Dog Peeing on Bed? – This Is How To Prevent It
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By
Alexander Thornton
- Last updated: September 9, 2023
Dogs are lovable, smart, and all-around great animals. They can be your best buddy or your fur baby, as long as you take care of and love them. In return, you can have their love and loyalty for their entire lives.
As good as these creatures may be, there are times that they can be less than perfect. One of those times is when they pee on your bed. It is not only hard to clean up but sets a precedent, which can be worrisome if you have more than one pooch.
If this happens, you will probably feel frustrated, even mad. However, there are correct reactions to this incident, which can even save your dog’s health. Want to know why and how to prevent your dog from peeing on the bed? Keep reading.
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Table of Contents
Dog Peeing On Bed: Is it Intentional?
Let’s get down to business. Is your dog peeing on your bed on purpose? The answer could be yes or no. There are several reasons why canines pee on their owner’s beds. Some of them can be intentional, while others are not.
For example, some dogs get too excited to see their owners come home after a long day at work, so they accidentally pee while on the bed. Meanwhile, some may just be too comfortable that they don’t feel or know that doing so is not good.
What you need to do is to find out why your pooch does it in your sleeping area. This way, you can take proper actions and create an environment that both you and your dog are good with.
Reasons Why Your Dog Is Peeing on the Bed
Excitement
As mentioned, some canines pee when they are excited. This is a manifestation of submissive urination, which is totally normal for dogs, especially younger ones. However, it may not be too normal when they do it when they get older.
Usually, this is a sign of submission because they acknowledge your dominance over them, which should be true. After all, you are their owner.
The unfortunate part is it can be difficult for you to deal with, especially when they do it on the bed. You want to make sure that your dog has a healthy dose of submission and not to the point that they pee just to show it.
Your Bed is a Comfortable Place
A reason that was already mentioned is that your dog feels comfortable around you, particularly on your bed. As their owner or parent, they find comfort in being near you or in smelling your scent. Because you spend a lot of time on your bed, it probably smells a lot like you.
One thing you should understand about these canines is that peeing – and pooping, for that matter – are some of the most vulnerable things they can do. Thanks to their natural instinct, dogs do not usually do it if they don’t feel comfortable enough to protect themselves from potential attackers.
The fact that your dogs do it on your best shows how at home they feel. If they do it in front of you, they are showing how much they trust you. However, you want to address this issue to avoid any hassle.
Lack of Training or Marking its Territory
Another natural thing that dogs do is marking. They do this to show other canines that they are present or that this is their territory. It helps establish their dominance and maintain the natural order of dominance based on their mating status.
While all dogs do this, spayed or neutered canines tend to do it less. Nevertheless, dogs that mark their territory, particularly on your bed, can be a sign of several possible problems for you.
One is that your dog may be asserting its dominance. If you have other dogs, then it can be a power move against the others to establish their territory. However, if you only have one, then they may be showing you who’s boss.
Either way, you want to make sure that this behavior stops as this can be tiring for you as you need to clean up after them.
Health Problems
Urinary issues are one of the most common reasons why dogs pee on beds. They may be suffering from medical conditions that prevent them from keeping it in or waiting until they have the proper opportunity to pee.
An example of this is urinary tract infection (UTI). It prevents dogs from fully emptying their bladder, while still giving them the feeling that they need to pee. In fact, it is linked to excessive peeing, which may be why they urinate on your bed. UTIs can also be uncomfortable and cause long-term issues if left unaddressed.
If you are looking for a reason why your pooch relieved itself in your sleeping place, health concerns should be your number one reason.
Accidents Due to Stress
Aside from the excitement, canines can also pass water due to stress and anxiety. If they are in an unfamiliar place or situation, and they pee on where you sleep, it can be a sign that they are getting stressed or anxious.
For example, if you are celebrating an occasion with fireworks, chances are your pooch can get stressed due to the loud noise and explosion. This may cause them to pee, even when they are on the bed.
Keep in mind that urinating due to stress or anxiety is also a type of submissive urination. You want to make sure that your pooch gains more confidence and becomes more assertive as time passes.
