﻿ Why does my dog pee in our bed? | Ask petMD | petMD

Q. Why does my dog pee in our bed?

Answered By

A. Your pet possibly has a urinary tract infection, urinary crystals or potentially stones.

There could be any number of causes, such as hormonal imbalance, weak bladder sphincter, urinary tract infection, urinary stones, spinal injury or degeneration (frequently seen in German shepherds), protruding intervertebral disc, presence of other diseases that cause excessive water consumption, such as diabetes, kidney disease, hyperadrenocorticism, anatomic disorders, or certain medications. Since she is so young, some of these are extremely unlikely, but it is important to get it checked as soon as possible so treatment can start.


If she checks out medically healthy, she may have behavioral issues, such as submissive wetting, that will need some work to correct. You may consider crate training her to keep her from ruining your clean bed all the time. Most dogs come to think of their crate and their den, and will go in there on their own when tired or stressed. You may also want to revisit housetraining if she doesn't have a medical condition causing her urination on the bed.

Answered By

A. There may be a medical cause or it could be behavioral in nature. Have her examined by your vet to rule out medical causes such as UTI. Once that has been done, you can focus on the behavioral aspect such as submissive urination or even separation anxiety. Some dogs urinate on the bed simply because it smells like their owners. Others have a lapse in in housebreaking. The simplest solution is to not allow her on the bed. Make sure the bed is kept clean. Offer a variety of toys or tasks to keep her busy and engaged.

Knowledge, patience and understanding are required to solve this particular problem. Give your dog enough time to learn. Learning cannot be done within 24 to 48 hours. A consult with a veterinary behaviorist is always recommended in these cases.



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