Dog Peeing While Walking? 9 Possible Reasons & What To Do! (2024)

A cute, little Beagle puppy walking toward the camera while enjoying a walk on a grassy hill.

Walking your dog is a time for bonding and socialization. It’s also a part of housetraining. But is your dog peeing while walking? That can certainly break the mood!

A dog peeing while walking is not normal, and if your dog has this problem, there could be an underlying medical issue or behavioral problem.

Why does my dog pee while walking? The most common reason a dog pees while walking is incontinence. Your dog could also suffer from another health problem such as a urinary tract infection. Other reasons include submissive urination, over excitement, marking behaviors, and being forced to hold it too long.

If your dog is urinating while walking and you are looking for a cause and treatment, continue reading for helpful information and tips.  

Reasons for Urinating While Walking

There are many reasons why your dog could be urinating while walking. It is essential to find the cause so you can help your dog regain bladder control.

1. Submissive Urination

Submissive urination occurs when a dog urinates out of fear or confusion or in a display of submission. This can even occur when meeting new people or when welcoming home a family member.

If you see your puppy or dog peeing while walking, he may be scared of someone or something nearby. Loud noises, cars, and other dogs can lead to submission urination.

Signs

The most obvious sign of submissive urination is peeing as a reaction to something negative or a perceived threat.

A dog peeing while walking and shows any of the following signs, it could be submissive urination. 

  • Flattened ears
  • Refusal to make eye contact
  • Tucked tail
  • Lying on back
  • Cowering

What To Do

If you suspect your dog may be submissively urinating, there are a few things you can do to help. 

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2. Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections can cause dogs to lose control of their bladders. Urinary tract infections can be painful and lead to more frequent urination. 

Signs

If your dog seems to be exhibiting any of the following symptoms, he (UTIs are more common in females) could have a urinary tract infection.

  • Sudden loss of bladder control
  • Whining or howling while urinating
  • Blood in urine
  • Urinating in the house even if housebroken
  • Urinating frequently

What To Do

If your dog has a urinary tract infection, he may need to see a veterinarian for an antibiotic. You can also treat your dog at home by offering plenty of fresh water and encouraging him to drink often. 

You can also add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their bowl to help kill bacteria in the urinary tract. Provide plenty of rest while your dog recovers.

3. Urinary Incontinence

A dog peeing while walking may have urinary incontinence. Urinary continence occurs when your dog can no longer control the bladder. It’s common with certain illnesses and in aging pets. 

Signs

Some of the signs of urinary incontinence include:

  • Inability to control urination
  • Leaking or dribbling urine
  • Urinating small amounts frequently

What To Do

While urinary incontinence is often a sign of aging in dogs, there are other causes that can be treated. Treatment may include: 

  • Change of diet
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Medications to strengthen the muscles in the bladder walls

4. Urine Held for Too Long

If your dog is not getting enough walks or bathroom breaks, he may be trying to hold his urine in for too long.

A dog peeing while walking without pausing to squat or lift a leg could just be unable to hold his bladder any longer. 

Signs

  • Urinating as soon as the walk begins
  • Distress and anxiety before walking
  • Urinating during every walk

What To Do

If your dog is holding in urine too long and peeing as soon as he starts to walk, it’s a good idea to take your dog out more frequently.

Your dog may need to have more bathroom breaks or may need to urinate before you start walking.

5. Overly Excited

Some dogs urinate when they get excited. They simply lose control of their bladders because they are more focused on the things around them. 

Signs

If your dog is demonstrating any of the behaviors below in addition to your dog dog peeing while walking, he may be overly excited. 

  • Jumping
  • Spinning
  • Tail wagging
  • Running back and forth

What To Do

The following tips can help your dog avoid urinating from excitement while walking.

  • Introduce your dog to new situations slowly
  • Keep your dog calm
  • Socialize more often
  • Consider obedience training
  • Engage your dog in a vigorous, energy-draining playtime before heading out for walk.

6. Marking Behavior

Your dog may be peeing while walking because he wants to mark his territory. This is particularly common in male dogs.

Signs

Here are some signs your dog may be marking while walking. 

  • Peeing on objects
  • Lifting leg higher than normal
  • Sniffing around before peeing
  • Dog peeing while walking with increased frequency

What To Do

If your dog is marking their territory by peeing while walking, the best option is neutering. Marking is a natural urge for dogs, but that urge is reduced when the dog is neutered.

7. Ectopic Ureters

Dogs that suffer from ectopic ureters are more likely to have incontinence and urinate while walking.

This is a congenital abnormality that affects the bladder and can lead to frequent urination and more common urinary tract infections.

Signs

Some symptoms of ectopic ureters include:

  • Bloody urine
  • Leaking urine
  • Frequent urination
  • Incontinence

What To Do

If your dog has ectopic ureters, a veterinarian will diagnose the disorder, and surgery may be required for treatment.

8. Estrus

Female dogs who are going through estrus can experience swollen genitals, which can make it hard to control their bladders. This can lead to frequent and accidental urination while walking.

Some females may also intentionally urinate while walking to attract a potential mate.

Signs

Female dogs can go into estrus several times a year. Some signs of estrus include: 

  • Personality changes
  • Change in appetite
  • Swollen genitals
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Tail tucking
  • Bloody discharge

What To Do

Estrus is a natural process, and it can last a few days to a few weeks.

The best thing to do for your dog is to give her plenty of attention, keep her comfortable, and fit her with a diaper to help with discharge and incontinence until her estrus cycle is over.

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9. Does Not Yet Have Full Control of Bladder

It can take puppies several months to learn full bladder control. If you have a young puppy who is peeing while walking, this could be the reason.

Signs

Some signs that your puppy may not have full bladder control include: 

  • Not yet housebroken
  • Peeing without warning
  • Urinating in inappropriate places
  • Incontinence

What To Do

Work with your puppy to establish a training routine and be patient with training.

Never punish your puppy during potty training, and remember that crate training can encourage your pup to gain control faster.

Is It Normal for a Dog To Pee While Walking?

Closeup of a purebred Akita

A dog peeing while walking is not exhibiting normal behavior. 

If your dog is peeing while walking without pausing for a bathroom stop, he could be scared, excited, marking, or suffering from a medical problem.

Why Is My Dog Leaking Urine All of a Sudden?

If your dog doesn’t seem to be deliberately urinating but seems to be leaking, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or incontinence.

Have the dog seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible so that any treatment needed can be started before the problem gets worse.

Related Questions: 

Why Does My Dog Pee While Walking in the House?

If your dog is peeing while walking in the house, it may be a sign of incontinence, a urinary tract infection, or a behavior problem.

Have a checkup performed to rule out or treat any medical issues before assuming that it’s a behavioral problem.

Why Is My Dog Peeing While Sleeping?

Urinary incontinence is the most common reason why a dog may be urinating while lying down. Lying in a certain position can make the incontinence more severe.

Conclusion 

If your dog is suffering from any type of urination issues while walking, it may be a sign of a medical condition or could be a behavioral problem.

It’s always best to have a veterinarian check your dog to rule out any medical issues. If the dog is healthy in every way, know that behavioral causes of a dog peeing while walking are often easy to correct with proper training.

Last update on 2024-11-12 at 01:07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API