Updated on January 17, 2023
You’re probably beyond frustrated if your dog has peed on your bed. You risk having your bed ruined by your dog’s urination. In addition, your dog may be enticed to urinate there again if the odour from his previous accident is still present.
Your bed is comfortable, appealing, soft, and odours like you. Your dog will understandably want to spend lots of time there. There’s a common misconception that when dogs urinate on their owners’ beds, it’s a sign of dominance or defiance. But the actual reasons could be more convoluted than that.
For what reason does Fido soil your mattress? How do we fix this problem? Identifying the root cause of the problematic behaviour is the first step in resolving it. Inappropriate urination can be addressed in a number of ways, both professionally and at home.
Why Dogs Pee on the Bed
Your dog may be urinating on your bed for a variety of reasons. Before attempting to address possible behavioural problems, it is important to rule out medical causes.
Urinary Tract or Kidney Problems
Dogs frequently have accidents in the house due to urinary tract infections. The results of a urinalysis may require your veterinarian to examine a sample of urine. Antibiotics will be required to treat a UTI in your dog. In addition to urinary tract problems, other health issues can make it hard for dogs to hold their urine.
Cystitis (bladder inflammation), crystals in the urine, bladder stones, structural abnormalities, kidney disease, and even tumours are all other possible urinary problems seen in dogs. Medication, supplements, or dietary changes can usually resolve most urinary issues. Extreme conditions like bladder stones may necessitate surgical intervention.
Diseases of the urinary tract include diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome.
Incontinence
Ureter incontinence causes dogs to urinate on their own accord. Some dogs with incontinence only dribble urine when they sleep, while others do it even when they’re awake. Even though incontinence typically affects senior dogs, it can happen at any age to a dog if they develop certain conditions. Urinary incontinence triggered by hormones is more common in female dogs, but it can also occur in males. There are medications that can help, which is good news.
Housetraining Issues
Have you finished housebreaking your dog? Although they may appear to be mostly housebroken, some dogs will eventually discover a safe spot inside where they can relieve themselves. It’s possible that this is your future sleeping quarters! If you think your dog’s lack of housetraining is to blame, it’s time to put in more time with him in the training room.
Excitement, Fear, Stress, or Anxiety
Younger dogs often urinate excessively out of excitement. When overly excited or when placed in a submissive position, they have a tendency to dribble a little urine. Some dogs may need training if this problem persists into adulthood, though many puppies eventually outgrow it.
Anxiety, stress, and fear can all trigger inappropriate canine urination. Environmental changes could be the cause of your dog’s sudden anxiety. However, your dog’s stress levels can also be affected by preexisting medical conditions. First, ensure your dog is healthy, and then do what you can to alleviate his or her stress.
Territorial Marking
A few canine breeds are notoriously possessive of their territory. Numerous individuals have a penchant for urinating in strategic locations. However, this becomes a major issue when they do this to your bed. Training and alterations to behaviour can significantly reduce territorial marking.
How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing on the Bed
In the event that your dog has been urinating on your bed, it is recommended that you consult a vet first. It’s likely that your vet will want to examine your pet physically and obtain a urine sample to conduct a urinalysis. Sometimes more diagnostic work, including lab tests and even X-rays, is required. Your veterinarian will go over the results with you and recommend a course of treatment.
If your veterinarian has ruled out any underlying medical conditions that could be causing your dog’s inappropriate urination, you can move on to addressing the underlying behavioural issue.
Check out your dog’s surroundings first. Is there anything new that could be triggering your anxiety? Your dog may experience stress, fear, or anxiety as a result of life changes such as relocating, having a baby, adding or subtracting a pet or family member, or even your own personal problems. An anxious or fearful dog cannot be trained, so stress relief is a prerequisite to education. A veterinarian may recommend supplements or medication to help with anxiety.
Restricting your dog’s access to the bed when you’re not there is the first step in training him to stop urinating there. Close the door to the bedroom when you leave. If a crate is required, use it to confine your dog for appropriate durations of time while you are away. It’s important to give your dog plenty of opportunities to use the bathroom outside when you’re at home. Your pet dog should only be allowed on the bed at night when you are there.
Your dog should be confined to his crate when you leave the house if he has started defecating in inappropriate places. If you have a dog, it will need to go outside as soon as you get home. Keep taking him out for walks after every meal, drink, and awakening. Praise him for relieving himself outside, but don’t scold him for doing so in an inappropriate place. Interrupt your dog with a “uh oh” or “no” if you catch him in the act of urinating on the bed or another inappropriate location, and then take him outside to finish.
Fixing a problem with peeing in the wrong places can be a frustrating and time-consuming training process. If you’re having no luck, consult a dog trainer or animal behaviourist.
