🐶 Managing Excitement and Conflict Urination in Dogs: Vet Advice for 2025 💧

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Greeting your dog should be a joyful experience—but for many owners, it also involves unexpected puddles. If your pup tinkles when you get home, greet visitors, or even when excited to play, they may be experiencing excitement or conflict urination. In this 2025 guide, we’ll explore how to recognize, manage, and reduce these behaviors using gentle, vet-approved strategies. 🐾

🩺 Rule Out Medical Causes First

Before addressing behavioral issues, it’s essential to rule out underlying health conditions such as:

• 🧪 Urinary tract infections
• 🪨 Bladder stones
• 📉 Incomplete housetraining
• 🧬 Ectopic ureters or kidney conditions

Your veterinarian may run bloodwork, urinalysis, and imaging to confirm there are no physical causes. Once cleared, the next step is identifying the type of urination. 🩺🐕

🔍 Conflict vs. Excitement Urination

⚠️ Conflict Urination

This behavior is driven by anxiety and occurs during interactions where your dog feels unsure or intimidated—even if they also want affection. Signs include:

• 🙃 Rolling on their back
• 🙇‍♂️ Cowering or crouching
• 🗣️ Peeing when approached, scolded, or stared at

This is a submissive response—your dog isn’t misbehaving; they’re showing fear and uncertainty. 🧠💔

🎉 Excitement Urination

Occurs when your dog is just too thrilled—often while:

• 💃 Jumping up to greet you
• 🦴 Running toward the door
• 🗣️ Receiving guests or playing energetically

These dogs may wiggle and wag as they tinkle—it’s usually about immature bladder control, not fear. 🎊

🚫 Avoid Punishment at All Costs

Punishment backfires—especially with conflict urination. It worsens fear and can increase both frequency and severity. Yelling, scolding, or physical correction should never be used. ❌

🛠️ Vet-Recommended Strategies

📉 For Conflict Urination

• 🧎 Greet your dog at their level—don’t loom or reach over their head
• 🔉 Use a calm, soothing voice
• 👁️ Avoid direct, prolonged eye contact
• 🐾 Invite them to you—don’t invade their space
• 🎯 Use cues like “touch” or “pick up a toy” to redirect greeting energy
• 🧼 Train low-key greeting rituals using mats, platforms, or waterproof areas

🎮 For Excitement Urination

• 💧 Ensure regular bathroom breaks throughout the day
• 🐶 Ask friends or dog walkers to help if you’re away
• 🎾 Provide toys or scatter treats as you walk through the door
• 📦 Set up a safe haven behind a baby gate during guest arrivals
• 🧘 Focus on calm greetings and conditioned relaxation on a mat

🏡 Safe Havens and Greeting Zones

Set up a designated “greeting station”:

• 📍 Waterproof mat or raised platform
• 🦴 Keep treats and toys nearby
• 🧘 Use it to redirect energy during high-stimulus moments

Over time, this structure teaches dogs what to expect—and helps them regulate emotional overflow. 🧠

🧘 Teaching Calm Greeting Behaviors

Try these training steps:

1. 💤 Reinforce calm behavior (“sit” or “touch” gets treats)
2. 🦴 Capture good behavior during greetings—like staying on a mat
3. 🕓 Keep interactions short and calm—then build up duration
4. 🚪 After guests settle, introduce the dog with low-key games

📈 Will My Dog Outgrow This?

• ✅ Excitement urination usually improves with age
• 🧠 Conflict urination may persist without management or training

Regardless of the type, gentle handling, patience, and predictability are key to improvement. 🧘🐾

📝 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

If your dog pees during greetings, they’re not being disobedient—they’re overwhelmed. Whether it’s joy, fear, or confusion, your job is to guide them gently with calm cues and consistent routines. The path to dry, confident greetings starts with empathy and a plan. 💛

Need help customizing a calm greeting routine or figuring out if medical issues are involved? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📱 for expert guidance on emotional and behavioral wellness. 🐕💧