Q: I have a Pomeranian. He's very intelligent and he really minds, but I have a small problem. Whenever it's time to go to bed, he knows he's going to be taken out to the back yard. He has a very confortable bed, and when we call him to go outside he goes and hides; when we pick him up, he wets everywhere. Also, if we get mad at him he wets.  Please help, I don't know what to do.

A: This is a behavior called submissive urination. Actually, to call it a behavior is probably a misnomer, because it's not voluntary on the part of a dog. In a pack, this behavior would "switch off" dominant actions on the part of the more dominant pack member of which the submissive dog is frightened. Since he is a very obedient dog, he is likely hypersensitive to an angry tone from humans. It's just too much, it's overkill, it's more than is necessary to control his behavior.

Submissive urination becomes a conditioned reflex when the same situation is repeated that threatens the dog. Some dogs are just much more submissive and will more easily feel threatened than others. Those dogs need different handling.

Now that the problem has started, it will take changing the way you handle the dog, in order to help the dog get over it. One thing you might do is use treats to bring the dog to his bed, rather than picking him up to take him there. Another thing to consider is moving his bed. If he feels isolated from the family at night, this can be very distressing to a dog. They are pack animals, and have a strong need to be near their pack. The ideal place for a dog to sleep is in a crate or bed on the floor of a person's bedroom.

For the situation of the dog wetting when people get mad at him, you'll need to change the way you govern the dog. Giving him some positive training would tremendously improve his self-confidence (which makes him feel less abjectly submissive, and therefore reduces the trigger for the urination), and also give you more positive means to communicate with him.

You may need a good obedience class to achieve this. There is usually a good one offered through your nearest obedience training club. Your post didn't mention if you are in the United States, but if you are, the obedience clubs are listed by state on the website www.akc.org. The classes are very affordable, because they are taught by dedicated volunteers.

Pomeranians are smart dogs, and you'll probably be quite pleased with his progress in class. Another thing you can use to work on training until you get to class is a little book called The Canine Good Citizen by Jack and Wendy Volhard. It has step-by-step information telling you exactly how to do it.

Still, you and the dog will both benefit from the help of an instructor. You don't want to let this situation continue, because it becomes more and more permanent over time. Changing how you handle the dog will almost surely cure it, but it's not a fast cure.

Another thing I should mention is that if he also has frequent urination or any other symptoms of discomfort or abnormality on urination, it would be wise to have him checked out by a veterinarian. A urinary tract infection will make submissive urination more severe, and harder to cure. You wouldn't want to be working against that added problem, when simple antibiotics will cure it. I hope things go very well.