No matter how much we love our canine companions, we cannot pretend that there aren’t some behaviors that irk us.
If your dog is peeing on your bed, you are likely beyond frustrated. Dog urine can ruin your bed. Plus, once the urine odor is there, your dog can be attracted to pee on the area again.
To your dog, your odor is something they cannot get enough of. They love you. They love your smell. They love anything that smells like you. This is the same reason why our dogs often go through phases of stealing our dirty underwear and socks – our scent.
Peeing in beds can happen with any dog and the root of the behavior is more notable than the dog’s breed. Your dog could be leaving his scent in your sheets for several reasons. He might have a medical condition, be anxious, excited, or nervous, not be properly house trained, marking, or just like your scent.
Medical conditions like diabetes and urinary tract infections increase the need to urinate. If your dog is frequently piddling in your bed and other places around the house, you need to take him to the vet. A diabetic dog will also have an increase in thirst, weight loss, vomiting, and lethargy.
A dog with a urinary tract infection will show signs of fever, lethargy, licking themselves, and not looking well. Female dogs are more prone to urinary tract infections than male dogs. A dog with a lot of emotions could be peeing on your bed.
Particularly in young dogs, potty training accidents are common around the house, and your bed is no exception. If your puppy has not yet learned appropriate and inappropriate places to pee, do not be surprised if your bed becomes a toilet spot.
Dogs with urinary incontinence will leak urine involuntarily. This may occur only while the dog is asleep, but some dogs with incontinence will dribble urine while they are awake as well. Incontinence is relatively common in senior dogs, but certain conditions can cause incontinence in young dogs, as well.
A frightened dog will seek a safe spot, such as your bed, but that same fear may cause an accident. Something like fireworks might startle your dog into losing bladder control. Or they may be too scared to leave the bed to go outside.
Nobody wants to get into bed just to get out to wash the sheets and scrub the mattress. You want to stop this conduct right away before your dog invents bad habits. Canine urine is not good for your mattress or bedsheets and washing it will take time away from your much-anticipated slumber, which can be very frustrating.
One easy way to stop your dog from urinating on your bed is to not allow them on it. Keep the door shut or pop your pooch in a crate if you are heading out for a short while. Most dogs find being in a crate comforting as they are comfortable snug spaces. However, your dog should only ever be created overnight or for a small fraction of the day.
Always make sure to thoroughly clean up after your dog makes a mess. If they can still smell their urine in your bedroom they are more likely to do the same again. Pet odor eliminators can be extremely handy for ensuring no trace is left behind.
Remember never to yell at your dog for urinating or defecating, even indoors. This will confuse him and possibly worsen the problem. When you work with the trainer, make sure you stay consistent with your training.
Once your vet has given your dog a clean bill of health, try some remedial potty training. Prevent your dog from having accidents with constant supervision. Then take your dog to the preferred potty spot whenever they are likely to have to go, such as after meals. Reward your dog with praise and delicious treats for peeing in the right spot. That will go a long way toward encouraging them to restrict their potty behavior to that particular location.
If you have tried everything and you aren’t sure of where to turn it could be best to get in touch with an animal behaviorist. They will be able to help your and your dog work together to bring the unwanted behavior to a stop.