After being away from home for nearly a year (long story), my husband came home about 5 weeks ago. At that point, I had had Kodee for more than a year. Kodee had never urinated submissively until David got home. However, he started doing this around David recently. The first time was when my husband verbally corrected him because Kodee was running away with a "stolen" shirt. He's been doing it almost every time David plays with him and Kodee gets excited, or when David walks into a room and Kodee is "startled" for lack of a better word. Kodee has never urinated submissively around me or anyone else, since I've had him (got him at 7 weeks old). I don't know if this matters, but my husband is a big guy (6'4" and around 280 lbs.) Kodee isn't used to being around men much.

My husband is concerned, as #1: We don't want Kodee peeing in the house, for whatever reason, and #2: David likes Kodee (and Kodee likes him), and he feels bad that this is still happening, even though he's been home for more than a month.

Is there a way to get Kodee to stop this? I assume he just needs to become more sure of himself around David, but how to we do this? David plays with him, corrects him verbally (he's pretty consistent with how I've trained Kodee), and sweet-talks him when he's being a good boy.

How can we stop this? TIA!

Your husband needs to learn about pack leadership and calm, assertive energy. Raising his voice and what not is obviously bothering Kodee, enough to be an issue.

Does your husband do any structured training or playtime with him? Maybe he needs to, in order for Kodee to learn that he is part of the pack. Feeding, grooming, walking ect....

Basically all of the things we talk about here.

I would also teach your husband not to bend over the top of him, but rather make himself "smaller" to Kodee by kneeling. Basically no displays of dominant behavior by hubby.

Does this make sense?

Thanks, Carol! At this moment, David is on the Leerburg site for the first time, reading up on several things. And I didn't mean to give the impression that he is raising his voice at Kodee, he just gives a firm, calm "No", like I do, but of course coming from David, it's not the same as my voice/tone, etc. so it seems to bother him. David is going to try to work on bonding more w/Kodee, and not focus so much on any training or corrections, etc right now.

Thanks so much for the advice - I really appreciate it!

Submissive urination occurs when dogs are confronted with facial expressions, body postures or gestures that your dog perceives as a threat. This includes humans reaching for them, petting them on the head, leaning over them, talking to them in excited, deep or harsh tones...(maybe your husbands stern no command), making eye contact with them or punishing them verbally. In canine communication dominance gestures include staring, standing over,putting a paw across the back of another dogs neck and low growls. Dogs interpret human actions as they would other dogs. These dogs hope that if they submissivly urinate or roll on their back to expose their belly, that this behavior will stop the threat from the human. However most humans continue to lean over,pet and try to comfort the dog. However the dog sees this as a continued threat rather than a comforting gesture. You need to change your dogs behavior. Several ways to do this would be to avoid doing anything that causes the urination. Your husband should not rush toward the dog to greet him, instead allow the dog to approach your husband on his own. He should speak softly to the dog, not stern at this point, and avoid prolonged eye contact. He should also kneel down to avoid towering over your dog. Ignoring the dog for the first 5 minutes when arriving home may prevent excitement or anxiety. Don't reach over the dogs head to pet him, pet him under the chin,on the chest or the side of the neck. He could also be taught a alternate greeting behavior such as meeting the dog at the door with a treat or toy. He will learn to anticipate food or play when he comes home and will be less likely to urinate. With treats you can shape the dogs behavior from an excited or submissive behavior to a calm one.When your dog begins to look for the treat, wait for him to sit calmly before giving it. Give your dog a treat later when he is sitting calmly, being petted by your husband and not giving any submissive getures. Submissive gestures would be laying his ears back,tucking his tail, cowering and avoiding eye contact. And never punish your dog for submissive urination. Some dogs are so sensitive that even facial expressions or tense body language from your husband is enough to cause him to urinate. I would suggest your husband do some basic OB or a dog sport with your dog. Any type of confidence building activity between the two would help. Hope this helps!