My Pet World: Contraceptives for pets? The day may be coming

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Apr 12, 2023

Can you suggest training for a young puppy who has been trained to relieve herself outside but also urinates when people come into the house? She gets excited and runs around the room, urinating in multiple locations until someone in the family picks her up. We would appreciate any suggestions. Sign me, Training a New Puppy in Westbury, New York.

Dear Training a New Puppy,

A dog's excitement can trigger an involuntary response to pee. While house-trained adult dogs learn to hold it until they get outside, puppies are still learning how to control their bladders. So, what can you do to help them along?

If your puppy is peeing inside, she is not house-trained yet. Continue to train her by taking her outside whenever she finishes playing, sleeping, or eating. Also, teach her to "relax," which involves using a reward word, like "Bingo," or a clicker to mark the correct behavior (a relaxed state) and rewarding her with a treat for doing so. Once trained, you can ask her to "relax" when the company comes over, which will reduce the sudden urge to pee that she feels when excited.

Until your puppy is older and better house-trained, I also recommend taking her outside and playing with her before your guests arrive so that she will be triggered to relieve herself when you wrap up play time and before returning to the house. You also could introduce her to new guests out in your yard, so she’s peeing in the yard and not the house.

Time and consistent training (especially how to "relax" around guests) should tamp down the triggers that currently make her pee around guests.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)