Sometimes accidents happen, and dog owners especially know this to be true.
Even the best dog can make a mess in the house, which is why it can get frustrating when those messes happen again and again.
Your dog may even be potty trained and still pee in the house occasionally.
Maggie used to struggle with this when she was a puppy, and I used to get so confused.
She knew to go outside or on her indoor potty pad, so why was she choosing to pee everywhere else?
Here are some things I found that should help you figure out why your dog is peeing in the house and how you can put an end to it.
Why is Your Dog Peeing in the House?
There are many different reasons for why dogs pee in the house, so if you’re really going to stop it from happening again, you have to know why it’s happening in the first place.
They’re a Puppy
Young puppies need to go to the bathroom frequently.
A simple formula to figure out how often you should walk your puppy is:
1 hour times how many months old they are[1].
If your puppy is peeing in their crate, don’t worry. It takes time for them to become crate trained.
Show patience and try potty pads!
They’re Marking Territory
Some dogs will try to mark their territory in the home if they feel like they have to assert their dominance.
This might be your dog’s issue if you recently brought home another dog or pet.
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They Have Urinary Issues
Dogs can get urinary issues at any age[2], which all lead to different solutions.
Double check how much your dog pees when they have an accident and if they seem to be in pain when they pee to determine if they should see the vet.
They’re Anxious
When your dog is anxious about something happening around them, they may deal with it by peeing.
It’s a natural reaction that some dogs have, and your dog may be one of them.
How To Stop Your Dog Peeing In The House
Do any of these reasons sound like why your dog is peeing in the house? Here’s how to stop it from happening again.
Give Them Treats
If you’ve just brought your two-month-old puppy home, they’ll need to pee every two hours at a minimum.
This can’t be helped, so try taking them outside more often and rewarding them with treats after they pee when and where they’re supposed to.
The treat reward system is an effective method of potty training, so give it time and your pup will figure out where their bathroom is.
Help Them Bond
If you’ve brought home a second dog, they’ll need some time to bond before the territorial marking stops.
You can speed this along by[3]:
- Giving positive affirmations when they play together.
- Walking them together.
- Giving them the same things.
Spending time together is a great way for them to feel more comfortable around each other.
It’ll also help if they share the same things, like two of the same dog beds or identical toys.
They’ll have less to feel territorial over if they know they have the same space and belongings.
Lots of petting and encouragement will help them bond and reduce or stop the territorial peeing.
Visit the Vet
Younger and older dogs can all get urinary tract infections, which have the following symptoms[4]:
- Frequent accidents
- Pain while peeing
- Constant drinking of water
They may also have kidney problems, which have similar symptoms of a UTI.
Get your dog checked out by a vet if you think this may be their problem, as they’ll need antibiotics to clear the infection out.
Treat Their Anxiety
What has been happening around your dog when they’ve had their accidents?
Were fireworks going off, loud sirens passing by, or arguments occurring near them?
Dogs get anxiety just like humans do, and one of their ways to cope is to pee.
They’ll also get anxiety when they’re left alone for long periods of time, so treat their anxiety according to what you think triggers them[5].
Anxiety treatments that may help could be:
- Wearing a weighted vest such as the ThunderShirt during thunderstorms or loud noises.
- Leaving the TV or music on while they’re alone.
- All natural supplements before they get anxious.
- Medication provided by the vet.
If no home remedies work, talk with your vet about getting an anxiety prescription. They’ll look at your specific case further and be able to more accurately diagnose what’s causing the anxiety in the first place.
Spray Their Accident Spots
The answer to your dog’s frequent accidents might be as simple as needing an anti-pee spray.
Spraying the places where they pee the most in the house will keep them from smelling whatever it is that tells them to pee there. They’ll avoid the area and may hold their bladder longer.
Conclusion
Maggie’s main problem with peeing was that she was super young and didn’t like to be left alone.
She was completely fine after she was able to roam the house and have the TV playing.
Don’t give up if your first attempt at solving your dog’s anxiety problem doesn’t work.
You may have to try different methods to get to the real reason for your dog’s anxiety.
FAQs
What Can I Use to Stop My Dog from Peeing in the House?
This depends on why your dog is peeing.
They may do better if left in a crate or left out of one.
If they’re peeing on one place repeatedly, try using an anti-pee spray that can be found at any pet store to deter them from the spot.
Why is My Dog Peeing in the House All of a Sudden?
Take a look at their daily routine to see if anything has changed.
If a new dog has come home, they’re left alone more often, or there are loud noise triggers happening, that could be the answer to your problem.
Why Does My Dog Keep Peeing on the Carpet?
Unfortunately, there’s no one answer for why a dog is peeing on the carpet.
You’ll have to monitor them more closely to determine what it could be.
Anxiety may be the cause, or they could have a medical condition like a UTI that the vet can take care of for you.
Resources
- https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-housetrain-your-dog-or-puppy
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/10-urinary-problems-dogs
- https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/how-introduce-dogs
- https://vettedpetcare.com/vetted-blog/6-surefire-signs-dog-uti/
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/treating-dog-anxiety/
