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If you have come looking for an answer to this question then you are probably feeling very frustrated. When your dog pees on your bed it creates an awful lot of work. And it can be very upsetting. Here we look at possible answers to “why does my dog pee in my bed” and ways to help with this situation.
If your dog is still a puppy, it could simply be a house training issue. You may have trained them to pee outside but this training may need reinforcing. They may simply have forgotten what is expected and regressed slightly with their training. If you think this could be the case, reinforce the correct behaviour. Go back to the basics. Take them outside regularly and reward your dog when they go for a pee outside. If the reason they have been peeing in your bed is a training issue, this will remedy the situation.
Young Dogs can be prone to urination when they are excited. This is something they tend to grow out of. If this is happening with your young dog then try keeping excitement levels to a minimum whilst they are on your bed. Maybe this is why they pee on your bed—keep the games and fun for an area of the house where a pee isn’t a problem. Or play outside! If this type of urination persists you may need to do some training with your dog or speak to your vet.
Some dogs can be prone to urinating when they are stressed or anxious. The trigger could be a change in their external environment – a new baby, a new house, a new dog even – or it could be your stress that your dog is picking up on. In this instance, try to make sure your dog is well exercised and mentally stimulated. Maybe try a few days of different walks.
If your dog is spending a lot of time on their own it could be a sign of separation anxiety. They are not doing it to make you angry. It could be a fear reaction of their fight/flight mechanism whilst they are on their own. One possibility of why your dog pees on your bed is this anxious behaviour. Try to spend as much quality time with them when you are home. Again, make sure they are mentally stimulated and get affection, snuggles and praise from you.
You may well leave your dog to have the rule of the roost whilst you’re out at work. And they might spend a part of the day snuggled up in your bed. Which smells like you. Why might your dog pee on your bed in this scenario? Perhaps they want it to smell like them also? If you have an unneutered male, he may be marking his territory. Unlike anxiety urination or house training urination issues, territory marking is a much smaller amount. But still unwanted. If this is the case, neutering may help but this behaviour will take time to address. You may need to make your bedroom off limits for a period of time to break this habit. If he is marking in your bedroom, this area is important to him. Or you may need to invest in a urine-smell removal product. If your dog is cocking his leg on your bed, you have to put a stop to it. But at least in this scenario you know the answer to “Why does my dog pee on my bed?”
If your dog is older and has never done this before, this could be a sign of a health issue. Incontinence in older dogs could be a reason your dog pees on your bed. If it is happening in other situations, it could be simply elderly incontinence. In this instance it might be time for your older dog to stop being allowed on your bed. We’d advise you also speak to your vet in case they can help.
Peeing in your bed at any age could be a sign of a UTI or kidney problem in your dog. Again, if the urinating is not limited to your bed, there could be an underlying health issue. If you have ruled out all of the above possible reasons why your dog is peeing in your bed then we would advise seeing your vet.
We have tried to cover guidance above on what to do in each sceanrion if your dog is peeing in your bed.
In general, to minimise this happening there are few things you can do.
If you have found this blog useful, check out our other doggie health blogs here.
Could house-training problems be the reason my dog pees on my bed?
Yes. If your dog is a puppy (or hasn’t been fully house trained), they may have forgotten or never fully learned what is expected. Reinforcing the correct behaviour, taking them outside regularly, and rewarding them when they pee outdoors can help.
How can excitement lead to peeing on the bed?
Young dogs may urinate when overly excited. This tends to improve as the dog ages. To reduce incidents, keep excitement levels lower on the bed (for example, save games or fun for other areas), and consider training or consulting a vet if it persists.
Can stress or anxiety cause my dog to pee on my bed?
Changes such as a new house, a new baby or dog, or even sensing your stress can trigger anxiety. Dogs under stress may urinate on the bed. To help, ensure your dog gets enough physical exercise and mental stimulation, spend quality time with them, and try to reduce stressors.
What about territorial marking? Is that a possible cause?
Definitely. Dogs may mark territory by peeing small amounts, especially if they smell your scent on the bed. Unneutered males are more likely to do this. Neutering, limiting access to the bedroom, and using urine-smell removers may help.
Could it be a health or medical issue?
Yes. If your dog is older or has never done this before, medical problems such as incontinence, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or kidney issues may be responsible. If peeing on the bed happens in other situations too, consulting a vet is advised.
What are some effective ways to stop my dog from peeing on the bed?
Some methods recommended in the article include: