Perfect Paws, a website of Gwen Bohnenkamp was a link provided by one of our members on the Forum, Quel, in reply to another member having  problems with her 'piddling' puppy...

Of course I had to see it and oh, what a refreshing view on puppies and puppy raising... Almost everything I read on Gwen's website would apply perfectly to our German Shepherd Dogs.  After reading Gwen's numerous 'training' articles I could not resist and I wrote to Gwen asking for permission to use some of her kind suggestions on our website...  She graciously agreed. Thank you Gwen!

Here is Gwen's article on:

Submissive wetting or urination is a normal way for dogs and puppies to demonstrate submissive behavior. Even a dog that is otherwise housetrained may leave dribbles and puddles of urine at your feet and on the floor when greeting you.

Submissive urination is the ultimate show of respect and deference for higher rank. It occurs frequently with young puppies who have not yet learned and perfected other social skills and means of showing respect. Submissive urination in adult dogs is usually a sign of insecurity. Often unsocialized and abused dogs will submissively urinate. Other dogs that engage in submissive urination may simply have not been shown that there are more acceptable ways to show respect, such as paw raising (shake hands) or hand licking (give a kiss). Submissive urination may be present in overly sensitive or mistreated dogs because they feel the need to constantly apologize. This state is often caused by excessive or delayed punishment which frightens and confuses the dog without teaching him how to make amends. The dog resorts to the only way he knows to show respect and fear, by submissive urination.

When your dog urinates in this manner, it is best to just ignore him. If you try to reassure him, he will think you are praising him for urinating and will urinate even more. If you scold him, he will feel an even greater need to apologize by urinating. Either reassurance or scolding will only make submissive urination worse.

Written by Gwen Bohnenkamp and reproduced with her written permisssion from  Perfect Paws