Can anyone suggest any methods I can use to stop my over exuberant four month old German Shepherd bitch puppy from piddling on my kitchen floor and the shoes of visitsors who come to my house please? I am an experienced owner, having shown and bred GSD's during the 1970's and 1980's and having owned them for 45 years, as well as other breeds during this time. My beautiful little bitch, which I am hoping to show in the Spring, has had this problem since I collected her from the reputable  breeders at the age of eight weeks. She has been totally housetrained, both day and night for several weeks now, both in our kitchen/diner and her large overnight cage. We can leave her for several hours and she never toilets in the house. She has started puppy training/ringcraft classes and has now been to a total of six sessions. She never puddles at these sessions when approached by people wishing to fuss her. She has also been socialised in town, at the coast and on short walks from home, and again, has never puddled at strangers. She occasionally still does it when my husband and I fuss her.
The methods we have used so far have included: putting her outside when visitors arrive and letting her watch them for five minutes through the patio doors in our kitchen/diner, asking everyone not to fuss her for a few minutes after arriving, putting her in her cage to see visitors for a while before allowing her to go to them, totally ignoring the puddling, telling her she is a naughty girl and pointing to the puddle. However, none of these have been in any way successful.
I realise that many people would say "she is just a puppy and will outgrow it" but as she gets bigger, so the size of the puddles increase! We have never smacked her, shouted at her or caused her any distress to give her any reason to act in this way. We have a baby gate between the dining room and hallway and if a visitor puts their hand over the gate to stroke her she also puddles. She shows no sign of nervousness and is, in fact, a very bold, very playful puppy who loves everyone and all dogs ( they say at training that she has the courage of a lion as nothing phases her). She is also very excitable.
I have never had this problem with a puppy before, so have exhausted all the logical cures!!! Please can anyone suggest any different methods to try - I am open to all suggestions!
Thank you,
Sandie

This is just submissive urination, and is very common in young puppies.  IF (important point) you don't make a big deal of it, and don't say anything or rush at her or say anything whatsoever about it, she will grow out of it as she gets older.

If you say 'no' or 'outside' or anything in a harsh tone of voice, you can make the dog try to appease you even more, leading to even worse widdling... and to it becoming an ongoing problem for much much longer. 

So - take puppy outside to meet people, where it doesn't matter if she widdles on first meeting them.  If she does it indoors, say absolutely nothing and just clean it up.  As she gets older and feels more confident, she will stop doing it.

Thank you for your reply. We will definitely try taking her outdoors to meet people and do as you say. I so hope she outgrows it soon!
Sandie

used to have a dog come to class - herbie the piddle-pup - we guessed it was partly submissive and partly excitement. ALWAYS said hello outside the hall. He DID grow out of it as he got older

Oh yes my American cocker used to do that! As others have said, get visitors to meet her outside for now, and yes she almost certainly will grow out of it as she matures. :-)

My Beardie girl did it too she outgrew it

Thank you for your reply. I do hope she grows out of it as she is a superb puppy and so loving!

Many thanks. Reply appreciated. It may be me that needs the confidence!!!

Thank you for your reply. I keep my fingers crossed!

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will take heed of all comments from owners who say their dogs outgrew the problem. I live in hope!!!

Many thanks for your reply. It is good to know that other people have experienced this problem and that their dogs outgrew it. I live in hope!

Like the others have written my BC bitches have always peed in excitement as puppies, the dogs less so & without fail they all "grew" out of it. The bitches usually after their first season.

Our second hound did this, but thankfully he grew out of it, pretty soon.   As long as she doesn't have a weak (immature, other medical problem) bladder she should stop this eventually.  It is usually submissive urination and in that, I'd simply let her greet visitors where the occasional letting go, can be quickly wiped up.  Perhaps that's going to have to be outside but if so, so be it.    I'm wondering whether the 'putting a hand over the gate' isn't a good idea - a hand coming from above, can be threatening to a dog.   I know it's going to be difficult with a puppy, but to be honest, until she's through this 'stage', which I hope is all this is, for your sake, I'd not bother letting anybody coming into your house touch her at all.   If she's not doing this at ringcraft, clearly it's not really a huge problem.   Perhaps she's really not happy having anybody come into 'her' home, which is why she's reacting like this.   She knows they are coming in, doesn't like it but knows she can't react as she'd like to?

Thank you for your reply. One thing I forgot to add was that the 'hand over the gate' is not quite as it sounds!  Being four months old, Skye can put her front paws on the gate, which leaves her head and shoulders above the height of the gate, being on a level with visitors. However, I was interested in your comments, thank you. As she is dry overnight and during the day and hasn't properly puddled in the house for weeks now, I am sure there is no bladder weakness. She is normally such a good girl!
Much appreciated

My 8 month bitch (home bred) still does this. We have her meet people outside before they come in, this way, at least our carpets are safe if people's feet aren't ;)
I try to encourage people to ignore her when they come over as she is particularly excitable anyway and, being a Leo, is a little too large to have jumping over everyone. Once she has settled, she's allowed to have attention as fuss and cuddles. I'm sort of on a fine balancing act. I want her to not think people are a novelty to get excited about, but I'm also trying to limit her exposure to the over stimulus that causes her to tinkle. So far so good, she's settling much quicker now when people come over and only doing a tinkle squirt when outside.