How to Stop Dogs From Peeing on Furniture

If you have a dog, it’s a good bet you’ve experienced the frustration of your dog peeing on furniture in your house. We love our furry friends, but it’s gross when they do this.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to prevent this behavior. We’ll cover some tips for how to stop dogs from peeing on furniture and ensure a happy and healthy home for both you and your four-legged companion.

Why Is My Dog Peeing on Furniture?

Without knowing your dog as well as you do, it’s hard to know exactly why your dog pees on the furniture, but here are some common reasons:

Medical issues

If your dog keeps peeing on the furniture, the culprit could be health issues. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and other medical conditions can cause dogs to have difficulty controlling their bladders.

Obviously, dogs can’t tell us when something is wrong, so it’s up to us to watch for the signs. One of the most common signs of a medical issue is a change in behavior or activity level.

If your dog is peeing on the furniture and otherwise acting abnormally, it could be a sign of a medical issue. We recommend consulting with a veterinarian ASAP.

Aging

It’s sad to see a beloved dog get older and begin to struggle with health issues. If your older dog keeps peeing on the furniture, it could simply be an age issue.

As dogs age, they often have more difficulty holding their bladders for long periods of time. This can lead to accidents inside the house.

Anxiety or Stress

Dogs are sensitive creatures, and sometimes they get stressed or anxious. Changes in their environment, like moving to a new place or the arrival of a new family member or dog, can trigger this behavior. They may pee on the furniture as a way to cope with their emotions or to find comfort in something that smells familiar.

Territorial Marking

Dogs have a natural instinct to mark their territory. By peeing on furniture, they’re basically saying, “Hey, this is mine!”. It’s their way of leaving their scent behind and claiming ownership.

Lack of Training

Dogs don’t come pre-programmed to know that furniture is off-limits at potty time. If they haven’t been taught where they should do their business, they may see the furniture as just another acceptable spot. It’s important to guide them and show them the right place to pee.

If your dog keeps peeing on the furniture but is otherwise healthy, happy, and has a positive and stable home environment, it could just be a training issue. Fortunately, this is solvable.

How to Stop Dogs From Peeing on Furniture

It’s frustrating when a beloved dog keeps peeing on the furniture, but there are some ways to prevent it. Keep in mind that some of these these recommendations are just quick fixes while you work on a longer term solution (like simple training you can easily do yourself).

Establish a Designated Potty Area

Create a specific spot outside where your dog can do their business. Take them to this area regularly and reward them with treats and praise when they pee there. This teaches them where they should go and helps reinforce positive behavior.

Consistency is Key

Dogs thrive on routine, so make sure you’re taking them outside to go potty at regular intervals. This could be after meals, after playtime, or every few hours, depending on your dog’s needs. By sticking to a schedule, you’ll reduce the chances of accidents happening inside on the furniture.

Supervise and Limit Access

If your dog has a habit of peeing on the furniture when you’re not looking, you may need to supervise them closely. Keep an eye on their behavior and intervene if you notice any signs of needing to go.

You may want to consider restricting access to areas with furniture until they’ve learned proper potty habits.

Frequent Bathroom Breaks

If your dog is having a hard time holding their bladder, which is common with older dogs, it might help to increase the frequency of bathroom breaks. Take them out more often, especially after naps, play sessions, or when they exhibit signs of restlessness or sniffing around.

Clean Thoroughly

When your dog pees on the furniture, it’s crucial to clean it up properly. Use an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet stains to remove the odor completely. Dogs have a keen sense of smell, so if they can still detect their urine scent, they may consider it an acceptable spot to go in the future.

We recommend using an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate any odors and prevent your dog (or another dog) from being attracted to the same spot because of the smell. The urine smell is like a giant neon bathroom sign for a dog. It will attract them to the same spot to pee again. If your dog can still smell the urine from the previous accident, it’s more likely they’ll pee in the same spot again.

If you don’t have an enzymatic cleaner yet, you may want to restrict your dog’s access to the problem furniture until you purchase some.

Once you’ve properly cleaned up, you may consider adding vinegar to further deter your dog from returning to pee at the same spot again. Vinegar is safe for household use and dogs typically don’t like the pungent smell.

Positive Reinforcement Training

Remember to reward your dog when they do their business in the appropriate area. Positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, or a favorite toy, can go a long way in reinforcing good behavior. This will motivate them to continue doing the right thing.

Consider Crate Training

Crate training can be an effective way to prevent accidents when you can’t supervise your dog. Dogs generally don’t like to soil their sleeping area, so a properly sized crate can help them develop bladder control and reduce the likelihood of peeing on furniture. Just make sure you don’t leave your dog in the crate longer than he can hold reasonably hold his bladder.

Consult a Veterinarian

If you’ve tried these tips and your dog continues to have accidents, it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian. They can rule out any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to the problem and provide further guidance.

Remember, patience is key when training your dog. It takes time for them to learn new habits, so stay consistent and keep reinforcing positive behaviors.

What to Spray on Furniture to Keep Dogs from Peeing On It

Again, we recommend first using an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate any odors and prevent your dog (or another dog) from being attracted to the same spot on your furniture because of the smell. Remember, dogs can smell a lot better than humans can.

Once you’ve properly cleaned up, you may consider using vinegar to make a homemade spray to keep dogs from peeing on furniture in the future. Vinegar is one of the best home remedies to stop dogs from peeing on furniture after you’ve cleaned up with an enzymatic cleaner.

Simple Training You Can Do Yourself

If your dog is healthy and happy and continues to wet on the furniture, it may simply be a training issue. And, no, you don’t need to hire an expensive trainer to fix the problem of your dog peeing on the carpet! With the right information, you can easily do this yourself. It just takes a little consistency and patience.

Frequently Asked Questions