Adopted dog pees and whines when touched. Is it abuse or fear?

As with any symptom like this, and with any new pet, an initial exam with your vet to rule out health issues is a good first step. That said, submissive urination like this is very common in puppies or dogs that are unsure of the situation, and if Layla is still new to the home, this could be the case. It may resolve on its own after some time once she gets used to you and your routines. Maintaining a routine, staying calm, and interacting with Layla on easy to clean surfaces can help during the transition.

My heart hurts for this poor dog! It sounds like she is suffering from submissive urination, and this will take time and training to fix. Do not make a big deal when you come home. Come in quietly, greet Abby softly, and let her approach you. If you make a loud noise or rush right over to her, that can lead to the submissive urination. Don't comfort her when she cowers. While you think you are helping her, you are actually teaching her that it's ok to behave this way. Comforting her reinforces the behavior. When people come over, I'd put her in a crate. It needs to be big enough for her to stand up and turn around in. This will give her a safe space of her own. Don't let people approach the crate, give her space. Patience is key in dealing with these dogs, and losing your temper will make the problem worse. Speak to a vet about getting a referral to a professional behavioral expert to help with this problem. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

If you have tried everything and nothing is working than your vet could prescribe medications to see if they help. If she seems very anxious than an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac or Trazodone, may help. You could also try an Adaptil collar and see if that helps. Hope something helps soon as I know it can be very frustrating. http://www.adaptil.com/us/#redirected

This is called submissive urination. It would be a good idea to have her seen and rule out an infection, but likely it is behavioral. Avoid eye contact and do not approach her. Allow her to come to you. If you want to call her over kneel down and call her from your side so you are not facing her. As she becomes more confident in her new home hopefully this will decrease but it may never go away completely. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

At 12 weeks, I highly doubt that Cortes has developed a severe dislike or fear of any particular person since my assumption is that you were his first owner. He may just be a fearful puppy that is going to require a lot more work and patience than the average dog. The other possibility is that there is a physical problem that is causing him discomfort whenever you try to contact him. If he is in some sort of pain for some reason, he may even be anticipating the contact and reacting to it beforehand. GSDs are one of the most dramatic breeds and are much more likely to act like that and do things like that than your average mutt. If you are able to rule out that there is no physical issues for sure, than I think you should consider contacting a trainer right away. Most trainers will work with you as long as your pup is at the very least Rabies vaccinated. I would stay away from puppy classes for the time being, instead using a one-on-one trainer to help you out. In terms of things you can do at home, Cortes needs to be continually rewarded for the behaviors and actions that you desire most. In a case like this, you have to take baby steps. By this, I mean if he even starts to make steps in your direction without a negative reaction, he should be rewarded with praise and treats. A bigger reward should be given for even great accomplishments. I think teaching the touch command in this particular instance would be a great idea. This will allow you to communicate with and play a game with Cortes without actually having so touch him physically. The idea of the game is to have your dog touch his nose to your hand or to an object of your choosing. There should be many different tutorials and videos all over the internet that will show you how best to teach a dog this effectively. I know it's hard and it sounds like Cortes might be harder than others, but don't give up just yet! It's all very new for the both of you. Hope this helps!

Poor Lillian. Make every effort to get her outside to potty. Also work on making her more comfortable. It's a big change for her. Once she is comfortable in the house, you can begin trying to get her comfortable outside. It's possible something has scared her in the past and now she has developed a negative association. You may try to counteract this by creating a positive association. Begin by having a high value treat or toy. Start playing/a training session inside the house by the door way. Do this for a few days. Once Lillian seems comfortable playing by the door way, toss the toy or treat outside and allow her to retrieve it and come back inside. Do this until Lillian is comfortable. Then move outside by the doorway way. Gradually move further and further away from the door way. Then begin gradually decreasing the play time and just hanging outside with her. Try not to leave her outside unattended until she seems comfortable. I hope this helps.

Carly sure is a cutie! If you notice that she is urinating unconsciously, such as in her sleep or when in a deep state of relaxation, then I would recommend to have her seen by the veterinarian. Otherwise dogs will submissively urinate. Building her confidence through a training routine, keeping her on a routine every day and daily exercise that will tire her out are all things that can help. Additionally, try to keep the environment as calm and relaxed as possible. Playing classical music, and not creating a big excitement around coming or going can help her to feel more calm. You could also seek out the assistance of a professional trainer who can watch the behavior and give you further exercises to help her confidence. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction and please feel free to post any additional questions.