Why Does My Chihuahua Pee When Excited: 10 Common Reasons

If you’re the proud pet parent of a Chihuahua, then you know they’re an incredibly brave and energetic breed. But chances are, if your Chihuahua experiences extreme excitement (such as when people visit), they may be prone to inappropriate peeing on the floor! While this behavior is certainly not ideal from a training perspective, it’s important to remember that it isn’t necessarily their fault. There could be other underlying reasons why your Chihuahua pee when excited.

From health problems to just needing a bit more practice, there are several causes for why your four-legged friend might feel the urge to go number one or two during moments of high excitement. Don’t let these accidents overwhelm you. By understanding some of the most popular explanations for puppy peeing when excited, you will soon be able to end those puddles forming around the house!

What is Submissive Urination?

Submissive urination is an involuntary physical response when a dog urinates out of fear or stress. This behavior is often seen in puppies or shy adult dogs such as Chihuahuas. It is also typically in both email and male dogs. The dog will squat low and release urine to show submission or deference when this happens. It’s an instinctive reaction that can be triggered in even well-trained dogs, especially if they face something new and unfamiliar.

Excitement urination occurs when a dog becomes over-excited or scared and urinates as an involuntary response. In other words, they are not intentionally peeing to mark their territory.

This behavior can also occur when an owner reprimands the dog for something it has done wrong. The chihuahua may respond by urinating out of submission to avoid further punishment.

Signs of Excitement Urination in Chihuahuas

The signs of excitement urination in a Chihuahua are fairly easy to spot. The most obvious sign of this is when the dog pee! But before your pup gets to that point, there are other signs and body language you should look out for so you can intervene before any accidents happen.

Pee on the floor: It’s important to distinguish between submissive and other types of urinating to address the problem accordingly. Submissive urination has some distinctive signs compared to other types of urine marking. Additionally, the amount of urine passed during submissive urination is usually small compared to other marking types since the act is involuntary and not deliberate. 

Tail is tucked: Your pup tucks its tail between its legs, raises its front paws or is held low as a sign of submission. Other signs may accompany these, such as trembling, whining, and other signs of fear.

Wetting themselves: Your pup may even wet itself when excited or scared as an involuntary reaction, much like humans might sweat when anxious.

Panting heavily: Your pup may also exhibit heavy panting or rapid breathing as its heart rate increases due to fear or excitement.

Excessively wagging the tail: Your pup’s tail may be wagging excessively to show submission or avoid confrontation.

Jumping up and down: Your pup may jump out of excitement, even if it looks like they’re trying to escape something.

Why Does My Chihuahua Pee When Excited

If you have a Chihuahua, chances are you have noticed them peeing out of excitement. It can be an embarrassing moment for owners and an uncomfortable feeling for the pup. But why does this happen? Let’s take a look at the reasons why dogs pee when excited.

💦Chihuahua Puppies Have Weak Bladder Control

Puppies can urinate when they are enthusiastic. That may occur when a loved one is greeted, during playing, or when receiving pats and embraces. Your dog’s bladder empties if they believe it’s emotionally good.

Due to the underdeveloped muscles that govern bladder emptying, these pups’ inappropriate urination is involuntary. With time and physical development, control will develop.

Although it may seem an incomplete housetraining problem, if your puppy only messes up when they’re excited, you recognize this is excitement urination. Enthusiastic young dogs that seem unable to regulate their emotions often exhibit it.

💦Submissive Behavior

Submissive dogs urinate while thrilled to show their obedience. A dog could need to act subserviently while meeting a new human, an energetic new dog buddy, or in an unknown circumstance. It is urine in the canine world.

The good news is that this dog behavior is typically a product of over-excitement and not an indication of psychological issues. You can help your chihuahua become a confident dog and overcome the urination reflex by teaching him how to remain calm in those situations.

💦Lack of training

A dog’s inappropriate urination has to do with a lack of housetraining. It is common with puppies and adopted dogs. It’s important to train your pup from a young age to prevent any accidents due to excitement urination. That includes teaching them basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it,” which can help control other destructive behaviors when they are feeling overwhelmed.

In addition, make sure to reward them for good behavior and be patient with them as they learn. It will help ensure that your pup forms a positive association with certain behaviors and will be less likely to act out of excitement.

💦Fear or Separation Anxiety

A Chihuahua may also urinate out of fear or separation anxiety when faced with something new or unfamiliar. It could be due to an unfamiliar person, a loud noise, or even an unfamiliar environment.

