Have you been coming home to find that your housebroken dog has been peeing on your bed? Has your dog been urinating outside and then coming into the bedroom to “spray” your sheets? Then you’re probably asking yourself, “Why does my dog pee on my bed?”
First, let us reassure you that it’s not because your mutt is angry with you. Dogs don’t hold grudges. When dogs that are already housebroken start peeing where they shouldn’t, there’s usually an underlying medical or behavioral issue.
Here are some of the most common reasons dogs pee on their owner’s bed and what you can do to fix the problem.
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Why Is Your Dog Peeing in Your Bed?
If your dog has started urinating on your bed, don’t panic. This behavior can almost always be corrected. The first step is figuring out what’s causing the behavior.
Here are the most common culprits.
Lack of or Poor Bladder Control
If your dog has started peeing more frequently and/or in off-limits areas, there may be something wrong with his bladder. The American Kennel Club recommends bringing him to a veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection. Other causes of poor bladder control include kidney failure, diabetes, incontinence, and spinal injury.
Bladder control issues may also be a result of age. Young puppies have tiny bladders. Even if they seem to have gotten the hang of housetraining, they are still prone to “accidents” because they simply cannot hold it in for long.
Being Territorial
Dogs pee on inanimate objects to “mark” them. Leaving their scent is their way of letting other dogs know that something is theirs. In this case, your pup probably wants to mark your bed as his territory.
Urine marking is often observed in male dogs, but female dogs also do it. It starts in adolescence and becomes more frequent as a dog gets older. If your dog is intact, neutering or spaying may help reduce this habit.
Being Submissive
Submissive urination is something dogs do when they’re feeling anxious, especially when they’ve been scolded or punished. This is usually accompanied by other submissive actions like rolling over and exposing the stomach. If your dog sees you as a threat, just seeing you approach can trigger the urge to urinate.
Anxiety
Dogs are highly social creatures. They form strong bonds with their owners and flourish when they are given lots of attention and TLC. Dogs that are often left alone at home can develop separation anxiety, which manifests in unwanted behavior like destructive chewing, excessive barking, and peeing and pooping inside the house.
Dogs can also become anxious when there is a significant change in the mood at home, like when his owners are fighting or when someone has died. Dogs can also get stressed during a move or when you bring home a new pet. When a dog is stressed or anxious, he may start eliminating indoors, especially on beds and couches.
If your pet’s indiscriminate peeing is caused by stress or anxiety, your vet may prescribe medications that will help calm him down.
What to Do if Your Dog Is Peeing in Your Bed
Once you’ve figured out the underlying cause of your dog’s peeing problem, you can work with your vet on the appropriate solution. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Use positive reinforcement techniques when housetraining your pup. Praise or reward him when he urinates in the appropriate place. When you give your dog a treat or express your approval after he does something right, he’ll keep repeating that behavior or action.
- Be vigilant. Watch for signs that your pup is about to urinate on your bed.
- Instead of scolding your dog for peeing where he’s not supposed to, interrupt the action calmly. Don’t yell at or hit him. Instead, give him a firm “no” and tell him to follow you to where he can pee.
- Never punish your dog for peeing on your bed. This will only cause more stress and anxiety, thus making the behavior worse.
- Any time you bring home a puppy or a rescue dog, make sure that he is fully house-trained before you let him roam around the house. Confine him to a small area, like a spare bedroom, until he is housebroken.
- The easiest solution may be to teach your dog that your bed is off-limits. However, if your pup is already used to sleeping in your bed or if you live in a confined space, this may be an issue. If the problem is medical or stress-related, he may simply start peeing elsewhere, like on the couch or on your living room rug.
No one wants to come home to puddles of dog pee on the bed. Now that you have the answer to “why does my dog pee on my bed?” you can start working with your pet to fix the problem. In no time at all, you’ll be sleeping on clean and fragrant sheets again.
