Why your dog pees indoors (and how to stop it)

It's a common thing for pet parents: you walk into a room, and there's a wet spot waiting for you on the carpet.

Don't worry; you're not alone. A lot of dog parents have to deal with frequent peeing indoors, especially when their pet is very young or old.

Knowing why it happens is the first step to solving any problem, so we're here to discuss the reasons why your dog may be peeing indoors.

If you're looking for answers to "how do I stop my dog peeing in the house", we're here.

Top-quality dog insurance

We've got your dog's back.

Nose-to-tail dog insurance for accidents and illnesses at competitive prices with no hidden fees.

Protect your pet

Common reasons dogs pee indoors

There are a few reasons why your dog won't stop peeing indoors from age to medical conditions:

Age-related issues

Young and old dogs both peeing indoors for different reasons:

• Arthritis or mobility problems - In older dogs, pain from these conditions can make it difficult for them to get outside in time or hold their pee in. You'll need to work with your vet to find solutions to this, like pain relief and adapting their home environment.

• Canine dementia - Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in older dogs can lead to them forgetting things like house-training rules.

• Learning - This happens with puppies. They're still learning, especially if they've not been housetrained for long, and have weaker attention spans and bladder control. You should check our go-to puppy essentials list to prepare for this.

Behavioural causes

Don't always assume that frequent indoor urination is a medical issue; it can be a behaviour-related issue, like:

• Anxiety or stress - Household changes or pre-existing mental health problems can lead to peeing indoors.

• Attention-seeking - You can accidentally positively reinforce the behaviour if you make lots of fuss after they pee in the house.

• Excitement - Losing bladder control when excited is an issue for some dogs.

• Improper bathroom habits - Not walking your dog or giving them enough opportunities to pee outside will lead to indoor urination. It's why you should be careful about leaving your dog alone for too long.

• Incomplete urination - A dog may not finish peeing outdoors if they're anxious or averse to weather conditions, meaning they'll finish peeing indoors.

• Ineffective training - Ineffective housetraining will lead to indoor peeing. Our housetraining guide can help remedy this.

• Submissiveness - Some dogs will pee to express submissiveness, which can get triggered by anything from house guests to negative reinforcement (which you should never do).

• Territory marking - Dogs mark areas with their pee to assert their presence and claim territory.

• Weather fear - Sometimes, a dog will pee indoors if they're averse to certain weather, like rain or thunder.

Medical conditions

Some common medical conditions that can cause frequent indoor peeing include:

• Addison's disease - This happens due to a deficiency in cortisol and aldosterone, which help to regulate sodium and water balance.

• Bladder stones - These irritate the bladder's lining, leading to a frequent urge to urinate.

• Cancer - Some tumours can lead to increased thirst and urination

• Cushing's disease - A condition due to an issue with the adrenal gland and increases cortisol which causes the body to pee more.

• Diabetes - An issue with blood sugar, leading to dangerously high blood glucose levels. This increased sugar overwhelms the kidneys, leading to more peeing.

• Hormone problems - Hormone issues, particularly in female dogs, can lead to incontinence and urine leakage.

• Liver problems - The liver is a complicated organ that manages so many parts of a dog's body, so issues with it can lead to increased thirst and urination.

• Kidney issues - Damaged kidneys mean they can't concentrate urine properly, leading to excess urination.

• Other infections - Other infections in the body, such as pyometra (infected womb) can cause increased thirst and urination.

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) - UTIs irritate the bladder and urethra, which leads to inflammation. That makes the bladder uncomfortable, leading to frequent peeing and urinary accidents.

You'll need a vet to diagnose these, and common symptoms to look out for are:

• Appetite changes

• Blood in urine

• Excessive thirst

• Frequent urination

• Increased urine volume

• Straining to pee

• Strong urine odour

• Weight changes

Why is my female dog suddenly peeing in the house?

There are some health conditions that affect female dogs more than males. If your female dog is suddenly peeing indoors ,it could be due to:

• Age-related incontinence

• Hormonal changes, like through pregnancy

• Pyometra (womb infection)

• UTIs

Your vet may still need to rule out other conditions like diabetes and kidney disease though.

How to prevent dogs from peeing in the house

Our guide on cleaning dog pee and eliminating smells can help, but generally, you should:

• Address anxiety or overexcitement with long-term training. In the short term, try to keep your home calm, build confidence, avoid scolding or punishment and work with your vet or a behaviourist.

• Consider spaying or neutering as they can reduce the drive to mark territory, leading to fewer indoor accidents. It is best to take professional advice on this though, as neutering can make issues worse for some dogs.

• Crate training can help reduce indoor urination. Read our crate training guide for more.

• Positively reinforcing your dog for peeing outside. Reward them with praise and/or treats immediately after they finish urinating outdoors.

• Prevent access to areas where your dog has urinated indoors previously.

• Provide plenty of outdoor time and enrichment.

• Reduce unsupervised time alone.

• Stay patient. Avoid punishment. Never rub in their nose or yell - it just makes dogs more anxious and confused. This can lead to more urinary accidents.

• Stick to a consistent routine with regular walks and feeding times. Make sure your dog gets time to pee after drinking, eating, playing and waking up.

• Thoroughly clean areas where your dog has peed to reduce scent marking.

• Understand your dog's body language, so you can react when they're about to pee (things like sniffing, circling and whining).

• If really necessary, use designated indoor peeing areas for puppies or senior dogs.

• Work with your vet to find solutions, especially if there are underlying health conditions leading to indoor peeing.

What to do if the problem is sudden or new

A dog that previously had good toilet habits but is suddenly peeing indoors is a cause for concern.

Address possible issues like separation anxiety or stress, evaluate any recent changes in your dog's environment and visit the vet immediately to rule out medical problems.

When to seek professional help

You should get professional help if you notice:

• Blood in the urine

• Changes in appetite or thirst

• Persistent indoor urination that doesn't go away with training and routine

• Signs of pain or lethargy

• The issue escalates with no clear reason

We recommend seeing your vet first to rule out a medical problem. Seeing a certified professional dog behaviourist if peeing indoors has a behavioural motivation is recommended next.

See how much you can expect a vet visit in the UK to cost here.

Final thoughts

To recap: a dog peeing indoors is a common issue for pet owners everywhere. But that doesn't mean it's an issue you should ignore; understanding the cause and having a tailored, bespoke plan to fix it is essential.

Prevention, consistency and care go a long way, and with dog insurance, you could get cover that helps with the underlying reasons for indoor urination.

At ManyPets, our Complete Care plan covers vet-referred behavioural treatment if your pet needs it after an accident or illness, plus all of our plans have 24/7 video vet access so you can chat to a professional anytime, anywhere.

Get behavioural cover up to £20,000 as part of your overall vet fee limit, on Complete Care

Start my quote