Poor Bladder Control?

[Tortilla]

In September I adopted a 1 year old Sheltie/Pomeranian mix from an animal shelter nearby. He's been an absolute blessing to have and is a wonderful companion.

However, we've noticed that he pees an awful lot. He's housebroken and knows to pee outside, but if he gets excited or frightened, he pees. Even if we just sit with him and stroke him, sometimes he'll start peeing. I let him out very frequently and he always pees when he's outside, but if he gets excited or frightened (like if he hears a loud noise or something) he'll still pee in the house.

We don't make a fuss when we come home from being out, and we try not to get him excited, but sometimes he manages to work himself up and he'll pee.

He is neutered and was the same way before he was neutered.

Our vet says that he has poor bladder control, and that it's not as common in male dogs as it is in spayed females. She said that some dogs MIGHT grow out of it and some dogs are like that forever. I was wondering if any of you had any experiences with this and had any advice? Do you think that this is something that he could potentially grow out of?

He's a great dog and I wouldn't trade him for the world, but I'm getting awfully tired of washing blankets and sheets daily and scrubbing the floors so often.

[Estie]

Do you think he might have a bladder infection?

[Tortilla]

Thanks for the response.

I don't think it is a bladder infection, our vet didn't seem too concerned about it. What are some things I should look out for in case it is, though?

[IceyBlueSibes]

IMO It sounds more like submissive urination than it is poor bladder control. This is very common with many dogs, especially if they have a submissive/timid temperment. Sheiba used to do this when she was younger. She'd get excited, nervous, scared, and she'd tinkle. Especially if she was excited we were home, she'd run up to us and the minute we'd pet her... she pee'd. She's very submissive towards humans, but holds her ground with other dogs.

My boyfriend's family's dog does it, the rat terrier down the street will roll over and start peeing in the air.LOL You have to stay out of his aim. It's generally just a habit that a lot of dogs grow out of, as long as you don't make any fuss about the peeing (i.e. Not saying anything, no discipline or "uh oh" "ahhh man" etc). She doesn't really do it anymore. Every now and then she does it, but she's since grown out of it.

That's just my thought.

[Tortilla]

That does sound a lot like what he does. He does hold his ground with other dogs, and now that I think of it, I don't seem to recall him ever peeing when he's around other dogs. Only people. What Sheiba did sounds a lot like what Seamus does. And she grew out of it? I know not to make a fuss when he pees because he'd probably pee more out of fright, he's a very sensitive little dog.

Thank you very much, you've given me something to think about.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Yes, she grew out of it. Like I said, occasionally she'll tinkle, but it's very very rare. She was 6 months old when she first came to us, and did this ever since she was here. It was a few months before she started growing out of it, but it wasn't much of a deal. As long as we knew she was healthy, it didn't bother us.

[calgal]

It does sound like a submissive urination since it's done when excited in one way or another. I would suggest keeping him in a belly band with a poise pad in it while he's in the house. It sure is a blessing. I had to use them on lots of male fosters because of the marking they seem to love doing.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Good suggestion calgal! I never thought of doing that to atleast help with not ruining the furniture and such.

[Tortilla]

I looked up belly bands and they certainly look like something that might be of help. Thanks very much for the suggestion, I'll have to pick one up.

[Aria]

Try to keep exitement down too. Make sure whenever you come to something that may exite him/her that you use the command settle, and make them stay settled when the exiting thing comes toward them. Have the dog not directly interact first thing with the exitement generated item/person/place until you're sure they're calm. Also when they get hyper have them settle down again. I've worked with a couple dal pups that the breeder I use to work for owned. I'm guessing one of them would pee whenever the judge looked at her, she was so exited when it came to people. Turned out she was to reserved and submissive with people, so got exited and stressed.