One of the most unexpected experiences that we live as guardians is to confirm that our dog has wet the bed or our bed , especially when this behavior begins suddenly. Although this behavior can appear with certain frequency among dogs and cats, we must be very vigilant, since it can be associated with various health problems .
If you’ve been through this experience before, you’re likely to ask yourself questions like “why is my dog wetting the bed?”, “Why is my dog wetting his bed?” or “why is my dog urinating on my bed?”. Of course, we recommend you go to the vet quickly when observing this behavior in your dog to rule out possible medical causes. Remember that an early diagnosis almost always allows a better prognosis and a better quality of life for our faithful companions.
However, in this new article from the Animal Expert we will help you understand the main reasons that explain why dogs wet the bed or in unusual places in the home. In addition, we will explain why it is not correct to punish a dog when he pees at home. Read on to find out more about your best friend and help him properly.
You may also be interested: Why does my dog urinate when I pet him?
Index
- Causes why my dog pees now at home
- How to know if my dog urinates to mark territory at home?
- Now yes: why does your dog urinate in bed?
- Many dogs wet the bed for medical problems
- Other possible causes of why a dog wet his bed
- How can I prevent my dog from urinating in bed or indoors? – 5 TIPS
Causes why my dog pees now at home
When observing that a dog has peed in unusual places, such as in its bed, many guardians immediately associate this behavior with marking. But the act of urinating is not always associated with the need for dogs to mark their territory.
Urination is an absolutely natural and necessary act , through which the dog empties its bladder and eliminates toxins from its metabolism. During their walks, dogs often urinate not only to relieve their physiological needs, but also to “make themselves known” to other dogs. In addition, some dogs can unintentionally urinate in contexts of high stress or fear , as they lose control over their emotions and reactions.
Therefore, it is not correct to punish a dog when he pees at home , especially if we do not know the cause of this behavior. If you notice that your furry begins to urinate in unusual places or that he involuntarily pees when he is asleep or awake, we recommend that you go to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible to check his health and rule out any pathology.
How to know if my dog urinates to mark territory at home?
The dog’s motivation to urinate out of necessity or fear is completely different from that of marking territory. Clearly, this is reflected in their behavior and urination.
For example: a dog that urinates at home because it has a full bladder will make a large pool of pee , while marking is usually done with small amounts of urine and on elevated surfaces. However, if your dog suddenly starts urinating several times in small amounts, it is important to see your vet to rule out the possibility of a urinary infection .
If you get home and find a big puddle of pee, it is a sign that your dog has not been able to hold on until his next walk to relieve himself. In this case, we recommend modifying the schedules and the frequency of the walks to avoid this behavior. If you feel that you don’t have time to increase the frequency and / or duration of walks with your dog, you can contact a professional dog walker.
In addition, it may happen that in some cases hygiene habits are not correctly learned, in these cases we advise you to teach your adult dog to urinate on the street , it is never too late!
In addition, marking does not usually appear eventually or suddenly in adult dogs, but is a behavior that has been carried out constantly or has appeared after the adoption of a new dog or cat at home . It is also worth clarifying that the dog that marks does not usually do it alone in his bed or in his guardian’s bed, but in different points of the home, with a certain predilection for vertical surfaces (doors, sticks, wall, tables, furniture, etc. .).
Have you come to the conclusion that your dog urinates to mark territory at home? Well remember that punishing or scolding your dog are counterproductive and dangerous methods, since they expose the animal to a high level of stress and can lead to negative and even aggressive reactions. At Expert Animal, we have prepared some tips to help you prevent your dog from marking territory inside the house safely and effectively.
Now yes: why does your dog urinate in bed?
The truth is that there is no single reason that explains why a dog pees in his own bed or in his guardian’s bed, since this behavior can appear for different causes , depending on age, education, state of health and the routine of each can.
If we are talking about an adult dog that has already learned that it should not pee inside the home, we must be especially vigilant to rule out medical problems . For this reason, the first thing you should do when observing that your dog urinates in bed, is to consult a veterinarian.
In newly adopted puppies or dogs arriving at the new home, this behavior may indicate that your best friend has not yet learned to urinate in the right place. At Animal Expert, we tell you how to teach your puppy to relieve himself on the street . But you can also determine and prepare a specific place in the home where your dog can urinate and poop without being interpreted as misconduct. In this case, you will need to teach your dog to relieve himself in the newspaper .
Many dogs wet the bed for medical problems
Dogs that wet their bed may suffer from hormonal deficits, neurological problems or other pathologies that lead to urinary incontinence . In these cases, the dog may inadvertently urinate in totally unexpected contexts or places, for example while sleeping in his bed or in his guardians’ bed. Also, some dogs may come to urinate on top of their handlers due to the inability to control their urinary tract and retain pee.
As we have mentioned, urinary tract diseases (infections, cystitis , kidney failure, etc.) can lead the dog to pee several times in different places (in small amounts), have difficulty eliminating urine, or lose small amounts. involuntary peeing. In addition, some dogs may feel pain or discomfort when moving, so they avoid moving and end up peeing in inappropriate places.