💦Lack of housetraining

Potty training might be more difficult for certain dogs than for others. Due to their inability to go outdoors successfully, many Chihuahuas, even older dogs, may urinate when stimulated.

Even under the finest conditions, holding urine during moments of excitement may be challenging, but this may be the trickiest difficulty for most dogs just starting.

Health Issues That Can Cause Excessive Urination

Chihuahuas can be susceptible to certain health issues that can cause excessive urination. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to be aware of the potential health risks and take steps to ensure your dog’s well-being.

➕Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 

A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria enter your pet’s bladder or urethra and begins multiplying inside the urinary tract system. Common symptoms associated with UTIs include frequent urination, pain while urinating, and cloudy urine that has a strong odor.

UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics and can usually be resolved within two weeks if caught early enough. If left untreated, however, they can quickly become serious and cause long-term damage or even death in extreme cases.

➕Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is when the bladder fails to stay closed, and urine leaks out. It can be caused by a medical issue, such as diabetes, kidney failure, or age-related changes in your pet’s muscles.

➕Kidney Disease 

Kidney disease is another potential cause of excessive urination in chihuahuas and other dogs. It occurs when there is a decrease in kidney function due to age-related degeneration or inflammation from toxins or infections such as leptospirosis or Ehrlichia virus infection.

Common symptoms include increased thirst followed by frequent urination, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Treatment depends on the underlying medical causes but often includes dietary changes and medications for pain relief and reducing inflammation. 

➕Diabetes Mellitus 

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder that occurs when a dog’s pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or its body fails to respond effectively. It’s estimated that around 1% of all dogs suffer from diabetes, with certain breeds like Chihuahuas being more prone than others.

Symptoms can include excessive thirst and urination, which can be difficult to manage without proper veterinary care. If you suspect your pet may have diabetes, it’s important to take them for testing as soon as possible.

➕Cushing’s Disease 

Cushing’s disease is another condition that can cause excessive urination in Chihuahuas and increased thirst and hunger, hair loss, pot belly appearance, muscle weakness, panting, and skin lesions/hair thinning. It is due to hormonal imbalances caused by too much production of cortisol hormones from their adrenal glands.

Treatment usually involves medications such as trilostane or mitotane, but surgery may also be necessary depending on how advanced your pup’s Cushing’s disease is at diagnosis time. 

When to Take Your Chihuahua to The Vet?

If the peeing continues and your chihuahua is exhibiting signs of excessive urination, such as going more than usual or having trouble making it outside in time, you must take them to the vet right away for a checkup.

Your vet will be able to check for any underlying medical issues that may be causing excessive urination in dogs and determine if there is anything else you should do to help manage the situation.

It’s also important that you look out for signs of dehydration, such as excessive thirst or dry nose, as well as any changes in appetite or behavioral issues that could indicate an underlying health issue. 

How to Train a Chihuahua to Stop Submissive Peeing

The first step in training your chihuahua not to submissively pee understands why they do it in the first place. It’s important to look for signs of fear or anxiety in situations where your dog pees so that you can try to reduce their stress levels before they feel the need to “submit” with urine.

Here are some tips for training your pup not to submissively pee:

✅Understand The Behavior 

The first step in training your chihuahua to stop submissive urination is understanding why they do it in the first place. Submissive peeing is a natural reaction for dogs when they feel scared or overwhelmed by their environment.

They may also display behavioral issues when excited or nervous around new people or animals. If a chihuahua feels threatened, it may also submissively urinate to appease its perceived aggressor and avoid confrontation. 

✅Keep Greetings Calm

Stay away from making a big deal out of greeting your dog. It doesn’t suggest you should ignore your chihuahua. Instead, stay calm, use a steady, quiet voice, avoid direct eye contact, and think about touching them until they’ve calmed down.

That physical contact often causes submissive urinating. Make careful to let other family members or people know what to do if your dog poopy greets them.

✅Desensitize Your Chihuahua

Your dog should become less sensitive to actions that cause submissive urination. You must first determine the circumstances that your dog is sensitive to. Then, when similar circumstances arise, begin making smaller motions and praising your dog for holding its bladder.

For instance, begin by placing your hand a few inches away from your body and praising your dog for not responding if they poop when you reach for their collar. Gradually introduce greater motions after your dog is obedient to tiny ones.

When your dog doesn’t poop or react to the motions, keep praising them. You can eventually practice handling your dog’s collar without spitting any urine on the floor.