Simple Accidents
Stress and anxiety-related accidents are not the only types that cause your pooch to pee on the bed. Sometimes, it can be a pure accident.
Say, your fur baby has been holding it in for a long time and it needs to go. If they are on the bed at the time this is happening, then it might need to relieve itself right then and there.
So, What Should You Do?
Now that you know why your dog may be peeing on your bed, you might be wondering what to do next. This is one of the most important parts, as your reaction can shape your dog’s behavior.
The first thing you should do is to clean up the mess as best as you can. You want to make sure that you do it without directing negative reactions to your furry companion as it can cause feelings of embarrassment to your dog concerning passing water or even pooping.
This is not a good thing because once your dog feels shamed because of urinating or defecating, it can discourage them from expressing their need to go.
What do they do if they think that these bodily functions are bad or shameful? They tend to hold it in, or worse, hide it. This can lead to more accidents and medical problems. Plus, you do not want your dog to find ways to hide their poop or pee, as it can be a nasty surprise for you.
Aside from this, you need to take the right steps toward correcting this behavior. There are several ways to address the problem, and doing the correct thing will help.
How to Curb Your Dog’s Habit
Clean Your Bed Thoroughly
As mentioned, the first thing you should do is to clean the bed. You need to do your best to eliminate the smell, as failure to do so can lead to your dog repeating the behavior because in his mind, it has marked its territory and asserted its dominance.
What you should remember is that you might not be able to eliminate the smell completely. Dogs have a more sensitive sense of smell, so even though you think you can no longer smell any traces of dog pee, pooches can still detect the scent.
What you are doing is just a way to make yourself more comfortable with the bed, while doing your best to remove the smell.
Bring Them to the Vet
The first thing you need to consider is taking them to the veterinarian. Remember, peeing on the bed can be a sign of a medical condition. You want to eliminate the possibility of this, as letting such health issues persist without addressing them can cause more serious problems to your pooch.
Make sure to describe the situation to the vet, so they can have more information about the behavior. Take note of whether your beloved pooch has been doing it for a long time, or whether this is the first time.
You also want to mention their previous potty behavior. Have they been behaving well for a long time? Or is this a bad habit you have been trying to correct? Providing as much context as possible helps vets make the right diagnosis for your pup.
Professionally Train Your Dog
If this is a bad habit, then you want to curb this right now. The thing is, if this has been going on for a long time, then your strategies are not working. You should consider getting help from a professional. These people know how to teach dogs the proper way, as well as how to make it stick.
Professional dog trainers can come to your home to train your pooch. However, if the situation is more serious, your dog might need to go to a boarding training facility, where they will check into a school and learn from there.
Don’t Let your dog in Your Bed
Lastly, you want to minimize your pooch’s interaction with your bed. This reduces the possibility of your canine repeating the same behavior.
What you need to know is that this may be difficult, especially if your dog has been having behavior problems. You want to make sure that you properly wean it off instead of immediately cutting its bed access.
The reason for this is that dogs may have trouble understanding the restriction. Remember, they thrive on repetitions, and promptly preventing them from getting on your bed can be confusing. You want to make them understand that they are no longer allowed slowly implement new rules until they do so with minimal issues.
Use the Dog Crate
If your dog passes water on your bed while you were away, you might want to use the crate to train them. Remember, using the crate is not a bad thing and is an acceptable way to help them learn good behaviors. You need to place them in the crate before you leave.
Final Thoughts
Dogs are some of the smartest animals out there. If they pee on your bed, it is probably for a reason that needs addressing. Now that you know why they do this and how to prevent it, you can take the necessary steps to correct this behavior and help you and your dog live your best life.
Alexander Thornton
Alexander Thornton, our esteemed Senior Writer, seamlessly blends his fervor for canines with an innate spirit of adventure. As a certified breeder, Alexander offers an invaluable depth of understanding regarding dog health and behavior, elevating his writings above the ordinary. Every piece of information he shares is rooted in his professional experience, guaranteeing our audience not only precise but also captivating content that resonates with both novice dog lovers and seasoned enthusiasts.
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