On the other hand, dogs with difficulty moving can urinate in their bed for not getting to the right place. If your dog is used to sleeping with you, it can also happen that you wet your bed because you cannot get off in time.
Also, older dogs can develop cognitive dysfunction syndrome , also known as “canine Alzheimer’s.” It is a natural consequence of aging that leads to various alterations of the nervous system and the decline of cognitive, motor and sensory functions. These changes are reflected in the behavior of the dog, and can cause unusual behaviors, such as urinating in its bed or in inappropriate places, and even leading to behavioral problems in older dogs.
Other possible causes of why a dog wet his bed
Here are some possible extra causes:
- Difficulty accessing the exterior of the home. If your dog is used to urinating outside the home, in the garden or patio, you must ensure that he can easily access the outside to prevent him from peeing at home.
- Removals and sudden changes in your environment. Dogs are very sensitive animals and stick to a positive routine to feel safe and avoid exposing themselves to unnecessary danger. Therefore, sudden changes in your routine, habits or environment can cause unusual behaviors and even behavioral problems. If you think about moving or renovating your house, remember that your best friend will need his own time to get used to this new reality.
- Poor distribution of the rides. Your dog’s walks are a very important part of his routine, therefore, they must have a balanced frequency and duration. In general, it is recommended that every dog make between 2 and 3 walks a day, of at least 30 minutes each. In this way, they can expend energy, release tension, socialize and quietly fulfill their physiological needs. If a dog is left for a long time without walking, it is completely understandable that he pees inside the house to relieve his bladder.
- Loneliness or lack of attention. Feeling lonely or ignored by their handlers, some dogs may engage in unusual or outlandish behaviors to get their attention, such as urinating at home, barking excessively, or destroying household objects. To prevent these behaviors, remember to reserve time especially to go for a walk, play and give love to your furry.
- Fear or stress. As we have mentioned, dogs can urinate involuntarily when experiencing a context of high fear or stress. If your dog is afraid of rockets or loud noises, for example, he can hide or take refuge in his bed to feel safe and end up peeing because of the fear that overwhelms them and makes them lose control over their emotions and physiological reactions. On the other hand, if you tend to scold your dog in his bed, he may pee on himself because seeing you so angry, this situation also causes him a lot of fear and stress.
Regardless of the cause of this behavior, remember that it is wrong to punish a dog when he pees at home. Negative methods that use violence in any of its possible forms are counterproductive and dangerous, since they subject the dog to emotions and contexts harmful to its physical and mental health. In addition, when feeling threatened, a dog can adopt a defensive posture and act aggressively to protect itself, being able to hurt itself and everyone around it.
If your dog has peed in his bed or indoors, we recommend taking him to the vet as soon as possible to check his health. After ruling out medical problems, the vet will be able to explain how to act to help your furry, or guide you when looking for a canine educator or ethologist to establish specific guidelines and try to modify this behavior in your dog.
How can I prevent my dog from urinating in bed or indoors? – 5 TIPS
When it comes to preserving the health and good behavior of our dogs, prevention will always be the key word. If we do not want our furry to urinate in their bed or in inappropriate places in the home, we must provide adequate preventive medicine and invest in their early education to prevent medical problems and behavior problems.
Next, we make a very short list of the main guidelines to follow to prevent your dog from urinating in his bed or inside the home:
- It offers an adequate preventive medicine to your dog, throughout his life. This includes making preventive visits to the vet every 6 months, keeping your vaccinations and deworming always up to date, providing you with complete and balanced good quality nutrition, paying attention to your oral hygiene , and offering proper physical and mental stimulation.
- Show your dog. Loving your dog doesn’t just mean cuddling or allowing him to do whatever he wants. Education is one of the best displays of affection that you can provide your dogs, as well as being key to a healthy and positive coexistence. If you want to enjoy the company of a healthy, balanced and obedient dog, and avoid unwanted behavior, then teach your best friend the basic canine obedience orders and the rules of your home. If you do not want your furry to pee inside the home, then teach him to relieve himself on the street as a puppy.
- Take your furry guy for a walk daily. The walks are not only important for the dog to shit and shit, but they represent one of the happiest moments of his days. When walking, dogs discover thousands of new stimuli, experience new sensations, interact with other dogs and people, exercise, expend energy, and can express themselves. Therefore, all dogs (even those that can pee somewhere in their home) must walk daily, to maintain a healthy weight and balanced behavior. Even if you are very tired after a long day at work, remember that your furry has waited for this moment throughout the day, and that his health and joy are worth every effort of yours.
- Offer a positive environment to your best friend. All dogs need a positive environment where they can explore, express themselves, and fully develop their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social capabilities. Remember that the behavior of the dogs depend largely on the education and environment provided by their guardians.
- Use positive reinforcement to educate your dog. As we have mentioned, punishment and other negative methods are counterproductive and dangerous in the education of a dog. To safely teach your best friend and stimulate his cognitive and emotional abilities, use positive reinforcement to recognize your best friend’s effort and intelligence. In addition, we invite you to discover our basic guide to dog training to help you educate your furry in a positive way and improve the bond between you.
