Finding out that you're lying on a bed soaked in dog pee may be the only time you've been awake wishing it was a nightmare. But, alas, dog peeing on bed is one of those dilemmas some dog parents have to cope with. While there might be a variety of reasons if your dog keeps peeing on bed, you're not powerless to stop this repetitive problem.

Dog Peeing On Bed: Here’s Why & How to Stop It

Dogs usually get potty trained very easily. So it’s always a shock when your loving, innocent canine friend does something so out of character and unexpected like peeing - that too on your bed, of all places. However, there has to be a valid reason for your dog peeing on bed.

Whether your dog peed on your fresh sheets while you were asleep or right in front of you at any time of the day, of course, you immediately wonder why is your furry friend doing this. This article will take you through all you need to know why is your doggo peeing on your bed, how you can eliminate the pee smell from your sleep space and most importantly, how to eradicate the issue.

Some General Behavioral Reasons Why Is Your Dog Peeing On Bed

If your dog is urinating on your bed and you have no idea what the issue is, here are some possibilities of the same:

1. Your Dog Is Missing Your Attention

Changes in a dog’s routine, even those that seem minor and insignificant to us, can trigger unexpected social as well as house-soiling behavior.

2. The Litter Box Isn't In a Good Location

Dogs like to do their bathroom business in privacy and pleasantry. Hence, if your litter box is placed in a busy area or next to a noisy appliance, your canine friend might hate to see their privacy being hindered. So, just try to slightly change it and see if you can find an answer to your problem.

3. You Need More Dog Litter Boxes

Dogs prefer their litter boxes to be easily accessible and accidents happen when they have to rush somewhere far away to do their business. So, make their litter box more accessible and bring in one or two of them, especially if you live in a large house or your dog spends a significant amount of time in multiple locations every day.

4. Your Dog Needs Its Own Litter Box

Do you have some other dogs or cats in your household? If yes, this could also be a huge problem. Some dogs hate sharing their litter box with another dog (or cat). Hence, it is a better option to have a litter box for each dog in the home.

5. Your Dog Doesn’t Like Its Litter Box Anymore

If the litter box is too old or has started to trap odors, chances are your doggo might seem to hate it. Your doggo might also have grown up physically and the ill-fitted litter box might be constricting its movements. Perhaps the litter box's sides are too high, making it problematic to get in and out of.

6. Your Dog Hates Its Litter

You’ve probably started using one type or brand of dog litter and turned up your nose at other brands but your doggo might still want the old litter or need something different. If your dog has recently been outdoors a lot, it might want its litter to be mixed with outdoor soil.

Some dogs with long fur may find clay litter unpleasant as it sticks to their coat and would rather love crystal litter. Conversely, some dogs like clumping litter and others will refuse to touch it.

Medical Reasons Behind Why Do Dogs Pee On Beds

Sometimes, understanding and addressing some general behavioral reasons might help end the issue. But if nothing works, it can be a sign that your dog has some medical problems and needs help.

As a result, here are some signs you should watch out for:

• Diabetes: If your dog is diabetic, it will experience increased thirst, loss of weight, vomiting, and lethargy.
• Urinary Tract Infection: Fever, lethargy, licking, and not looking well are all indicators of a urinary tract infection in dogs, which is more commonly seen in females than males.
• Urinary or Bladder Stones: Urinary or bladder stones in dogs show up along with abdominal discomfort, lack of energy and loss of appetite and can be a huge reason for your dog peeing in your bed.
• Urinary Incontinence: Although senior dogs are more prone to urinary incontinence, it can happen in young dogs too and is again, more common in female dogs.
• Kidney Diseases: If your dog has any type of kidney disease, they are likely to urinate more frequently, mostly in places where they laze around more often (like your bed). Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs might show up in the form of weakness, lack of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting and mouth ulcers.
• Arthritis: A dog with arthritis may experience immense pain from standing up and walking. As a result, he opts to urinate in your bed rather than standing up and going outside. This is more likely to happen in senior dogs.

Stress Might Also Be The Culprit

If your doggy gets a clean bill of health from the veterinary care provider but still uses your bed as a litter box, their issue might be rooted in anxiety and stress – which is again a medical problem. A change in routine, any sort of discomfort or hormonal and chemical balances in the body might be causing stress to your dog and this negative energy might be showing up on your sheets.

Or Marking Territory, Maybe?

One of the most common reasons why your dog pees in your bed or other places around the house in small amounts is because it is trying to claim its territory. This behavior is more common among male dogs and mostly happens as a response to a new arrival in the home, say a baby or a new pet in the family. This might also happen outdoors if the dog is sexually intact as it might like to call for a female dog in heat nearby.

