open the outside sliding door to let her know he is home and then once she is calm he will go out to greet her. We are kind of baffled because the times she urinates have often been after spending long periods of time with him and then she'll do it when he goes to pat her or play, give her a bone etc. Sometimes it is in the morning when he initially goes out to greet her. He has tried to remain really calm and not overly excited when he goes out to try and control her excitement. But when it does happen he instantly gets frustrated and reprimands her with a verbal 'No' and then goes back inside. I'm not sure if this is teaching her not to do it or only making her more nervous about it?

[Kavik]

I wouldn't reprimand for this, it will make it worse. I would just ignore it.

[MonElite]

Do not reprimand!!!

When he goes out he has to totally ignore her, no eye contact, nothing as if she doesnt exist.

When she is completly calm than he is to call her and pet her etc.

It might take some time before she calms down and before she stops urinating, but please do not correct her for this, it will only make it worse and will become a habbit. She isnt urinating in the house, is only a baby, please explain to your husband that his frustration only transfers to her and makes it worse.

He needs to stay calm!

[baker_girl]

Do not reprimand!!!

When he goes out he has to totally ignore her, no eye contact, nothing as if she doesnt exist.

When she is completly calm than he is to call her and pet her etc.

It might take some time before she calms down and before she stops urinating, but please do not correct her for this, it will only make it worse and will become a habbit. She isnt urinating in the house, is only a baby, please explain to your husband that his frustration only transfers to her and makes it worse.

He needs to stay calm!

This is the thing...when he goes out he is generally calm, waits for her to sit, plays for a long time, sometimes up to an hour and then she'll do this. She's not in super excited state before she does it. But I think generally the behaviour would be classed as a nervous/submissive type act?

I don't know if reprimand was the best word. He tells her no and then leaves/ignores her to reinforce that this is not a beahviour that I guess will get her attention.

[MonElite]

This is the thing...when he goes out he is generally calm, waits for her to sit, plays for a long time, sometimes up to an hour and then she'll do this. She's not in super excited state before she does it. But I think generally the behaviour would be classed as a nervous/submissive type act?

Hey maybe she just needs to go to the toilet! its a baby, they go to the toilet more often than adults and often after play.

I don't know if reprimand was the best word. He tells her no and then leaves/ignores her to reinforce that this is not a beahviour that I guess will get her attention.

Yes a NO is a reprimand. I doubt she understands that she is being ignored for toileting.

[Lablover]

Do not reprimand!!!

When he goes out he has to totally ignore her, no eye contact, nothing as if she doesnt exist.

When she is completly calm than he is to call her and pet her etc.

It might take some time before she calms down and before she stops urinating, but please do not correct her for this, it will only make it worse and will become a habbit. She isnt urinating in the house, is only a baby, please explain to your husband that his frustration only transfers to her and makes it worse.

He needs to stay calm!

This is the thing...when he goes out he is generally calm, waits for her to sit, plays for a long time, sometimes up to an hour and then she'll do this. She's not in super excited state before she does it. But I think generally the behaviour would be classed as a nervous/submissive type act?

I don't know if reprimand was the best word. He tells her no and then leaves/ignores her to reinforce that this is not a beahviour that I guess will get her attention.

His timing maybe off, resulting in stress. I am not big, in "waiting" for behaviour, I think especially problematic for non perfect (but who is, LOL), trainers.