Potty training trouble? Stop your dog from peeing on bed

By Ryan Laporte

There are many causes why your dog is peeing on your bed. And as an owner, you need to understand natural dog behaviors and the importance of starting dog potty training at an early age.

Puppies do not have the capacity to hold urination and defecation for long periods. It is a normal behavior of puppies to pee or poop anywhere, even on their owner’s bed. Make sure you know how to house train your dog or puppy.

During the potty-training phase, provide your puppies and dogs with a grass dog potty box that lets them urinate and defecate when they need to do so. Teach them that it is the proper place where they can do their toilet needs. Understand, however, the box may confuse your puppy and delay potty training.

Do not feel angry and frustrated when your dog pees or poops on your bed. Know and understand why your dog might be doing so. That way, you can find the best solution to solve the problem.

Stop dog peeing on the bed

Separation anxiety can be a trigger for potty issues. Dogs with owners who are away from home for long periods experience separation anxiety. And without a ready outlet for their natural urges, they are more inclined to pee on the bed.

Dogs need love and attention from their owners. When they feel lonely, they feel the need to urinate. The first thing that they seek or look for is any item that smells like its owner. Unfortunately, the place that most smells like you is where you spend the most time, your bed.

Provide your dog with toys that they can play with to avoid getting bored. Some dogs may show destructive behavior such as chewing your clothes, paper, or any item in the house. This behavior calms them whenever they experience separation anxiety.

Another reason your dog may go potty in the house is a lack of self-confidence. This happens when they are still new to your home.  They will look for a place where they feel comfortable, and one of the ideal places they have found is your bed. Building your dog’s self-confidence and teaching them to go outside to urinate or defecate will solve this problem. You can also boost your dog’s confidence by letting your pup socialize with other dogs. 

Health issues

If female dogs are potty trained and suddenly revert to going potty in the house, they may be experiencing medical issues. Dogs with urinary tract infections experience pain when they urinate. In this case, they will look for soft clothing or bedding where they can pee. Do not blame your dog if this happens.

Instead, watch for signs of urinary tract infections such as frequent urination, dribbling urine, pain while urinating, or blood in the urine. Bladder stones also can cause inappropriate urination. If you observe these signs, take your dog to the vet for proper treatment and medication.

As male dogs age, you may not be able to leave them for long stretches anymore. As your dog ages, he is more likely to develop canine urinary incontinence. 

Stress also can cause your dog to pee in your bed. Be careful. Your desire to stop this problem may instead exacerbate it. If you yell at your dog or try to punish her for peeing on your bed by rubbing her nose in it or hitting her, you may make your dog more stressed. That could lead to repeat performances.

Training, training, training

Dogs cannot quickly grasp what we need them to understand. They will only learn if you continuously train them. Yes, consistently and repeatedly every day until they develop the skill and understand the right thing to do.

Do not forget to praise them when they follow your instructions. Dogs love praise, and saying “Good boy” or “Good girl” after properly potty outside will help reinforce that behavior. Consider giving your dog a special treat in addition to the praise. Your dog wants to please you, so let him know when he makes you happy. 

When training your dog, investing in a chew-proof dog bed will also help make it last longer if your dog has that tendency.

Another option, give the dog a designated place to go potty indoors using hydroponic grass from DoggieLawn.

Get to the root of the problem

Knowledge, patience, and understanding are needed to understand your dog’s house-training issues. Puppies take time to potty train. 

Start by focusing on potty training. Get your dog outside every two to three hours, especially within 30-40 minutes of eating or drinking. Dogs who have to be left alone for extended periods may still need indoor potty options, but by 13 weeks, most dogs can be left alone for four hours a day without accidents. And by 14 weeks, most dogs should be able to sleep all night without a potty break.

If your dog has reverted to old bad habits, look for the cause. Did you recently move? Add a new family member or another dog? Did your work schedule change? Dogs are creatures of habit and sometimes struggle with change. If you’re in a new home with strange smells, your dog may be showing signs of canine urine marking indoors to establish the house as his.

If there are no behavioral issues for the change, look for medical problems. If your dog is sick, that may cause peeing on the bed. You also may have to consider other options if your dog is getting older and needs more potty breaks. 

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