Hello. I am a human bear, a dog trainer and behavior modification expert. There are times when a puppy gets tired of being too excited or gets tired of being too scared. In many cases, it becomes a habit rather than being corrected due to complaints or reactions from guardians. In this article, I will introduce a simple way to fix it. It can be done in 2 weeks at most!!

Let’s start with a proven pattern.

“Stuck because I’m happy/scared” is not a failure in toilet training, but is often the first reaction of the body when emotions rise (excitement/anxiety). So the key is not to “teach better,” but to change the way we greet each other (stimulus) and the timing of skinship (reward).

[Repeated ‘representative situation’]

• As soon as the door is opened, a loud voice, an outstretched hand, and an immediate hug → The dog lowers its body and nudges
• “Why are you doing this again?” If pressure comes even once → the next greeting becomes more anxious and comes out more easily
• Conversely, if you repeat 10 to 30 seconds of ‘quiet waiting’ + briefly stroking only when you feel calm, learning begins with “calm = skinship”

How to deal with a dog that urinates when greeted

Change just three things starting today.

• Returning home/greeting guests = Be quiet (talk/hands/eyes to a minimum) for the first 10 to 30 seconds
• Skinship = All fours on the ground + 1-2 seconds only when body is relaxed (stop breathing, jumping) (sitting or lying down is better)
• Alternative action = Move to “greet at the mat (seat)” rather than in front of the door

※ If it starts suddenly, urinates frequently/painfully, or there are changes in blood in the urine/bad odor/leaking at night, check at the hospital first before correcting behavior.

Supporting data

• VCA Hospitals: Submissive/Excitement/Conflict Urination
• Animal Humane Society: Submissive & Excitement Urination
• SF SPCA PDF: Submissive & Excitement Urination
• UC Davis Vet Med PDF: Submissive & Excitement Urination
• Best Friends: ignore first, calm greeting

3 key things

• How to tell if your dog ‘Jirim’ is failing in potty training or is reacting with excitement or fear
• Routine of waiting until the dog becomes calm and adjusting skinship to “timing”
• Greeting rules that all visitors and family can follow + 14-day plan

First of all, let me tell you something: a puppy that gets tired doesn’t do that on purpose. In most cases, the body reacts first because it is too excited (excitement) or a little scary (submission, anxiety)

Puppy Jirim, first distinguish between types (excitability vs obedience, fear)

1) Characteristics of excited urination (happy urination, oliguria)

• Explodes at ‘events’ such as guardian returning home, walking lead, snack, close friend, etc.
• The body is bouncing, the tail is wagging, the expression is bright, but urine comes out ‘in a trickle’
• In general, the “type that calms down slowly” tends to repeat more often

2) Submissive/fearful urination characteristics (frightened)

• When approached, lower the body, avoid eye contact, turn the ears back, and crouch down
• Easily explodes from pressure such as loud sounds, hurried hands, pushing from above, hugging
• The more scolded or hastily restrained, the more likely it is to appear

Core principle: “With calm comes skinship”

This is the main point of today’s article.

① When the dog is ‘unstable’ due to excitement or anxiety, skinship is postponed for a while
② Only give skinship (attention) at ‘moments of calm’
③ Increasing the speed of the dog to organize its own emotions

This is not ignoring, but training to strengthen calmness.

5-step rule of thumb (starting today)

1) Change the greeting to ‘wait’ instead of ‘ignore’ (30 seconds)

• As soon as you open the door, talk to her, pet her, hug her → STOP
• Put down your bag, put away your shoes Stand quietly and do your daily routine
• Even if the dog jumps, it doesn’t matter if you minimize your reaction “until it calms down” or even pretend not to notice.

Point: It is easy for dogs to learn that “people react when they are excited.” On the contrary, it is changed to “When you become calm, people will approach you.”

2) Skinship is only possible when “all four feet are on the ground + body is relaxed” (sitting or lying down is better)

• Conditions: All feet on the floor + Jump stops + Breathing slightly lower
• Only then stroke briefly for 1-2 seconds and then stop again (shortly and frequently)
• What if I get excited again? Wait again for 10 seconds → When you feel calm again, do skinship

This way, your dog will quickly learn the “calm = skinship” formula.

