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Although this may not be a question all dog owners have to ask, there will certainly be times when your dog pees in places it shouldn’t. Of course, there are some places less likely to cause more upset than peeing in your bed.
So if this is your experience, why is your dog peeing in your bed? Why do dogs do this and what can you do to stop it?
In this post I’m going to give you some reasons why dogs pee in their owner’s bed and provide some suggestions as to what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
- Why is My Dog Peeing in My Bed?
- How Can I Stop My Dog Peeing in My Bed?
- My Dog Has Been Peeing on My Bed: What Products Can I Use to Clean It / Prevent It Happening Again?
- Summary
- Related Posts
Why is My Dog Peeing in My Bed?
Many people can’t stand the idea of sharing their bed with their dog. For those people, the bedroom will likely be completely out of bounds for their dog and they will have trained them from a very young age not to enter it.
For the most part these people will probably never have to deal with dog pee in their bed.
Others are happy to share their sleeping space with a canine friend. In my own case, I’m quite comfortable for my Whippet Misty to lie in my bed when I’m not at home and sleep with me at night as well.
There has been one occasion where Misty peed on my bed, but that was an isolated incident that so far hasn’t occurred again in nearly a decade. Additionally, Whippets are pretty clean dogs, with short single coats: they don’t shed heavily or require much grooming.
However, if your dog is peeing in your bed regularly, the following reasons are often cited for such behaviour:
- Age
- Fear, excitement or anxiety
- Medical reasons
- Training
- Accident
- Territorial behaviour
- Submissive behaviour
1. Age
Puppies and younger dogs are more likely to pee on your bed simply because they haven’t learned the rules just yet. They’re also often more excitable than adult dogs and sometimes pee as a reult (see below). If they happen to be on your bed when excitement strikes, they might pee on your bed.
Older dogs may become more prone to Incontinence or suffer from medical conditions that cause them to pee. Again if they spend lots of time in or on your bed, accidents can happen.
2. Fear, Excitement or Anxiety
Have you ever noticed a little pee finds its way out of your dog when they get excited or frightened?
Fear, excitement and anxiety can all result in your dog dribbling a little pee. As a rule this tends to be more common in younger dogs, but dogs of any age can have a little squirt if emotions run high!
3. Medical Reasons
As I’ve already mentioned, older dogs can become incontinent as they’re body slows down. This can result in accidents in your bed.
However, dogs of any age can experience medical conditions that lead to incontinence.The
Infections of the urinary tract, cystitis, bladder and kidney stones, diabetes and some types of cancer can result in your dog being unable to hold on its pee.
If your dog begins peeing in your bed regularly where before it was never a problem, it may be that it has a medical condition requiring veterinary examination.
4. Training
Dogs that are not fully house trained might also pee in your bed. Again you might find this more of a problem for younger dogs who haven’t quite learned the right and wrong places to do their toilet business.
If they Find your bed to their liking, an untrained dog may start seeing in your bed regularly.
5. Accident
Accidents can and do happen… especially if your dog doesn’t have regular opportunities to go outside for a pee.
Of course this may not result in your dog peeling in your bed, but it might mean you end up with an accident somewhere else in your home.
I always try to never leave our dog at home alone for long periods and when we’re at home with her we always encourage her to go outside for a bathroom break frequently.
6. Territorial Behaviour
Most people know that many animals mark their territory with their pee. If you allow your dog into your bedroom and that’s the place where it sleeps, it may decide to mark your bed as its territory.
7. Submissive Behaviour
Dogs are pack animals by nature… and packs have a hierarchy. Your dog may see you as the pack leader and demonstrate this through its behaviour.
Submissive behaviours reinforce hierarchical positions within the pack and manifest in different ways:
- Calmness
- Lying down and exposing their bellies
- Lowered gaze
- Tucking tail between legs
- Peeing when greeting you
Your dog might pee on your bed if it’s lying on it when you enter the room as a display of submission.
How Can I Stop My Dog Peeing in My Bed?
As long as you understand the reasons why your dog is peeing on your bed, you can take steps to stop it.
Prevent Access
This is an obvious first step. If your dog doesn’t have access to your bedroom, it’ll stop peeing in your bed.
Of course this won’t necessarily stop your dog from peeing somewhere else in your house, depending upon the reason why it has been peeing in your bed in the first place.
Clearly this may be difficult to implement for everyone involved, especially if your dog is used to being allowed in every room at home and it sleeps with you at night.
Be that as it may, if your dog can’t go into your bedroom it won’t be peeing in your bed.
Let Your Dog Out Frequently
Perhaps your dog is peeing in your bed because it doesn’t get to go outside as often as it needs to?
