Question:
: : hi,
: : i read the faq on submissive urination. i don't understand why my 2 1/2 year old female jrt just started doing this. nothing has changed in her/our life. when she was about 1 yr old we got another jrt, a male. they are the best of friends, have to do everything together, both sleep with us, we walk them together, they even switch bowls when eating. i tried everything it says in the faq and i took her to the vet. he gave me some medication that is supposed to help tighten her muscles but it's not working. she is spayed by the way. i don't scold her when she does it. i ignore it and take her right outside (it usually happens when i come home after being out for a few hours) she even does it outside if she's been out for awhile and i come out and she gets excited. any other suggestions? the male doesn't do it...
: : thanks!
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: Susan,
: I hate to say this but something has changed in your housewhole or she wouldn't be doing this. She is reacting to something someone is doing and I don't know what it is because I am not there. YOU are going to have to do some detective work on this, and correct the problem. Using the methods in the FAQ may take many, many months. I wish I could be of more help but this and what is in the FAQ is all I can tell you. You may want to ask your Vet about finding a Behaviorist in your area to help you solve this, but all I can tell you that this is a reaction that is human caused.
: Sorry I can't be of more help but if you follow the guidelines in the FAQ it will work, but as I said it may take months.
: Regards
: Linda
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As Linda said, something has definitely changed in your household. Submissive urination doesn't just pop up out of nowhere. You say you got your male a year ago, and I'm assuming he was a pup. Now that he's a young adult, chances are good that there are some signals being passed between the two dogs that you aren't picking up on. He may be taking the Alpha roll, and your female may be assuming submissive posture in your family "pack." Hence the submissive urination.
I concur with Linda's advice to check out the FAQs. See a vet a rule out any medical issues. If it becomes a serious problem and there is no medical cause, perhaps your vet will know a behaviorist/trainer who might be able to help you get to the root of things.
Jane
