Why does my dog pee when he gets excited or greets me?

3 min read Updated on October 8, 2026

In shortMost of the time it is about emotion, not house-training. In puppies and young dogs, the bladder lets go when excitement rises, because bladder control is not fully mature yet. There is also appeasement peeing, often called submissive peeing: the dog makes himself small, crouches or rolls over and pees when someone leans over him or scolds him. Both often fade as he grows up, as long as he is never punished and greetings get calmer.

What it often means

A bladder that lets go under emotion: in a puppy, control is not mature yet, and the excitement of a reunion overwhelms it.
Appeasement peeing: when someone leans over him, stares at him or scolds him, he makes himself small and pees to defuse the moment.
A sensitive temperament: shy or unsure dogs do it more, especially with strangers and loud voices.
Over-the-top reunions: squeals, hands everywhere, a party at the door, and the excitement climbs past what he can control.
Less often, a medical issue: a urinary infection or incontinence that shows up when he gets excited.

Signals to read at the same time

The posture: standing, wiggling and bouncing while he pees means excitement; crouched or rolled onto his back means appeasement.
The calming signals around it: ears pinned back, tail low, eyes averted, lip licking.
The trigger: you coming home, a guest, a hand reaching over his head, a scolding voice.
The amount and timing: a few drops in the moment, real puddles, or leaks while he sleeps.
His age and history: a puppy who has always done it is not the same as a house-trained adult who suddenly starts.

What you can do

Never scold him: with appeasement peeing, scolding triggers exactly what you want to stop.
Make your arrivals boring: walk in without a word, ignore him for a few minutes, then greet him calmly once he has settled.
Greet him outside or on an easy-to-clean floor, and take him out to pee before guests arrive.
Turn sideways, crouch, skip the eye contact, and pet his chest rather than the top of his head. A treat tossed on the floor helps too.
Clean with an enzymatic cleaner, not bleach or ammonia-based products, to erase the smell that draws him back to the same spot.

When to see a vet

See a vet if accidents start in a house-trained adult, if he leaves wet spots where he sleeps, pees small amounts often, strains, has blood in his urine or drinks much more. A urinary tract infection, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease or incontinence, especially in spayed females, can be behind it. A puppy who dribbles all the time, even at rest, should be examined too.

Frequently asked questions

At what age does it stop?

Most often it fades as he grows up, as bladder control matures and he gains confidence. It can take several months. If it continues into adulthood, or if he also pees outside emotional moments, ask your vet for a urine check.

He pees when I scold him. Is he doing it on purpose?

No, quite the opposite: he is trying to appease you, and the pee slips out. Scolding worries him more and leads to more accidents. Change your posture instead: soft voice, turned sideways, no leaning over, and reward him when he dares to come closer.

It happens mostly with guests. What can I do?

Brief them before you open the door: no direct stare, no hand over his head, no high-pitched voice for the first few minutes. Let him come and sniff them, and have them toss a treat on the floor. If you can, do introductions outside.

Is it a house-training problem?

No. A dog who pees from emotion can be perfectly house-trained otherwise. Going back to potty training basics will not change much; lowering the intensity of greetings will.

Mimo reads behavior. It does not replace a vet.