flickr photo courtesy of oakleyoriginals

Before I meet with a client and their pets, there is usually a lot of dialogue beforehand, so I get to know quite a bit about them both. Asking good questions from the very beginning and knowing that they might be a bit apprehensive is helpful, so that we get off on the right foot.

One statement that hear all too often is, "My dog has a tendency to urinate all over when she meets new people..."

It is quite common, and there are two reasons why it happens — it's a physical issue, and it's also behavioral. It's crucial to keep in mind that dogs do not do it intentionally.

Most commonly seen in young dogs — usually females — submissive urination is something that can be addressed with ease, but it's takes a little work on your part to help them avoid doing it.

Why it happens

From a physical standpoint, the physical maturity of the bladder isn't quite as sophisticated as in an adult dogs, and you will see it more commonly in females because their physiology is different than that of a males (the urethra is shorter). Age and time usually helps in resolving the issue.

Now to look at the behavioral aspect. Most people say that the urination occurs when they arrive home, or when their dog gets excited. Other reasons include when the dog feels threatened or gets scared or when meeting new people. Many people who have dogs that have been re-homed from a difficult living situation note the behavior, too.

When it happens

Homecomings

A good way to help the pooch avoid urinating accidentally when you get home is to open the door and walk right past the dog, without a glance or greeting. This does two things: Your dog won't get overly excited, and she learns that reunions are an everyday occurrence, so she has nothing to be worked up about. Quietly but quickly get your friend outside where she can appropriately relieve herself, and then say hello outside.

Greeting a dog in a high-pitched, excited voice and animated body language feeds the problem. So, although it's hard to remember not to do, just save it for playtime. In doing so, you'll teach good greeting manners to your friend for life.

Strangers and dominant people

For dogs that urinate submissively, meeting new people is a situation where they find themselves really having a problem. To help with this, you can follow the tips above, and add another simple step.

As new people are introduced, have them feed your pooch treats, without any excited verbal acknowledgement. This allows the dog to get a feel for the person while she is in a positive, calm state-of-mind — and remain more in control of her actions and her body.

This is my standard way of greeting my new canine charges for the first time, and I always let my clients know that in advance so that we can be on the same page.

This has a secondary benefit: As time goes on, canines exposed to people in this neutral yet positive manner are more relaxed and have a tendency to gain more confidence where future introductions are concerned and are less likely to jump on people or behave unpredictably.

As far as people who behave in a dominant manner toward your dog, that needs to be avoided.

If your adult dog is suddenly exhibiting spontaneous urination when they have always had good control, it's recommended that they see the veterinarian, regardless of the sex of the dog. This is not submissive urination and could be an indicator of a illness or other medical condition.

With a little work on your part, your dog can work through the usually temporary problem of having accidents like these, and learn other good habits in self-control. Read more in-depth information here.

Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com and has written about dog behavior. Follow her writing and pet-related adventures on Twitter @psa2 and contact her via e-mail.