“My Dog Peed On My Bed” – Effective Ways To Stop Your Furry Pal From Micturating

Dog pee on your bed is super-inconvenient and of course, a nightmare to clean up. However, with a little persistence and loads of patience, many effective strategies will help you turn the situation around and stop your dog from peeing on your bed:

1. Consider Removing the Triggers from the Bedroom

• Always close the door to your bedroom whenever you leave your dog unattended. When your dog doesn’t have access to your mattress, it won’t pee on it.
• Sometimes, your dog must be peeing on a specific blanket or sheet on your bed. Notice them carefully and remove the trigger to solve the issue.

2. Make The Bed Non-Absorbent

• If creating a barrier near your bed or closing the bedroom door is not an option for you, invest in a waterproof mattress cover that can keep your doggo’s pee from sinking too deep.
• If you don’t have a waterproof mattress protector, spread a shower curtain or any sort of non-absorbent material over the bed to dissuade your doggy from peeing there.

3. Bring In A Litter Box In Your Bedroom

• If your dog spends a significant amount of time in your bedroom, put their litter box right next to the bed so that they can instantly hop into the right place for peeing rather than on your bed.
• Once they start using the litter box again, gradually place the litter box away from the bed and eventually out of the bedroom but in close proximity.

4. Keep The Bed Clean

• Dogs are scent-driven creatures who will associate the smell of their pee with the toilet and hence, continue to release themselves in the same spot.
• So, if your dog peed on your bed (or on the couch) and you did not clean the area thoroughly, odds are that they will return no matter how hard you try to avoid this problem.

5. Don’t Separate Your Dog From You

• If your dog sleeps in your bedroom, you would be considering stopping allowing it to sleep near you to avoid this issue. However, instead of separating your doggy from yourself, try bonding and playing more, and focus on new litter box alternatives and placement options to avoid anxiety.

6. Improve Your Bonding With Your Dog

• Your dog will never ruin your personal space when they “really” love you and know the space is yours. So, make sure they know the bed is your sleeping space by mixing your scent with it as much as possible.
• Give your dog enough attention and cuddles they deserve and are habitual of.

7. Reduce Their Stress & Anxiety

• If your dog is peeing on your bed for some stressful or anxious reasons, work hard to eliminate their stress and make them feel comfortable.

8. Be Patient & Calm

• If your dog keeps peeing on bed, never punish them and try to be as patient as possible – even if you are annoyed and freaked out.

9. Try Disassociating Your Bed As A Toilet

Dogs don’t pee where they eat. So, consider giving treats on your bed to help your furry friend understand that the bed is not the right place to urinate on.

10. Replace The Litter Box & Improve The Litter Box Conditions

• Replacing the litter box, changing the litter and improving litter box conditions can also help eliminate the problem.

11. Reposition The Litter Box

• Bring in more litter boxes inside your home and keep repositioning them in different spots until it works out perfectly.

12. Make Their Litter Box Attractive

• Invest in the type of litter your dog prefers and ensure they like the spot, litter box, and the entire privacy setting.

How to Get Dog Pee Out of Your Bedding?

As highlighted above, if your dog can smell its old pee in your bed, it will be tempted to urinate there again. So, here are a few effective ways to get rid of dog pee out of your bedding:

• Rinse the pee spot on your bedding with cool water and blot it but avoid scrubbing it.
• Wash your bedding in your washing machine using detergent as well as baking soda or vinegar.
• Let everything fully air dry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Why Do Dogs Pee On Beds

If you are wondering why my dog peed on my bed, here are our answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to a dog peeing on bed.

Should I punish my dog for peeing in my bed?

If you discover your dog urinated on your bed, don’t react with anger, yelling, or hitting as any sort of negative attention will ruin the bond you have with your furry friend, and it won't stop the problem at all. In fact, it will cause more stress to your doggo that is likely to make the situation more problematic and of course, increase unwanted behaviors.

Why is my dog peeing on my parents’ bed?

A dog peeing in bed is problematic – no matter whether the bed is yours or your parents’ and there could be a variety of medical or behavioral reasons for that. Check for signs of diabetes, urinary tract infection, urinary or bladder stones, urinary incontinence, kidney diseases, arthritis and stress. Moreover, make sure your dog likes their litter box, its location and the type of litter used.

Why would a female dog pee on you?

Dogs have a natural instinct of urine-marking which could actually be an indication of anxiety. This doesn't only happen in female dogs but also in males. If a female dog is peeing on you, she is trying to identify her territory or mark her dominance over you, especially if you are visiting new locations or petting some other dogs or cats.

The Bottom Line

It’s already disappointing when your doggo pees outside their litter box but feels like more of a personal attack when you hop onto your bed only to find yourself on top of a wet spot. However, with just a little patience and the useful steps on how to prevent your dog peeing on bed highlighted above, you’ll soon have a dry bed and a happy dog once again!

The most important thing to remember as you deal with your dog peeing in bed is that your four-legged pal is simply trying to tell you something, and it’s up to you, with appropriate help, to figure out what that "something" is.