While many behaviors that our canine friends exhibit may appear to be nonsensical to us, there is always a reason that dogs behave the way they do. From digging up the backyard to peeing on household items like clean laundry and blankets, there are plenty of things that our dogs do that seem crazy, but it makes complete sense to them.
There are few things more frustrating than owning a dog that pees in the house. Oh, except for owning a dog that uses blankets (both his and yours) as a place to empty his bladder.
The constant offensive smell of pee and load after load of laundry can get old pretty quickly. Most dog owners with a dog that regularly pees on blankets will find themselves at wit’s end when figuring out why it’s happening.
The good news is; there is probably a reason for this behavior. Blankets soaked with dog pee will not plague you for the rest of your dogs’ life. We’re here to help you find the light at the end of the tunnel.
Why does my dog pee on blankets?
A dog will rarely pee on a blanket just because he feels like it. There are reasons that this keeps happening, and there are certain instincts and medical conditions that might trigger your dog to pee on the household blankets. Resolving this issue is all about getting to the root of the behavior.
Your dog might have a medical condition
If your pup is always lifting his leg on blankets, he might have medical issues that a professional veterinarian should address. It never hurts to take him in for a check-up if you’re feeling concerned.
A dog that routinely pees on blankets could be suffering from a urinary tract infection or even a condition as serious as diabetes. UTI’s are more common in female dogs than in males, but if you see constant blanket-piddling happening in your home, it’s time to see the vet.
Diabetes will have symptoms in addition to peeing on blankets and other places around the home. You could notice that your dog is experiencing an increase in thirst, as well as vomiting or weight loss. However, it’s best to make an appointment with your vet to rule out anything serious!
Your dog has a lot of emotions
No, dogs don’t function on the same cognitive level as humans, but that doesn’t mean they are exempt from having emotions! Dogs feeling all the feels will consistently express themselves by peeing where they shouldn’t pee, including in your bed and on their blankets.
The most common emotions that might cause your dog to pee when he shouldn’t are excitement, nervousness, and anxiousness. He could be excited that you’re home, nervous about new guests, or anxious that you’re leaving. It’s not uncommon for a dog that frequently pees on blankets to experience separation anxiety when its owners go for the workday or head out on vacation.
Your dog is a puppy
Oh, hello, owners with new puppies! New puppies play, they slurp water, and they have tiny bladders, so it’s only a matter of time before they’re peeing, and in the beginning, it will be in the house most of the time.
Take housetraining into serious consideration if you’re feeling frustrated concerning your puppy peeing on blankets. It’s kind of what they do, and with the proper training, patience, and time, they will learn to hold their pee.
You recently adopted your dog
If your newly adopted dog is peeing on blankets, this could be an emotional issue. However, you’ll want to consider the fact that he may not be fully potty trained.
When it comes to rescued dogs, we rarely know where they’ve been or what they’ve been through in life. Your new companion could have been trained to pee outside in his former home and then lost some of that training during his time in a shelter.
Or, on the other hand, perhaps he was never fully potty trained. It’s crucial to give recently adopted dogs some time to settle into their new surroundings. Please provide them with gentle basic training, plenty of praise, and exude patience!
How to stop my dog from peeing on blankets?
Peeing on blankets and other household surfaces, rugs included, is a notoriously frustrating issue for dog parents. It’s important to remember to keep your cool and try not to assume that your dog thinks as you do. He doesn’t.
If you want to stop your dog from peeing on blankets, there are a few things you can try at home.
Don’t yell at your dog
Losing your patience is not going to help the situation. Yelling at your dog for peeing on blankets will give him anxiety or cause him to lose his trust in you as a leader. Stay cool, calm, and collected, and work with your dog and your vet to figure out why urinating inside the home keeps happening.
Visit your vet
If you think there is an underlying health condition contributing to your dog peeing on blankets, then see your vet! The vet will diagnose everything from medical to mental issues and prescribe medications to manage problems ranging from diabetes to anxiety.
If you know potty training is not the root cause, then the vet should be your first stop. If anything, you’ll come away with a peace of mind.
Work with a trainer
If you’ve ruled out any medical problems, and your dog is entirely potty-trained, then you could be dealing with a dominance (or flat out stubborn dog) situation. It might be time for you to reintroduce yourself to your dog as the pack leader in your home, and there is no better way to do this than with a professional, reputable, certified trainer.
An expert trainer can walk into the situation, observe it, and then advise you on what is happening. From there, you’ll develop a plan together that will rid your dog of his peeing-on-blankets behavior forever. It will take some hard work and dedication on your part, but the right trainer will guide you through it.
Why is my dog suddenly peeing on its bed?
If your dog has suddenly taken up peeing on his bed, a visit to the doggy doctor is in order. A veterinarian should address any sudden behavior change to make sure that, as an owner, you aren’t missing something that a seasoned eye would catch.
So often, medical issues are often the root cause of a sudden behavioral change, and because we tend to assume dogs think as we do, we believe they’re acting out. While they absolutely could be trying to tell you they’re unhappy about something, let the vet be the deciding factor.
If the vet doesn’t find anything wrong, take into consideration any recent environmental changes. If you’ve moved or brought a new puppy or dog home, this could spur your dog to begin peeing on his bed. It could be a show of dominance or perhaps a way to let you know that he isn’t thrilled with the new addition.
Ensure that your pup has enough time outside. If you work outside of the home all day, hire a dog walker, or ask a family member or friend to stop by and walk him. He could be peeing on his bed simply because he’s having trouble holding it all day long. This specific circumstance is a situation that is beyond easy to fix, so get a stronghold on it before it turns into a habit.
It’s never fun to come across a puddle of pee anywhere in your house, but especially on blankets when you and your dog are supposed to start settling in for the night. Stepping back and looking at the situation will likely help you identify the contributing factors as to why your dog is suddenly peeing on his bed and blankets.