Wearing a doggie diaper while working on desensitizing your chihuahua is another way to prevent submissive wetting. The diaper will make it more challenging to enter the submissive crouch.

✅Reward Positive Behavior 

Once you understand why your chihuahua displays this behavior, you can start training them out of it by rewarding positive behavior instead of punishing them for peeing in the wrong places.

When your chihuahua exhibits calm behavior, reward them with treats and praise to reinforce good habits. Gradually increase the rewards as your dog responds positively to their environment without fear-based responses like submissive peeing.  

It will help them associate good behavior with rewards, reducing their fear and anxiety levels until they eventually stop submissive urination episodes altogether. 

✅Avoid Punishment

It’s important to remember that punishing your pup will only make the submissive peeing worse. This negative response can only make your chihuahua more afraid, causing them to increase their fear-based responses instead of reducing them.

Instead, focus on understanding why your chihuahua does this and helping them become less fearful so they don’t feel like they need to submit with urine to appease their perceived aggressors.

✅Provide Comfort When Needed 

In addition to positive reinforcement training, it’s also important that you provide comfort and reassurance for your pup when needed. If you notice your dog displaying fearful behavior, such as cowering or shaking, give it a gentle hug or rub it behind its ears gently to reassure them that everything is okay.

It will help teach them that they don’t need to resort to fear-based responses like submissive peeing when they get nervous or scared, as they will have learned that there is nothing to fear in their environment because of the comfort and reassurance provided by their owners.

✅Be Patient With Your Chihuahua 

Training any dog takes time and patience, so don’t expect overnight results when teaching your chihuahua not to pee submissively. Be patient with your pup and understand that it will take time to learn what’s expected of them and break their old habits.

Stay consistent with your training regimen, and remember that positive reinforcement will go much further. Scolding or punishing your dog for bad behavior will only worsen the problem. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Chihuahuas grow out of excited peeing?

Chihuahuas are renowned for their naughty behavior and excited energy, even peeking into cuteness overload. They can also be stubborn when it comes to potty training; this is especially true when they become overly excited and may forget their manners and relieve themselves indoors. It inevitably leaves many pet owners asking if their pup will grow out of this trait as they age.

Generally speaking, while they may not grow out of this behavior entirely, it usually decreases significantly as the dog ages.

How do you train a chihuahua not to pee?

Training a chihuahua not to pee indoors can seem almost impossible, but with patience and consistency, it’s completely achievable. The key is to start discipline early, as soon as you get your pup home, so they learn right away which behavior is acceptable in the house.

Crate training and positive reinforcement methods, such as treats for going outside to do their business, are essential for success. It’s also important that you clean up any accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner designed specifically for pet messes, so your pup doesn’t return to the same spot time after time. Additionally, take them outside often – straight after meals or naps and reward them when they go to the correct spot.

Are Chihuahuas hard to potty train?

Chihuahuas can be challenging to potty train. They are known for their naughty behavior, which can make it difficult to keep them in line regarding bathroom habits. Additionally, Chihuahuas tend to become easily excited and forget their manners, resulting in accidents indoors. However, with the right tools, knowledge, and positive reinforcement techniques, Chihuahuas can be as easy to potty train as any other breed.

How long can a Chihuahua hold its pee?

Chihuahuas are well known for their durability and are often praised for their admirable bladder control. Depending on age, condition, and health, a Chihuahua can hold its pee anywhere from 10-12 hours or occasionally even longer with no issue. Though when young and untrained, it’s not uncommon for some puppies to require a restroom break every 2-3 hours.

How often should a Chihuahua go out to pee?

Chihuahuas are well known for their small size and playful personalities, but they still need daily exercise. How often your chihuahua should go out to pee depends largely on age, sex, and health.

Puppies typically need to go outside every couple of hours due to their smaller bladders, whereas an adult dog can hold it a bit longer between bathroom breaks. It may also vary depending on the breed – much like people, all Chihuahuas have different potty needs! The optimum frequency is 3-5 times daily, considering lifestyle and physical activity level.

Final Words

Many pet parents find it concerning and puzzling when their dog pees when excited. The good news is that this behavior is quite common and usually nothing to worry about. In most cases, a Chihuahua will outgrow this phase or learn to control himself with some simple training.

However, if the problem persists or your dog seems in distress, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian for professional advice. With patience and understanding, you can help your chihuahua through this period of excitement peeing and enjoy many years of companionship together.