Why Does My Dog Pee On My Bed?

There are many explanations for why some dogs relieve themselves on their owners’ beds; you’re probably further irritated if your dog urinates on your bed.

Your bed can be ruined by pooch poop; additionally, your dog can be tempted to pee on the place again once the urine odor is present.

Your bed has a pleasant scent, is soft and absorbent, and feels home; your dog likes to hang out there a lot.

Dogs are frequently thought to pee on their owner’s beds as a sign of dominance or disobedience; however, things may be more complicated than this.

The first step to fixing this detrimental habit is to find its cause.

You might need to see your veterinarian for assistance with improper urination, but you can also try several remedies at home.

As you know now the answer to the question “why does my dog pee on my bed”, continue reading to get more information and insights about how to stop it.

The Reasons Why Your Dog Pees On Your Bed

dog with open mouth in human bed

Your dog may be urinating on your bed for several reasons.

It’s crucial to begin by ruling out medical issues before you try to address any behavioral problems.

The most common reasons are as under:

A Medical Problem

If your dog has never peed on your bed before but has started to do it now, one of the first things to rule out is an underlying medical issue that may be causing them to lose bladder control.

Various health conditions, including kidney disease, diabetes, bladder stones, Cushing’s disease, and urinary tract infections, can cause urine accidents.

Those things can be treated by a veterinarian using medications and dietary changes, so schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Arthritis and urinary tract infections are conditions in older dogs.

Feeling Excited, Stressed, Or Anxious

Another typical cause of sudden dog bedwetting is intense emotions and anxiety.

While younger dogs are more likely to experience this, some adult dogs will also dribble urine when they are excited.

You may also note that it happens when your dog feels fearful, stressed, or anxious, commonly prompted by changes in its habit or living environment.

Your dog may experience stress if you’ve recently had house guests, adopted a new pet or child, undergone home renovations, or welcomed any of these things into your family.

You’ll generally find that the activity ends after your dog’s routine or environment returns to normal.

First, you need to make sure it’s not any medical issues, and then, you should reduce your dog’s stress as much as possible.

Still, if you notice them urinating on your bed (or elsewhere) after things have calmed down, visit your vet for a checkup; the frightened dog may also benefit from professional assistance.

Incontinence

Incontinence is just one of the adolescent dogs’ many problems as they age.

Incontinence dogs with urinary incontinence will unintentionally leak urine.

Although incontinence can affect both sexes, it is more common in older female dogs because of the age-related weakness in the muscles that control the neck of the bladder.

Age-related dementia is a real thing that can happen to dogs, causing them to become disoriented and forget their housebreaking lessons.

Symptoms of aging and dementia in dogs include the involuntary dribbling of pee at any time of day or night.

A dog having trouble with incontinence may urinate in the bed, but you should also look for other symptoms, such as damp legs, a lingering odor of dog urine, and an increased propensity to lick its rear end.

Too Few Bathroom Breaks

Dog pee on the bed could signify that you must make multiple visits to the bathroom during the day, but the dog took too few bathroom breaks.

Some dogs, like humans, have varying bladder capacities and therefore need to go to the toilet more often.

If your young puppy or adult dog is frequently peeing on the bed, you may need to give him frequent trips outside.

After eating and right before bed are two occasions when you’re more likely to have to go to the bathroom.

dog under blanket in white bed

Remember that, unlike old age and young dogs, puppy bladders can’t hold their pee for very long, so they’ll need to release more often.

If you multiply a puppy’s age by one, you may estimate how often they need to go outside to relieve themselves.

Therefore, a two-month-old dog can typically go for three hours without needing to go outside.

Problems With Housetraining

Has your dog completed potty training, or is it having housetraining issues?

The delicate process of house training calls for devotion and patience.

In some cases, canines may later regress if owners proceed too swiftly through the training.

Your dog may still need some toilet training if your dog is still a puppy and doing inappropriate urination.

Until you feel more confident in your dog’s continence, reward them with positive reinforcement.

If your dog has completed potty training but suddenly starts inappropriate urination, be sure it isn’t an underlying issue before moving on to a potty training refresher course.

Following a significant change in your dog’s life, such as an illness or a schedule change, more training sessions may be required.

Territorial Marking Behavior

Certain canines are very protective of their territory.

Male dogs have a habit of urinating in strategic places to mark their territory.

Due to their territorial behavior, dogs pee on the same spot to mark objects.

Having this done to your bed, however, presents a serious dilemma.

Understanding dog behavior and further training and alterations in behavior can significantly reduce territorial marking.

How To Get Your Dog To Stop Peeing On Your Bed

brown dog lying in human bed

The continual need to wash bedding because your dog has decided to use your sleeping spot as a toilet can be annoying, but fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent this.

Please consider the following few of our recommendations:

Plenty Of Potty Breaks

Once you’ve determined your dog is healthy, the following step is to check they have regular bathroom breaks.

If you want to minimize the possibility of an accident with your dog, it’s safer to err on the side of caution and take them out more often.

Critical times are first thing in the morning, after dinner, and before bed.

Restrict Access To Your Bedroom

Restricting your dog’s access to your bed is the most straightforward approach to stop them from peeing on the bed.

Keep your bedroom door closed, and if you must let your dog in, only do it when you’re present to watch them.

Training, Training, Training

Behavior modification training may be necessary to stop dogs from peeing on your bed after being potty trained.

Still, they’ve begun doing so again to mark their territory.

If your dog starts to pee on your bed, stop them with a loud clap of your hands and take them outside immediately so they can finish.

When they’re finished, utilize positive reinforcement to promote their good behavior by giving them the most incredible dog treats and vocal praise.

golden retriver mouth open in human bed

Just like people, our canine companions respond much better to rewards for positive behaviors than they do to being reprimanded for negative ones.

So resist the urge to criticize or punish your dog for going potty.

Crate training is also one of the best ways to stop your dog from peeing on the bed.

When Should You Contact Your Veterinarian?

If your dog friend is constantly urinating on your bed, you should call your vet immediately.

Your veterinarian will most likely perform a physical examination and collect a urine sample for urinalysis.

They will conduct a comprehensive medical examination to rule out any potential disorders.

The veterinarian may refer your dog to a qualified dog behaviorist if no physical problems are discovered.

They can assist your dog in overcoming psychological issues like stress and anxiety.

dog lying on back on human bed

How To Clean Dog Pee

Potty accidents are problematic since the smell of poop lingers for your dog and yourself.

The constant smell of pee reminds your dog to “go here,” serving as a form of invitation.

Clean as fast as possible to interrupt the cycle since the sooner you clean it, the shallower it will go.

Sheets can easily be washed.

If the pee has made it to the mattress, dab the affected area to remove as much moisture as possible; do not wipe since this will spread the stain.

For cleaning, many products are suggested.

After spotting the area, you might try covering it with baking soda to help absorb moisture.

Take a vacuum to it after an hour.

Alternatively, you might try applying vinegar that has been diluted to the stain to lessen the smell.

Your neighborhood pet store will also provide products meant to lessen the scent of pup poop if homemade remedies are ineffective.

Before You Go…

Now you know the answer to the question, “Why does my dog pee on my bed?”.

If you want to learn more, read the following articles too!

Or watch this video:

Mena Emad, DVM
Mena has a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. His expertise, passion for animal welfare, extensive knowledge, and experience in the field of veterinary medicine make him an excellent resource for our readers.