If you have a dog who urinates when you scold him or greet him, chances are you are not dealing with a house-training problem. Rather, your dog is exhibiting a behavior the experts call "submissive urination" -- and you'll need a positive, no-punishment approach to get your pup to dry up.
It helps to know what sets this behavior apart from poor house-training. That means learning a little about canine body language, the way dogs and wolves communicate with one another.
Although dogs are domesticated, they still have a lot in common with their wild relatives. Dogs adjust to being members of our families so well because, like us, they have evolved to feel comfortable within a social structure. For dogs and wolves, the family is the pack, and to live harmoniously within it, they need to share a common language that allows some pack members to establish higher rank than others. If fighting settled all disputes, the pack members would soon be so chewed up they wouldn't be able to hunt. So instead, dogs and wolves use ritual behaviors to establish and reinforce pack order.
Submissive urination is one of those behaviors. A lower-status animal will crouch in the presence of more dominant pack members and release a little urine to signal that he accepts his place. He may even roll over on his back and then release urine. The behavior that so annoys humans is perfectly acceptable -- and understandable -- among dogs and wolves.
Among pet dogs, the behavior is more common in puppies and youngsters, and in some breeds or mixes known for their gentle, shy or anxious natures. Dogs who have been abused may also urinate submissively. In these dogs, the message they're trying to convey is heartbreaking: Please don't hurt me anymore! While some dogs urinate when confronted by anyone, even in a friendly manner, others react submissively only when scolded, or when approached by what they see as a particularly intimidating person, such as a man who's very tall or has a deep, booming voice.
Before starting to work on correcting submissive urination, have your pet checked out by your veterinarian to make sure there's no medical difficulty either at the root of the behavior or contributing to the problem. Some medical conditions may make urine-control difficult, and if that's the case, your pet will need to be made healthy before training can be expected to have much of an effect.
Never punish a dog for submissive urination, not only because it's ineffective, but also because it can make the problem worse. Instead, resolve to keep interactions low-key and upbeat, and gently reward your pet for proper greeting behavior -- docile and dry.
When greeting your pup, work to be less dominant. Keep your voice low and quiet, don't make direct eye contact, and come down to your dog's level to lessen your height. Crouch rather than bend at the knees so you don't loom over your dog.
Obedience training is a good confidence builder. So teach your dog to sit and shake hands, and ask for and reward those behaviors when you greet your pet. Since some dogs find a pat on the head intimidating, reward your dog by petting him under the chin, or by scratching him on the chest.
Make sure all family members handle the dog properly, and ask visitors to do the same.
For many young dogs, the problem will resolve itself as they mature, although you can speed things up by working to build your pet's confidence and trust. For other dogs, especially those who've been abused, training may be a frustrating and long-term process.
Correcting submissive behavior might take some time. But with patience, consistency and kindness, you can usually resolve the behavior -- and gain a happier, more confident pet in the bargain.
PETS ON THE WEB
No two cats are alike, but they do seem to fall into a few personality categories. Some are mellow, some always on the go. Some are outgoing, while others spend most of their lives in hiding. A recognition of these differences is one of the best things about www.CatToys.com, which offers suggestions for playthings based on the personality of each individual cat. Best of all: The site offers a discount on the entire order to those shoppers who opt to donate a toy or two to a non-profit shelter or rescue organization.
THE SCOOP
The wide range in size of pet birds suggests that keeping some species together is just asking for trouble. If forced to choose just one bird that doesn't mingle well, avian experts will usually point to the grey-cheeked parakeet. The little bird with a big attitude is usually a sweetie with people but is always ready to rumble with other parrots. These cheeky little guys won't shy from picking a fight with a much larger bird -- which almost certainly leads to injury.
Pay attention to the sizes and the personalities of your birds, and be aware that while some might co-exist peacefully, others might need to be housed not just in different cages but in different rooms. Especially if one of your pets is the pugnacious grey-cheeked parakeet.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: I recently took my cat to get neutered. When the veterinarian noticed my cat was a male calico, he said, "Do you realize that you are sitting on a $50,000 cat?" Now I am curious. What should I do? Who should I contact? -- C.H., via e-mail
A: Gee, don't look at me. I certainly wouldn't give you $50,000 for your pet. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but despite your veterinarian's enthusiasm, I'm afraid there isn't any value to a male calico beyond that of a cherished pet.
How a male cat ends up as a calico is an interesting lesson in genetics. The gene that governs how the orange color in cats will be displayed is on the X, or female, chromosome.
Any cat, male or female, can be orange, but in males that color usually is expressed one way: in the tabby pattern, sometimes called a "ginger tom."
Females can be orange tabbies, tortoiseshells or calicoes. The last two are genetically similar, except that the classic calico has distinct patches of color (white, black and orange) while in the tortoiseshell the same colors are swirled together.
For a cat to be a calico or tortoiseshell, two X-chromosomes must be present, and that means in the vast majority of cases a calico cat will be female. When the calico pattern exists in a male, it's because the cat has three sex chromosomes, two X, one Y -- a genetic rarity. If both of those X-chromosomes carry the genetic instructions for calico or tortoiseshell markings, you're looking at one rare cat.
Approximately one calico in every 3,000 is male.
Q: I read your article about the dog scratching and the assumption that it was fleas. Our Australian terrier had the same problem, and we could not stop her scratching despite numerous flea medications. We took her to the veterinarian, who did a blood test. It turned out that the dog had a thyroid problem. Would you please share this information with the owner of the scratching dog? -- D.D., via e-mail
Q: For the person with a scratching dog, would you please let her know that the problem might be allergies? We had the same problem with our dog, and sure enough she is allergic to the same types of things that bother spring hay fever sufferers. -- S.M., via e-mail
A: You're both right. Skin problems are so pervasive in pets -- dogs especially -- that dermatologists are among the busiest of veterinary specialists. In my own defense, however, I must point out that I did caution the letter-writer that getting to the bottom of the problem might well require a trip to the veterinarian or even a referral to a specialist.
Still, I've been amazed over the years at how invisible fleas can be to some pet lovers. Using the fur-ruffling test, where I rake my fingers through the coat against the grain, I've seen the signs of infestation on many a "flea-free" dog.
Regardless, the point I should have made is that if a dog can't stop scratching, a veterinarian's help is needed. You can waste a lot of time and money guessing at a problem and throwing home or over-the-counter remedies at it -- all while your dog continues to suffer.
Bottom line: Nothing beats a spot-on diagnosis and proper course of treatment from a good veterinarian.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com.
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