Most dogs need to go to the bathroom between 3 to 5 times each day. If your dog is alone for long periods of time it may not be getting the opportunities it needs to go outside. If this is the case, it’s understandable that your dog may pee in the house.
And it may just happen to pee in your bed!
Try to ensure you don’t leave your dog locked at home alone for long periods of time and frequently encourage your dog to go outside for a pee when you’re at home together.
Speak to a Veterinary Professional
If you’re suddenly asking yourself why is my dog peeing in my bed, and you find yourself asking this regularly, it may be that your dog has a medical problem requiring attention.
Assuming you cannot determine another reason for your dog’s behaviour it might be prudent to speak to a veterinary professional.
Your veterinary centre may be able to identify if your dog has a medical problem and provide treatment or advice on how to stop it.
Training
Perhaps your dog needs additional training to stop it peeing in your bed? A dog trainer or canine psychologist may be able to help your dog overcome its habit if the reasons for it are related to training.
If there’s no clear medical reason why your dog suddenly starts peeing in your bed, iot may be that you just need to break the habit with training.
Don’t Get Angry
Although clearly an unpleasant reality to deal with, the act of peeing in your bed is not your dog just being naughty and telling it off won’t help. If anything, it might make matters worse if the peeing is related to submissive behaviour or your dog becomes more fearful of you.
Clean Up Pee Thoroughly
Unfortunately dogs like to pee in places they’ve marked before. Hence if your dog is peeing in your bed, you’ll have to clean it thoroughly to remove the odour your dog will recognise.
You’ll need to wash your bedding in hot water and use a specialised cleaning product on your mattress if your dog’s pee has seeped into it.
My Dog is Peeing on My Bed: What Products Can I Use to Clean It / Prevent It Happening Again?
A selection of products to help with dog peeing accidents in your bed and elsewhere in the home.
Sprinkle & Sweep
Eliminates strong odours, cleans dog pee, vomit and diarrhoea.
Sprinkle directly onto any dog accident, sweep and dispose for a speedy and easy cleanup.
Formulated with non-toxic ingredients, Sprinkle & Sweep is safe for use around pets and children.
Bodhi Dog Not Here Spray
Not Here! Spray deters your dog from revisiting and peeing in the same spot twice.
Works effectively for both indoor and outdoor training.
Made using socially responsible practices, locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, animal cruelty-free production and eco-friendly recyclable packaging.
Fabbay Washable Pee Pads for Dogs
Ultra absorbent pads composed of 3 layers, with strong water absorption and leakproof protection.
The dog pee pads feature a breathable, quilted top layer, an absorbent core that traps pee and a PVC waterproof layer for helping to lock in liquids and odours.
Jungle Creations Washable Dog Pee Pads
Waterproof dog mats to ensure your furniture is protected against dog pee accidents.
A 3-piece set with a variety of pattern designs to complement your furniture.
Non-slip grip ensures the pee mat stays in place.
Nature’s Miracle Advanced Stain and Odour Eliminator
Enzymatic formula for severe messes that discourages re-soiling by removing the odour of pee.
A bacteria-based formula produces enzymes when it comes in contact with bio-based messes, and leaves a light, fresh scent.
Fast-drying, for use on carpets, hard floors and furniture.
Paw Inspired Disposable Dog Diapers
Leak proof, absorbent, comfortable and securely fitting, with repositionable fur resistant fasteners.
Useful for puppies, adult and older dogs these dog diapers help with training, incontinence, and menstrual hygiene.
May also be used for poop, diarrhea, and bowel incontinence, depending on size.
Summary: Why is My Dog Peeing in My Bed?
There are many reasons why a dog pees on its owner’s bed. They can be related to behaviour and training, age and medical conditions or simply that your dog is having regular accidents.
No dog ever decides to misbehave by peeing in your bed and probably won’t understand if you tell them off for it.
The best thing to do if your dog is peeing in your bed is to try to understand why. Once you have determined the reason or reasons, you can then decide if your dog needs specialised training, veterinary treatment or simply a better routine.
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Have you experienced your dog peeing in your bed? Please tell us what you did to overcome this and anything you can recommend. Please leave comments in the section at the bottom of this page.
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Pamela meadows says
My snoodle is a yr old and has never peed in my bed until my x roommate came over and spent couple days. The next night he peed on living rooms rug. It has to b a territory thing. He is friendly to her. But when she walks across floor and if he has treat. He kind of snaps at her. I think it’s territory for sure!
paulf says
Hi Pamela. Yes I’m sure territorial behaviour is a big factor for some dogs. A friend of mine had this problem and she’s careful to have other dogs in the house now.