7 Reasons Why Your Dog Pees On Your Bed + 15 Tips To Stop It
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Quick Answer
7 Possible Reasons Why Dogs Pee On Beds
#1. Territorial Marking
Dogs have a strong sense of smell and have a natural instinct to use urine to mark their territory or leave their scent.
If your dog is not spayed or neutered, they may also mark their territory as a way to alert other dogs to their presence.
When we adopted our fabulous rescue dog Bertie and brought him home from the shelter, the first thing he did was mark his way all up the kitchen wall!
Marking his new territory to disperse his scent was a way of making himself feel more at home in the unfamiliar environment.
Perfectly normal for him, not so pleasant for us!
Signs Of Territorial Marking
- Frequent urination
- Excessive sniffing
- Marking and over-marking of objects or areas
- Pacing
- Scratching at the ground
- Circling
- Positioning the body closely alongside the wall, door, or other object or area
#2. Stress And Anxiety
Just like humans, dogs can experience stress and anxiety.
In the home, urine marking behavior can be triggered in an anxious dog by a new pet or baby in the household, any sudden change in routine, moving house, a loud noise like thunder or fireworks, or the presence of other animals or unfamiliar scents in the home.
Similarly, if there is tension between two dogs in the home, urinating on the bed might be a way for one or both dogs to try to assert themselves by promoting their own scent, or surrounding themselves with their own scent to feel more secure.
#3. Separation Anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety feel extremely stressed, anxious, or even completely panicked when left alone.
Because the scent of their owner provides them with comfort and security, dogs struggling with separation anxiety may urinate on their bed as a way of trying to cope.
Doing this allows them to mix their scent with that of their owner, which can help them feel comforted and more secure.
#4. Negative Associations And Fear-Triggered Behavior
Sometimes, dogs develop negative associations with certain objects or places, including your bed.
This can occur if the dog has had a traumatic experience or has been scolded or punished in the past while on the bed.
Fear-triggered behavior can also lead to submissive urination, where the dog urinates as a response to feeling frightened or intimidated.
#5. Medical Issues
If your furry friend is otherwise healthy and is house trained, it’s important to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be causing the peeing behavior.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence occurs when the muscles that control the bladder are weakened, leading to involuntary urination.
It can affect both male and female dogs.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTI) occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract.
UTIs can cause frequent urination and an increased urgency to go, which make it challenging for dogs to control their bladder and may result in accidents on the bed.
Female dogs are more prone to UTIs due to their shorter urethra, which allows bacteria to travel more easily into the bladder.
Dogs with UTIs may also exhibit other symptoms like increased thirst, blood in the urine, straining to urinate, or licking their genital area excessively.
Bladder Problems
Older dogs sometimes develop bladder control problems due to age-related health issues like kidney disease, canine cognitive dysfunction, or reduced muscle tone.
In such cases, our senior dogs may have a harder time holding their urine for extended periods, leading to accidents in the home, including on the bed.
#6. Incomplete House Training
If you have a new dog or a rescue dog who hasn’t been fully house trained, accidents on the bed may occur.
Our dog Roxy spent the first two years of her life in the animal shelter and had no idea what anything was when she suddenly found herself adopted and living in a human household.
It took time for her to learn what everything was, get used to her new environment, trust her new human family members, and understand her new routine – including where to go to the bathroom.
It’s understandable that accidents on the bed are not uncommon for dogs who haven’t been fully house trained or are still adjusting to a new home.
Oh, and despite what you may have heard, it’s entirely possible to teach an older dog new tricks!
#7. Excitement
Dogs may sometimes become so excited that they lose control of their bladder and accidentally urinate on the bed.
This is more common in puppies or younger dogs, as they are still learning how to control their bladder and get overly excited easily.
It can also happen in adult dogs if they become extremely happy or anxious, such as when their owner comes home after being away for a long time.
While this may be frustrating for pet parents, it is a natural behavior for dogs and can usually be managed with training and patience.
15 Tips For Prevention And Solutions
Understanding why your dog is peeing on the bed is essential in preventing the behavior and resolving the problem.
#1. Check With Your Vet
Before going down the behavioral route, it’s highly advisable to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues that may be contributing to the behavior.
Treating the underlying issue can help resolve the bed-wetting issue and prevent further discomfort for your dog.
If your dog gets a clean bill of health from the veterinarian, then it’s time to look into behavior and training.
#2. Revisit House Training
Make sure your dog is properly potty trained and has easy access to a designated bathroom area.
Quickly give him a high-value treat (such as a small piece of cheese or sausage) plus plenty of petting and praise when he urinates in the appropriate place.
Consistency is key in reinforcing the behavior, so make sure to give him a treat every time he does it correctly – as soon as he does it.
Timing is everything!
Avoid punishment, as this can make your dog confused, scared, and anxious.
Obviously, this is the last thing you want, as it can be counterproductive and may even make the problem worse.
Instead, focus on rewarding your dog for good behavior.
Science shows that behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated, meaning your pup is more likely to do the same thing again next time.
#3. Positive Reinforcement
Adding something pleasant (such as a treat, petting, or praise) with the aim of increasing the probability of a dog’s behavior being repeated is known as positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is an extremely effective technique when it comes to teaching dogs desirable behaviors.
For example, you can use a cue like “go potty” or “do your business” when you take your dog outside to relieve himself.
When he does urinate in the right spot, immediately give him verbal praise (or a “click” – see Build Confidence) along with a treat.
#4. Build Confidence
For dogs who are anxious and use urine marking as a way to boost their sense of security, clicker training is a great way to help build their confidence.
That’s because it’s a safe and positive learning environment where nothing can go wrong.
The worst that can happen is that your dog doesn’t get a click.
This encourages him to try out new behaviors and make choices for himself, which boosts his confidence and makes him feel more secure.
If you want to give clicker training a try, this handy video from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home explains how to get started:
#5. Create Positive Associations
To address negative associations and fear-triggered bed-wetting, it’s important to create positive experiences and associations with your bed.
You can do this by using positive reinforcement techniques to reward your dog for calm and relaxed behavior on the bed (and not peeing!).
Avoid scolding or punishing him if he has an accident, as this can worsen his fear and anxiety.
Gradually reintroduce him to the bed by allowing him to approach it at his own pace and providing treats or praise when he interacts with it calmly.
#6. Teach Your Dog It’s Safe To Be Alone
If your dog is peeing on the bed because he has separation anxiety, it’s important to gradually acclimate him to being alone.
You can start by leaving him alone for short periods of time.
How long this will be depends on what he can manage before getting stressed.
For some dogs, this will be just a few seconds, or even less.
You can just leave the room so he can’t see you, then come straight back in again.
That will be your starting point.
In the meantime, provide him with interactive toys or puzzle feeders to distract him while you’re away.
This provides him with a mental activity that will help keep his emotional arousal levels in check.
If your dog remains calm in your brief absence, you can gradually increase the duration you’re away, but it’s essential not to rush it.
Separation anxiety is surprisingly common in dogs and will not go away on its own.
Often, it requires the assistance of a canine separation anxiety specialist.
I’ll list three of my favorites at the end of this article.
#7. Consistent Schedule
Maintain a consistent feeding and potty schedule, ensuring regular bathroom breaks after meals, naps, and playtime.
This routine helps your dog understand when and where to relieve himself, reducing inappropriate urination.
Taking him out before bedtime and upon waking up in the morning will help prevent nighttime accidents, regulate his bladder, and minimize the likelihood of bed-wetting.
#8. Set Boundaries
Keep your bedroom door closed, or use baby gates or dog gates to restrict access to your bed when you’re not around to supervise.
This will prevent your dog from being able to jump on the bed and pee.
#9. Use The Right Cleaning Product
If, despite your best efforts, accidents do happen, clean them up thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed to eliminate pet odors.
This will help remove any lingering scent of the decaying proteins in the dog urine that may attract your dog to pee on the bed again.
#10. Appropriate Bedding
During the training process, you may want to invest in some appropriate bedding that is easy to clean or run through the washing machine, such as a waterproof cover for your bed.
#11. Interrupt And Distract
Any time you see your dog up on your bed about to pee, quickly call his name and pretend to run in the opposite direction or excitedly jump up and down.
He may just jump down to come and see what you’re doing.
At the very least, he will stop what he’s doing and look curiously at you.
This buys you enough time to lure him off the bed and reward him for not peeing on it.
You can then immediately take him outside or to his designated peeing area.
If he pees there instead, reward him with a treat and lots of praise.
If he doesn’t, just let him sniff around a bit and then go back inside.
You’ve averted the crisis and have ended on a positive note, leaving your dog feeling happy and positive.
#12. Mental Stimulation
Talking of feeling positive, providing mental enrichment for your dog can help prevent boredom and alleviate anxiety, both of which can lead to inappropriate behavior like peeing on the bed.
The more your dog engages in brain games, the more calm and relaxed he will be.
If he is urinating on your bed because of fear, anxiety, or stress, this can go a long way toward reducing the problem.
An easy way to provide mental stimulation is to give your dog interactive toys or puzzle feeders that will keep him busy and challenged when you’re not around.
#13. Consistency Is Key
Make sure everyone in your household follows the same rules and enforces the same boundaries.
If you’re inconsistent with training, it will only confuse your dog and make it harder for him to understand what’s expected of him.
#14. Be Patient
It may take several weeks before your dog fully understands that peeing on the bed is not desirable.
Be consistent with your training, and don’t get discouraged if there are setbacks.
Stay positive and continue to reinforce good behavior.
#15. Seek Professional Help
If your pup’s bed-wetting behavior persists and you’ve ruled out any possible medical causes, then it might be time to seek help from a certified professional dog trainer or behavior expert.
They will be able to assess the situation, analyze your dog’s emotional state and motivation, and identify any triggers or stressors that may be causing the peeing behavior.
They can then work with you and your pup to address the underlying issues and develop a customized training plan.
READ NEXT
Separation Anxiety Specialists
*These are my personal recommendations for specialized separation anxiety trainers. Even better, they all do online consults so geography doesn’t matter!
Resources
- Don’t Hire A Dog Trainer Without Asking These 12 Questions! [Video] – Cat And Dog House
- How to CLICKER TRAIN Your Dog: The FASTEST WAY to Teach your Dog to be AWESOME! [Video] – Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution
- How to Train Your Dog Using a Clicker | The Battersea Way [Video] – Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
- How to start CLICKER TRAINING [Video] – Dog Training by KikoPup
- The Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy! [Video] – Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution
