Is your dog peeing in the house? You’re not alone. Many dog have accidents even when they’re housetrained, and it can be incredibly frustrating.
But, however annoyed you might feel, a dog peeing in the house isn’t necessarily the thing to blame for this unwanted behavior. Current research shows that dogs aren’t being stubborn if they have an accident but rather responding to some kind of stress or change in their environment. It’s up to you to help alleviate that stress and teach your dog what you want him to do.
Is your dog peeing in the house? Maybe it’s scent marking
There are many reasons behind a dog peeing in the house, and one of the most common is no accident at all. Scent marking is different from a housetraining accident. Dogs who scent mark often leave urine in many different places around the home in small quantities. Toileting accidents tend to produce larger amounts of urine in fewer places.
Dogs are prompted to go where other dogs have eliminated, and ammonia can trigger this response. Since many household cleaners use this chemical, look for an enzymatic, natural cleaner.
A dog peeing in the house can signal a medical issue
If you can rule out scent marking, then a medical issue could be the reason behind a dog peeing in the house. A vet check is a great place to start and will help rule out many different medical conditions that contribute to housetraining problems; for example, gastrointestinal disease, urinary infections, renal failure or canine cognitive dysfunction in older pets.
Housetraining issues may be a response to change
If your dog is given a clean bill of health then ask yourself if anything significant has happened with your situation in the last few weeks or if your dog’s environment has recently changed. Did you move or did someone move in or out of your household? Did you get another pet or lose one, or did you install an electric fence or train your dog with an aversive training tool? Dogs are discerning creatures and are often affected by changes in their environment, including moving, changes in family life (human and animal), changes in routine (nutrition, exercise, enrichment) or the addition of aversive training tools.
When it comes to a dog peeing in the house, look for a pattern
The next thing to look at is your dog’s toileting habits. Is your dog peeing in the house during thunderstorms or when you leave? Does he eliminate when you come in from a walk or the yard? Does your dog sneak away or eliminate in the same place? Finding a pattern can help identify the reasons behind a dog peeing in the house.
For example, if your dog eliminates after coming in from a walk, don’t come inside immediately after your dog goes. This will teach your dog that eliminating signals the end of outdoor fun, and he will try to hold it!
Go back to basic housetraining
Stop a dog peeing in the house by going back to the basics of potty training dogs:
- active supervision
- careful management
- consistent routine
- a little bit of training
Rearranging or managing your dog’s environment is the best way to set him up for success and to keep your house pee and poop free! Actively supervising your dog is the key to successful potty training, but supervision means watching your dog all the time.
If you’re not able to actively supervise your dog and look for the “potty dance” (sniffing, circling, hunching, leg lifting), then he’ll need to be crated or confined to a small space where he won’t eliminate. Use leashes, baby gates, bathrooms and crates to confine your dog when you can’t supervise him. However, your dog must receive sufficient exercise and mental stimulation when not confined to avoid destructive behaviors and loneliness. Brain games, puzzles and play are a great place to start.
Get your dog on a good potty schedule
Start with a good bathroom schedule that goes back to basics, allowing access to outside areas every hour. Take your dog outside to eliminate after waking, eating, drinking excessively, playing, training, napping and if you see the potty dance. Feed your dog at set times so you can predict when he might need to go.
Limit water after a certain time in the evening if your dog is having accidents at night. Ice cubes can help your dog take water in at a slower pace while still quenching his thirst. Before withholding water for any amount of time, check with your vet. They’ll give you the right recommendation based on your dog’s age, health and the time of year.
Gradually decrease the frequency of trips outside as your dog builds up control. Follow a schedule that builds up a predictable and reliable routine, and be patient and sensitive as your dog learns.
Keep this in mind: If your dog has had an accident and you weren’t there to catch him, it’s too late to redirect him. Never rub his nose in it. This will only delay his success and build up a negative association with you.
Being patient, with consistent guidance and support, will get your dog back on track and keep the dog accidents to a minimum.
This post was originally published in 2017.
Thumbnail: Photography © Cunaplus_M.Faba | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
About the author
Victoria Stilwell is a world-renowned dog trainer, TV personality, author and public speaker best known as the star of the international hit TV series It’s Me or the Dog, through which she reaches audiences in more than 100 countries. Appearing frequently in the worldwide media, she is widely recognized as a leader in the field of animal behavior, is the editor-in-chief of positively.com and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training — the world’s premier global network of positive reinforcement dog trainers. Connect with her on Facebook at Victoria Stilwell and on Twitter at @VictoriaS.
12 thoughts on “Dog Peeing in the House? What to Know & What to Do”
I very happy to find this site on bing, just what I was looking for : D besides saved to my bookmarks.
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Thanks for these awesome tips. Potty training a dog can be so exhausting, stinky and gross at times. I know the clean up can be just as exhausting, stinky and gross too. San Juan Chem-Dry does do a pretty great job at getting dog accidents cleaned up in a safe & Non-Toxic way. Check them out here: https://sanjuanchemdry.com/pet-urine-odor-removal/
Would love to know who you recommend too.
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Thank you for sharing such an informative article with us. My dog pee indoor very often so I think following your training tips might help.
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Thanks for the information but I am at wits end. I adopted my chihuahua mix four months ago from the spca. She was pee pad trained I guess because of the conditions she came from – a house with 44 other dogs.
Now for the last few weeks she has stopped using the pee pad and doing her business on the rug. If she should use the pee pad she is highly praised.
I know when she has done something on the rug because she will hide.
She will not do her business outside but will come inside to do it.
What do I do?
All good, up until the advice, “withhold water at night”. There are already so many people out there who don’t provide what is required and HUMANE for dogs: Fresh water in their bowl, available 24/7. This gives another reason for people to cause suffering in animals. And, I’m sorry- ice cubes don’t quench thirst. The proper amount of water required, quenches thirst. :/ Dogs drink what their bodies need to, to function properly, and they – and only they- are the appropriate judges for this. Humans think that they know more, and have a right to, control Nature. Every animal- including ourselves- can self-regulate with water. Would you like to have someone meting out tiny amounts of water to you, when they FELT like it? :/ I’m sorry, but please redact this dangerous recommendation to hold water. Dogs pee for all of the behavioral reasons you mentioned; it is not about ‘drinking too much water.’ Do you get up to pee at night? Or, would you prefer that someone stop you from drinking after around 7pm? C’mon-
Hi KK,
Thank you for reaching out! We did add something to this post —
Before withholding water for any amount of time, check with your vet. They’ll give you the right recommendation based on your dog’s age, health and the time of year.
I do agree about not removing the dog’s water. That seems a little bit extreme.
Thank you for the detailed explanation. The truth is that most new pet parents always blame the baby pup for peeing on the floor with scolding words. I am so guilty to admit my mistakes in the past as I was unaware of their peeing reasons. My puppy always left his pee in the middle of my bed if I left home over four hours. At first, I regarded it as aggressive behavior and became angry every time. However, my vet persuaded me to stop blaming because peeing on my bed may be caused by my prior mistake- I yelled my pup when he pees on the floor, which makes him misunderstand that “I have to pee on another place” and the bed is a good place to “hide” his “gift”. Actually, dogs are the kid who needs to be educated under positive reinforcement and correct guideline. Pet owners should patiently introduce dogs to potty in the correct place. The first step is to form a regulate feeding habit and supervise their “action” after meals, which has been mentioned above, Afterward, I carry him to a set place and reward him for correct peeing. He does perform well and has less accident at home now. Recently, after I read a post I intend to add some potty commands during the training, so that my pup will do his business under my cue when we’re in public places.