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How to Stop a Dog From Peeing in the House

One primary challenge of dog training is how to stop your dog from peeing in the house. Whether you’re dealing with a young pup or an adult dog, it can be hard. And it can be very frustrating, especially when it happens a lot.

Now the question is, how do you stop your dog from urinating inside your home? Below we discuss the how and, most importantly, the why. Because knowing why your dog does that is key to stopping this inappropriate behavior. So read on to find out more.

Why Does Your Dog Pee in the House?

Dogs seem to pee everywhere. And you may feel a bit unlucky to get a dog that likes to pee in the living room and anywhere else inside your home. But don’t lose hope just yet, you can still correct this behavior. And you do this by first understanding what possibly causes this annoying behavior in your dog.

1. It May Be Because of a Lack of Orientation

New pets probably don’t recognize which is which and where is where yet. When they arrive, they’ll need time to adjust to new surroundings. They’ll have to figure out the set-up in your home. They will need your help in getting accustomed to its new home. This experience is pretty much the same for both adult dogs and young pups.

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In these cases, how do you stop your dog from peeing in the house?

Make the transition and adjustment easy for your new pets. Place markers and clues as to where they should pee. How? One tip is to wipe your dog’s pee (and even poop) and place the rag in the area where you want it to take a leak or go potty. It will soon catch the scent and begin recognizing where to do its business.

Toilet train your dog. Bring it to your designated place and wait for it to take a pee. Do this when you and your canine pet wakes in the morning and at night before you and your furry pet goes to bed. And do this after mealtimes. This may take a lot of time at first. But the payout is a clean and nice smelling home. Alternatively, you may simply let your pet out of the house at appointed times of the day.

2. It May Be Because of Feelings of Anxiety or Fear

Dogs may pee when they’re anxious or afraid. This is very much true for new pets. They may start peeing once they reach your home. Some dogs take days to relax and feel comfortable in their new place. So you may expect this to continue for some time.

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How do you stop your dog from peeing in the house, in cases like these?

Stay close to your new pet. And reassure it as much as you can. Calm your young pup or adult dog with soothing pats and rubdowns. High pitched and excited tones may not be appropriate at this time. So talk gently so as not to startle your dog. Use low, slow tones. Soon, your new pet will calm down and warm up to you and its new home.

3. It May Be Because of Overexcitement

Dogs get overjoyed too, you know. They may get overly excited to see you after you’ve been gone for so many hours or days. Or they may get too happy during playtime. Also, they may become so excited to see their dog friend coming over to visit. In these situations, they may let out a pee.

In cases like these, how do you stop your dog from peeing in the house?

Don’t match their overexcitement with overexcitement. Calm them down. Speak calmly. Don’t fuel their excitement. You may also choose to greet them outside the house. And if a dog friend comes over to visit, you may have them meet up in the backyard or out the door.

Can Health Problems Cause Inappropriate Urination in Dogs?

Yes. Ailments and infections may trigger uncontrolled peeing in dogs. Here are some of them.

1. Urinary Tract Problems

A urinary tract infection is one common cause of uncontrolled urination in canine pets. So if your house trained dog suddenly can’t control itself, don’t lash out in disappointment. Have it tested at the vet or your nearest animal clinic.

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The vet will take a urine sample for a test called a urinalysis. Your dog may also be given a urine culture test. The results will show whether there are bacteria present or any abnormality in the urine. If it turns out that your dog has a UTI, it will need some antibiotics.

2. Congenital Defects

Certain breeds have a congenital defect called an ectopic ureter. It’s an abnormality where the tube that carries the dog’s urine connects to other parts of the body instead of the bladder. According to the College of Veterinary Medicine of Illinois, this condition is frequently spotted in some Labrador retrievers and Golden retrievers. Some English bulldogs and Siberian huskies can also be born with this defect.

This problem may pose some challenges to the pet owner. House training is definitely harder. Your pet may pee when lying down and just leak some urine while walking about. Laser surgery is the usual recommendation to cure this problem of incontinence.

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3. Aging

Senior dogs, though well-trained will suffer from incontinence due to aging. The bladder is not as strong as before. And so, your dog’s control weakens. Also, your old dog may suffer from dementia and unfortunately forget his house training. Or it may be disoriented and fails to recognize where it needs to go potty or pee.

Be patient with your aging dog. Lead it to go potty multiple times a day. You may also have to use doggie diapers and absorbent pads when it’s up and about, and especially during the night.

Final Thoughts

With patience and consistency, you can train your dog to stop peeing in the house. Address the root causes so you can resolve the problem immediately. And seek professional help when faced with a health issue in your dog.

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