Nobody likes to live with a dog who urinates in the house. It’s smelly, messy and just bad manners overall.
Reasons Why Your Dog is Peeing in the House
There can be many reasons why your dog is peeing in the house. From mere lack of understanding to a physical problem, there’s always a source. The reasons could be based on age. Puppies don’t yet have a good understanding of potty training. And, senior dogs can become incontinent as sphincter muscles weaken or they have Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Male dogs might be marking territory.
The first step is to ensure your dog is healthy, so take your dog to their veterinarian for a checkup, as illness is one of the main reasons for sudden changes in potty behavior. Health issues are also common causes of sudden indoor urination problems. Your dog’s diet can also be a reason for inappropriate urination.
As house training issues can take a long time to cure, you may want to seek the help of a professional dog trainer. They have the experience to find the source of the problem and create a means of teaching you and your dog to overcome the issues.
There can be many sources of this problem, such as anxiety, arthritis, bad weather, cognitive issues, and more. Dog behavior can be complicated, and a pet professional will help you solve this problem.
Anxiety/Fear
If your dog suddenly has an accident indoors, or is new to your home, a likely source of this behavior can be due to anxiety or fear.
Dogs can take months to acclimate to new environments. It is not uncommon for adult dogs who have been moved from place to place or moved with the family to a new home. Peeing in the house is a typical reaction to this type of anxiety.
Some dogs may feel the need to remark territory by hiking their legs on stationary objects such as furniture, walls or doors to help them feel more comfortable in their new home. This behavior is more common with male dogs than with female dogs, however.
Arthritis
Inappropriate urination is common in dogs who have arthritis. It hurts to move and can sometimes take a long time to get up and go to the door. The result is peeing in the house as they cannot contain themselves. Geriatric and senior dogs often need help getting up. While you can easily lift a small dog and carry it outside, large dogs would benefit from a sling, aiding the movement of their back legs and hips which are commonly riddled with arthritis.
As your dog learns that getting up is painful, they get to the point where they do not even attempt to do so and urinate where they lay.
There are actually many ways you can prevent house soiling in dogs who have arthritis.
Joint Supplements
You should ask your veterinarian about the appropriate joint supplements, and dosages, for your dog. These supplements improve the fluid levels within your dog’s joints, reducing the friction of the bones and thereby decreasing their pain.
Anti-inflammatory
Your veterinarian can prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication that will reduce the inflammation around your dog’s joints, also alleviating their pain levels. Your dog will need to be given the medication daily as the effects don’t build up over time.
Anti-inflammatory medications can also affect your dog’s liver. Therefore, your dog should get a yearly blood scan to ensure that doesn’t occur. If it does, the medication can be changed as there are several types of anti-inflammatory medications available.
Bad Weather
This is often the trigger for dogs to not want to potty outdoors, especially small dogs. It could be too cold or too hot or raining heavily. Or, even worse, an electrical storm. If you live in a northern climate with heavy snow, your dog may not want to wade into the tall snow drifts. Some dogs are concerned with heavy winds, as they have difficulty keeping their legs beneath them, or the wind can bring unknown odors that are frightening.
There are ways to mitigate these issues. First, regardless of weather, take your dog outside on a regular schedule. This teaches them the house rules and instills the knowledge of potty breaks. Second, if your dog is small or has a thin coat, use doggy boots and jackets to maintain their warmth and prevent their feet from being cold and wet.
It may take some time for them to acclimate to clothing, but it is worth the effort overall. If you are consistent with putting it on prior to going outside it will become part of the routine.
Cognitive Issues
Geriatric dogs commonly develop cognitive issues as they age. This can cause confusion, restlessness and sometimes aggression. Part of the confusion might involve house soiling as they forget where to go to do their business.
As their body breaks down they can also develop a lack of muscle function. This would involve the sphincter muscles that control their bowels and urethra control. The inability to control these means that they potty without even knowing that they have to.
Your veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help with urinary and bowel control so be sure to consult with them. Dietary changes can also be helpful, so discuss this as well.
Incontinence
Indoor peeing can happen with dogs of any age but is most common in young puppies, newly neutered dogs and geriatric dogs. There are many ways you can work with the younger dogs to teach them to do their business outdoors. Unfortunately, the only way you can help an aging dog who is house soiling is through medication and vigilance.
Puppies between 6 weeks and 3 months do not have much control over their bladders and tend to have urinary accidents, especially when active. You need to watch them as you would a newly mobile toddler. When you see them sniffing and circling get them outside immediately.
There are also other times to ensure you take them to their potty zones quickly:
- After meals
- After sleeping
- During play
Sometimes, newly neutered dogs have difficulty controlling their urinary sphincter muscles. Surgery can weaken them, making it difficult for them to control. Be sure to enforce the relief schedule and briefly add a few more relief times. This is temporary, but you must remain consistent to overcome the issue.
Young and Adult Dog Urine Marking
Territorial marking behavior is common in adolescent dogs – especially unneutered males. As they enter adolescence they instinctually need to mark their territory. Unfortunately, their territory is your home and everything in it.
This can be prevented through neutering between 6-8 months, or be very diligent with house training procedures. Obedience training also goes a long way toward preventing territorial behavior. Once begun, it will require a lot of hard work and time to cure.
Give your adolescent dog the opportunity to do their marking outdoors, either in a fenced in yard, or during neighborhood walks.
Metabolic/Endocrine/Other Disease
There are many health problems that can cause inappropriate urination. From kidney problems such as diabetes, kidney stones, infections and kidney failure to liver and prostrate problems, all can cause your dog’s house soiling.
Diseases such as Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), and steroid drugs can also make it difficult for your dog to control their need to urinate.
The ingestion of toxic elements – plants, spoiled foods – can cause a sudden lack of control.
If there’s a sudden change in your dog’s house manners, this is why it is important to always make a veterinary exam a priority.
Overexcitement/Submissive Urination
Many young dogs have difficulty controlling their urinary sphincter when excited. This is called Submissive Urination. This is not a purposeful behavior.
The last thing you should do is punish this dog. Doing so will make the issue worse. Instead, lower the excitement level when in the situations that this occurs. This commonly happens when greeting people, or when the overall environment is filled with high energy. So, lower the energy and redirect the dog into another activity as soon as possible.
Setbacks in Housetraining
Setbacks in housetraining can occur when moving or when there is any change in the environment, such as visitors, a new pet or a new baby. Obedience training will go a long way toward preventing this from occurring.
This can also happen when you transition your dog from potty pads to outdoor potty times. You will need to remain observant and consistent to prevent accidents.
Urinary Tract Infection for Male and Female dogs
The most common reason for sudden house soiling is a urinary tract infection (UTI). Urinary tract issues can occur in any dog of any age. This is when bacteria enters the urinary tract via the urethra, causing pain and inflammation. It is very uncomfortable for your dog!
Puppies are prone to UTIs. They can also happen after spay surgery. Diet can also play a role in the frequency of UTIs.
How to Stop Your Dog Peeing in the House
First, be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to reduce urine odor. This will make your dog less likely to mark in the same place. Urinary accidents often occur due to scent. It is a dog’s instinct to cover the scent with their own or to refresh the scent with their own urine odor.
If there is not a medical issue causing the indoor accidents, it is likely behavioral. Use positive reinforcement training methods to teach your dog the house rules and remain patient as they progress. It will require time and consistency, but you will be rewarded with a well behaved dog who understands where to do their business.
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