My dog urinates in the house: What to do?

Why dogs urinate inside the house?

An adult dog, usually clean dog will not urinate in the house for no reason. His attitude is usually indicative of a medical or behavioral problem. Whatever the origin of his disorder, there is a solution. Our advice.

Case of the puppy urinating in the house

Anatomically, control of the sphincters (the muscles used to hold back) is not fully possible before 4 months. If the puppy understands quickly enough to keep his sleeping area clean, then he will need to learn to defecate outside the house. It will then be a question of taking it out every 2 hrs / 2 hrs 30 mins at key times: after a nap, a game, a meal. When he has relieved himself, congratulate him ardently and offer him a treat. Potty training varies from puppy to puppy. If the norm is between 4 and 6 months, don’t worry if a few small accidents still occur at the age of 7 or 8 months.

Your adult dog urinates in the house: the causes

The dog is a domestic animal which acquires cleanliness quite quickly. Therefore, by urinating in the house as an adult, he signals that something is disturbing him. It is therefore essential to identify the reasons for correcting one’s behavior. What are the main causes that can explain his behavior?

Your dog has health problems

The medical causes explaining an unusual cleanliness in your pet include a wide spectrum of problems: bladder stones, cystitis, urinary tract infection, osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, neurological disorders … A prostate disease can also cause incontinence, especially in older dogs. . Kidney failure is a common diagnosis, but it can also include liver failure or diabetes. If you suspect a health concern, it is strongly recommended that you consult your veterinarian as some illnesses are serious and require lifelong treatment. In any case, be sure to take your companion out as often as possible.

Your dog suffers from a behavioral disorder

Submission, fear. One reason for urination at home is due to the particularly submissive character or the uncertainty experienced by the animal. This uncontrolled reaction often manifests itself in a dog who is very fearful of people, his fellow creatures or certain situations (detonation, gesticulation). Gripped by fear, a dog may therefore not be able to restrain himself.

Separation anxiety. Fear of giving up is likely to cause poor urinary behavior. Due to the insecurity he feels when he is alone, the dog loses control and urinates in the house. Experts indicate that urination has the ability to restore confidence.

Marking. Some dogs tend to mark their territory if their status within the household is unclear. This behavior occurs for example in the presence of an another dog in the house. In this case, the dog will usually urinate against vertical objects, corners of walls, sofas or a door. Your companion may also feel threatened by a new situation or a sudden change in his daily life: moving, birth of a baby, adoption of a new domestic animal… He then uses scent marks to show his authority and his belonging to objects. / furniture.

A failing education. Generally, a dog does not dirty his kennel. However, if you have adopted your companion from an animal welfare association, a lack of education is likely to affect his behavior. A dog spending a lot of time in a shelter box or living in an enclosure may urinate at home, failing to be able to access an outside. This necessity has then evolved into a habit that will have to be remedied.

Your dog urinates in the house: what to do?

Solving the problem of uncleanliness will rely on two axes: supervision and education.

• Close supervision is essential because your dog must be caught in the act. During this vigilance phase, restrict access to certain rooms so that it is always in your line of sight. Watch for signs before urination such as sniffling and spinning. As soon as he urinates, reprimand him with a firm “no”. Immediately take him outside and praise him when he urinates.
• Take your dog out on a regular basis: a morning and evening walk is necessary to meet his physiological needs. Putting him in the garden is not enough to break his boredom. The walk must be long enough and not stop as soon as he relieves himself because he risks associating his needs with an immediate return home.
• If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, leave him a toy or object that carries your scent. Sometimes this is enough to reduce his worry.
• In some cases, sterilization is a response to their behavioral disorder. For example, if your dog is very territorial, he might urinate to mark his domain. In this context, castration can put an end to its behavior or minimize it (surgical intervention to be carried out before a year and a half for optimal efficiency).

In the case of territorial marking, it is also advisable to re-establish hierarchical rules within the household and to show that you are the pack leader and not him;
Uncleanliness related to fear, submission, separation anxiety or territoriality sometimes takes time to resolve. If you are unable to resolve the problem on your own, guidance from a canine behaviorist will be of great help.

Your dog urinates in the house: mistakes to avoid

There are some reactions from you that may make the problem worse. Some examples of reflexes to ban:

• Do not respect fixed schedules. Dogs are routine animals who know our habits by heart and need guidelines to feel safe. The walks at fixed times are part of a ritual that is difficult to depart without creating disruption;
• Do not wash urine in front of your dog. By crawling on all fours in front of him, your companion may view your action as a game and repeat his unwanted behavior. Take it out of the room and be sure to wash it thoroughly so that no lingering odor encourages it to start over in the same spot;
• Do not restrict their access to the water bowl to prevent them from drinking more. Hydration is essential to purify the urinary system and prevent the aggravating accumulation of bacteria in its body;
• Whether you caught him in the act or not, you don’t need to yell at your dog. Sticking his muzzle in urine is even worse because you may increase his anxiety. All violence is to be avoided in dog training. Regardless of your pooch’s age and past, he will be able to follow your rules the moment they are instilled with love and patience.