What Is It?
Urinating when greeting (anxious or excited pet), or when being disciplined

What Causes It?
Anxiety
Excitement
Has a genetic component
Sometimes caused by a weak bladder sphincter

Who Does It?
Some breeds do this more commonly than others, and smaller dogs have the problem more often than large dogs.

When Does It Happen?
Only seen when greeting or being punished

How Can I Stop It?

Don't punish the dog. It's better to ignore it. Then, never let the dog see you clean up the mess.

• Delay greetings to decrease intensity of emotion.
  • Then, when the excitement has diminished, crouch to the dog's level. Turn away from the dog, and call dog to you. Greet calmly.
• Show no excitement.
• Do not loom over dog
• Use the Gentling Exercise to build confidence
• When he's calm, teach the dog his "place" to stay until you call him to greet you. This could be a crate, a particular corner of a room, etc.
  • Begin with a tether there.
  • Praise often when he's in his "place."
• If needed, crate the dog when visitors come.

Other Comments
Neuter the dog to mitigate the genetic component.
Be patient; puppies who "piddle" when excited often grow out of it.
Do not punish the dog; it increases his anxiety and makes the problem worse.
When the problem seems resolved, you can gradually give the dog a bigger greeting (it's fun for humans, too!). If the problem returns, you learn how much stimulus results in the problem.