3) ‘3 sentences of house rules’ including visitors and children

• “When you come in, be quiet first.”
• “Even when the dog approaches, he doesn’t put his hand out first.”
• “When I feel calm, I say hello briefly.”

Especially for those who are scared, the movement of the hand coming down from above may feel more burdensome. If possible, stand to the side (45˚) and slightly move your gaze/body. When approaching, it is better to turn slightly rather than straight ahead.

4) Alternative behavior: ‘Receiving greetings with a mat (seat)’

• Place a mat next to the door, and guide people to the mat without saying a word when they come in
• As soon as you step on the mat for just 1 second, you get a snack (“Good!” → reward)
• If you get off the mat, don’t scold me, but encourage me to be quiet again

If you change the “movement line” of the personnel situation, the probability of being bored is noticeably reduced.

5) Management to reduce recurrence (defecation timing, movement/cleaning)

• It is easy to burst in front of the door for the first two weeks, so manage your movement with fences and leads
• Take care of the area where a mistake was made so that no odor remains (important to prevent recurrence)

14-day plan (short, frequent, only building success)

Days 1 to 3: Create a greeting ‘wait 10 seconds’

• Wait quietly for 10 seconds when you get home → Stroke for 1 second when you feel calm
• It’s okay to “go home from practice” only 3 times a day (open and close the door)

Days 4 to 7: Change route to mat

• Reward just for getting on the mat next to the door
• Reward for staying on the mat for 2 seconds

Days 8-14: Visitor rehearsal (family members act as guests)

• Guest role: quietly, to the side, without extending your hand
• Puppy role: Reward when he goes to the mat, a short greeting when he is calm

Summary box

Checklist (for guardians)

• □ You can write down 3 or more situations that make you feel anxious (returning home/visitors/hugging, etc.)
• □ Before starting the greeting, try “waiting quietly” for 10 to 30 seconds
• □ Only give skinship for 1-2 seconds when you are calm
• □ Visitors were asked to ‘not extend their hands/be quiet/to the side’
• □ Put a mat in front of the door and changed it to “Hello when you get to the mat”

5 FAQ

Q1. Can’t I scold you?

A. Most of the time, Jirim is an emotional reaction, so if you scold him, he may become more withdrawn or more likely to explode in the next greeting. “Enhancing calmness” is the correct answer.

Q2. Does it go away on its own when you grow up?

A. Some decrease as they grow, but if the greeting pattern is established, it can continue even into adult dogs. If you set the rules now, things will stabilize much faster.

Q3. I get tired when you hug me. How do I do it?

A. Instead of “no hugs” for just two weeks, change it to “no hugs when you’re calm.” First, sit/mat → 3 seconds calm → Start with a short lift (1 second).

Q4. Every time a guest comes, the floor is a mess.

A. Guest education is 50%. When entering, no response for 30 seconds + stand to the side + do not extend your hand. Reward your dog by guiding him to the mat.

Q5. When should I go to the hospital?

A. If it started suddenly, urinating frequently/painfully, waking up at night, or experiencing hematuria/bad odor/pain reactions, medical treatment comes before training.

Next Recommended Post

• Scared If you’re curious about the signs: Why your dog is shaking (checking for anxiety signs)
• Bite/Bark/Hyperexcitability If we are together: Complete summary of seat (mat) training
• <a href="https://saramgomdog.com/entry/%EA%B0%95%EC%95%84%EC%A7%80-%ED%9B%88%EB%A0%A8%EC%9D%B4-%EC%8B%A The routine If it keeps falling apart: 7 things that houses that fail training have in common
• I The more urgent it gets, the worse it gets: The effect of guardian stress on dog behavior
• Mistake If the spot is repeated: Remove odor from toilet mistake/prevent recurrence

[Pohang area consultation/visit training guide]
If you stick with the two-week routine, it is much faster to actually see and set up the house structure/movement/personnel situation. (For consultation/visit training inquiries, please use the contact channel in the blog announcement!)