Dogs make great companions; they are very playful and protective of their owners. But when they are not fully potty trained, they may pee in spots where they are not supposed to. This behavior can be frustrating, especially if you have other duties to attend to. Hence, it is necessary to understand the reasons behind the behavior and have it addressed and corrected in good time.
The following are some of the top reasons why your dog is peeing on his blanket:
1. Your Dog Is Marking His Territory
Dogs have the instinct to claim their space. Thus, your dog will pee on his blanket to mark it as his so that others may not claim ownership of it. This mostly happens if you have recently acquired another new pet in the household.
Also, if you have purchased a new blanket for your dog, it is normal to find dog pee on his new bed as it marks its territory.
2. Out of Confusion
Some dogs experience a dementia-like disorder that leads to confusion and forgetfulness as they get older. Due to the confusion, your dog is likely to pee in inappropriate places.
3. Limited Mobility
Dogs in old age, injured ones, or those with medical conditions such as arthritis go through a lot of pain when they try to stand or walk. As the pain is sometimes unbearable, a dog will opt to pee where it is if it feels the urge.
4. Anxiety and Stress
Dogs can experience emotions such as fear, nervousness, and separation anxiety, which can lead to peeing. When left alone with no stimulation, your dog will feel stressed and pee on the blanket.
5. Side Effects of Medicines
Your dog may pee in bed as a result of certain medications they are taking. Let your veterinarian know if you notice your dog peeing on his bed all of a sudden after undergoing any treatment.
6. Emotional Distress
A dog is likely to start peeing on its blanket if something is affecting its emotions. It can be a result of a change in daily routine, a change in its environment, loud noises from the surroundings, the death of a friend, or trauma from past experiences.
7. Urinary Incontinence
This is a condition that can be associated with the age of your dog, heredity, infections in the bladder, or hormonal imbalance.
With such a condition, the dog will lack the ability to fully control its bladder, thus leading to peeing accidents even when your dog is asleep.
8. Lack of Proper Training
If your dog is not potty trained, it will pee anywhere whenever it feels the urge. Hence, you shouldn’t be surprised when you find your dog peeing on blankets and pillows if you haven’t trained it on where to finish the business.
9. Medical Issues
Why does my dog pee on his blanket all of a sudden? Is this your question? Have you had your dog checked for any health conditions? If you have not yet seen the veterinarian, then you must do so since your dog might be peeing as a result of a medical issue.
Medical conditions such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, or kidney disease can cause increased thirst, which necessitates an increased intake of water, thus leading to frequent urination.
10. Submissive Urination
This behavior is commonly observed in puppies and timid dogs that are trying to adapt to their new environment. It’s a way of showing their submission to more dominant dogs.
11. Staying For Long Without Potty Break
How Long a dog can stay without a potty break varies with the breed, age, type of diet fed to your dog, and level of training attained by your pet. Some dogs can hold their pee for up to 12 hours, whereas others have to go out every 4 hours.
Thus, if you leave your dog for too long without a potty break, it can pee on its blanket.
12. Urine Stains Not Well Cleaned
It is challenging to clean urine stains if you lack the appropriate tools. With the smell of the previous urine still lingering on the blanket, your dog is likely to pee again on the spot as it will confuse it with a peeing spot.
13. Your Dog Is Young or Recently Adopted
Puppies have tiny bladders and are not good at holding pee. Also, if your dog is new and hasn’t been trained to pee outside, it will pee anywhere.
Should I Punish My Dog For Peeing in My Bed?
No, you should not punish your dog for peeing in your bed. Hitting or yelling at your pet will only increase its anxiety and may make it hide, and you won’t know when it wants to go outside.
Punishing your dog is not advisable, as it:
- Contributes more to the bad behavior and makes it worse.
- Confuses the dog and deters the training progress as the dog doesn’t understand it’s being punished.
How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Peeing on the Blanket?
The following are ways to stop dogs from peeing on blankets:
1. Offering Proper Training
Thoroughly potty training your dog can help stop it from peeing in its blankets. You should exercise patience and consistency, as it takes time to fully train your dog. Use positive reinforcement to hasten the process.
2. Identify Stressors and Remove Them
Create a comfortable and stress-free environment for your dog to live in. Ensure that your pet has a clean place to sleep away from noise and other distractions.
3. Seek Veterinary Advice
Have your dog checked for any underlying medical conditions and be advised accordingly if the behavior persists.
Your dog can also wear washable diapers to help him live comfortably without causing a mess everywhere he goes, in case the peeing is a result of some medication being taken.
4. Regular Potty Breaks
Make sure you let your dog out regularly throughout the day to relieve itself.
5. Use Enzymatic Cleaners
Use commercial cleaning products that can get rid of the smell, bacteria, and particles left behind by the urine to properly clean your pet’s bedding.
What Smells Do Dogs Hate to Stop Peeing?
Dogs cannot pee in spots where they can sense a repellent smell. Therefore, you can stop your dog’s unwanted peeing behavior by adding a scent that they can’t stand to keep them away.
The following are the seven most effective smells for stopping your dog from peeing on some spots:
1. Citrus
This is the best dog repellant. You can place an orange or lemon peel on the spot where your dog pees, and the scent and oil will drive the dog away, or you can make use of a citrus spray.
The citrus spray can be made by boiling the peels to extract the oil.
2. Vinegar
Most dogs are more repelled by vinegar than by citrus. Vinegar should be used as a natural dog repellant, but it should not be sprayed directly on the dog.
3. Alcohol
Dogs can’t stand the smell of alcohol. So, any product with alcohol can be used as a dog repellent.
4. Ground Spices
Most spices have irritating effects on human beings and can make us sneeze. The same applies to dogs, and they can be repelled by the smell of ground coffee or other spices.
5. Chili
Makes the dog’s nose itch, causing it to sneeze nonstop. The fog will make sure it avoids the spot as much as possible.
6. Ammonia
Ammonia has a strong scent that can help cover up other scents, including previous pee smells. You can use ammonia by mixing it with water in a spray bottle and applying it to the area you don’t want your dog to pee in.
7. Citronella
The scent is found in candles, sprays, and oils and is mostly used to deter insects. Put the chemical in the area you want your dog to stop peeing in, and it will look for another spot.
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