You can see it now: your aunt has just let Zeke out of the house, her little Bichon Frisé, and he welcomes you by forming his customary Pee Circle. In his excitement, he scatters his urine around you and then again when you enter the house. He's excited to see you, so excited – he just can't contain himself. While this may be cute, it isn't very flattering to your guests, so you won't want your little dog doing this for long.

Tips for dealing with excited urination:

• If your dog is under a year old, he may simply grow out of this as he matures

• If your dog is doing this consistently, don't punish him for doing it. Instead, place a towel wherever these accidents happen, so that the urine is absorbed.

• Keep greetings and arrivals calm, as too much excitability or stimulation will aggravate the condition

• Finally, just to be sure your dog's urination problems aren't due to an underlying medical problem and/or behavioral problem; consult a veterinarian or trainer as needed. They will be able to tell you what other things to look out for and work on.

Urinating because of excitement is one behavioral issue, but doing so because of fear is quite another. This is termed "submissive urinating" and may occur as part of a submissive behavior, such as cowering, shivering or exposing the belly. A dog will exhibit these behaviors usually when confronted with a person or persons whom the dog regards as threatening or dominant. Rather than attack or run away, these behaviors seek to tell the perceived threat, "I submit. You are higher than me. Don't attack me." This is not a behavior you want your dog to have, especially if you or your household is a social place, where there are many people coming and going. You want your canine friend to feel at ease with all people who enter your home.

There are several ways to help you eliminate submissive urinating and they all require you to present yourself as non-threatening.

• When approaching the dog, do not stare, or make direct eye contact. Instead, focus your eyes on the back or tail.

• Kneel down when greeting the dog, so he doesn't feel towered over.

• Pet the dog under the chin, instead of on top of the head.

• Lastly, present the side of your body rather than the front, as this allows him to feel safe approaching you.

And remember: the dog is exhibiting this submissive behavior because he is unsure and nervous around you. So it is never a good idea to react to this behavior in a physical, loud, or otherwise uncomfortable manner. You will only be giving the dog further reason to display these behaviors toward you. Instead, work with the dog on building confidence. If the dog is confident, and confident that you are pleased with his actions, he will be less likely to cower in front of you.

Here are several ways to build confidence:

• Establish fun greeting rituals, such as "shake hands" and reward amply for compliance

• Practice obedience training at home or as part of a class. This will give your dog a set of skills that he can complete, giving him a sense of belonging.

• Reward your dog constantly for good behavior and be patient with him.

Like most things worth having, there is no shortcut to resolving this type of urination. You have to just be patient, and be willing to help him become a relaxed, confident, and loyal companion. And in the end, you both will reap the rewards.