My dog peed on my bed! Why did he do something so gross?

You’re tired after a long day. You can’t wait to put on your PJs and crawl into bed. When the moment arrives, you pull back the bed sheet, lay down, and roll into a big, stinky wet spot. Your dog piddled on the sheets…again. But why?

He’s Not Mad at You. But It Could Be Something Else

Your first instinct you may have after you encounter a pee spot on the bed sheet is that the dog has it out for you. While your frustrations may color your opinion to the point where it seems like the case, the truth is dogs are not vindictive in nature. That doesn't necessarily mean that their bed wetting isn't their way of signaling something.

In some cases, a dog’s bed urination may be a sign of separation anxiety. When your pooch gets into this mindset, they may seek refuge in a spot that smells like you, because they know they can feel secure there whenever you are gone. In a way, this form of bed urination is a sign that he misses you and is bored without your presence - something that may seem a little sweet if the results weren’t so icky.

Has Your Dog Been Properly Trained?

In a lot of cases, a dog peeing on the bed is indicative of a lack of house training - or, at least, a misunderstanding on the housebreaking process on your dog’s end. It could be a matter of your dog not having a full grasp on where he could go and where he shouldn’t go. If you suspect this is the case, it may behoove you and your pup to re-trace a few basic housebreaking steps.

Peeing vs. Marking

Not all instances of urine necessarily equal pee. If you notice your dog is urinating on your bed in small amounts, and you notice similarly small sized amounts around the house, it may not be a pee problem at all. Rather, it could be a sign of your dog marking his territory.

Territory marking is most commonly associated with male dogs, although female dogs can also partake in the practice. Marking typically starts out during a dog’s adolescence, and the behavior can increase once a dog reaches physical maturity. There is a host of ways you can prevent this behavior from taking place, from practical behaviors like changing your bed sheets to more complex actions like spaying or neutering your dog.

Your Dog’s Pee Could Be a Warning Sign

Let’s say your dog passed his housebreaking with flying colors, you don’t see any pockets of pee around the house, and he’s completely cool with being by himself thanks to the various chewies and puzzle toys that keep him engaged while you’re gone. Yet you still come home to a bed doused in dog pee. Why?

In this case, the dog pee you see could be indicative of your dog having a medical condition. This could range from a simple urinary tract infection to something more serious such as a kidney disease. If you suspect that your dog is not functioning at 100% from a health standpoint, your best bet is to make an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian right away.

Love - The Best Way to Handle the Situation, Regardless of What the Situation Is

Coming home to a bed covered in dog urine is not just unpleasant. It can be infuriating, and your first instinct could very well be to take out such frustrations on your furry culprit. However, it is wise to take a step back and collect your thoughts and composure first.

It’s always important to remember that while your dog did something wrong in your eyes, he probably does not realize he did something wrong. From the dog’s perspective, it’s a behavioral issue and not an emotional one. Coming at the problem through your own cloud of frustrated emotions will do nothing to help your little buddy learn right from wrong.

As you go through the steps of determining why your dog keeps wetting the bed, do so from the same place of love, patience, and kindness that you typically lavish upon your pooch. Doing so will help you lead your dog to the appropriate solution in a way that ultimately strengthens the bond the both of you have for each other. And really, what more could you ask for?