How To Stop Your Dog From Pooping On The Bed?

If you've come home to find that Fido has once again mistaken your bed for his potty, then you're likely an unhappy camper.

You probably thought that after scolding him once, this inappropriate behavior would cease. While you might not know this, you could have reinforced his naughty behavior. 

So to correct your furry friend's inappropriate behavior, you need to do everything in your power to keep him off the bed and redirect him instead to the desired potty area.

Remember to be consistent and stop wasting time punishing him but rather emphasizing the good behavior.

Since there is nothing more disappointing than coming home to find your personal sanctuary soiled, we're going to look at some of the ways that you can prevent this from occurring in the future and what's the best way to move forward with Fido.

Understanding your dog’s needs

As a responsible pet owner, you should be intuned with your dog's needs.

This includes learning how to properly feed, bathe, and train them as well. If you are aware of your dog's needs, if something changes, you'll notice immediately.

In case it is a health complication, or something else that's not quite right, picking it up early on could mean the difference between getting your dog the help he needs and not being able to rectify the problem.

Bowel Movements

Your dog could be experiencing digestive problems if you've recently noticed a change in his behavior when it comes to eating or bowel movements.

So it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible so they can conduct a full examination. There are, however, some other symptoms to look out for and may indicate a specific digestive issue.

Digestive problems in dogs

Diarrhea is a very common digestive problem in dogs, particularly with large and or small intestines.

So dogs who are experiencing diarrhea will naturally have more ball movements and have them more frequently. The stool is also likely to be more liquid than solid and may contain mucus at times.

Large intestine conditions may result in your dog having small volumes of diarrhea but passing these extremely frequently.

Constipation in dogs

Constipation is another sign of digestive problems, which is very common in dogs. There are also a number of potential underlying causes.

You'll notice that your dog's faeces will be hard or dry, and if he is constipated, his bowel movements will be infrequent.

Your dog may also display signs of increased straining when attempting to move their bowels. 

Vomiting and regurgitation in your dog

If your dog is vomiting or experiencing regurgitation, you should know that these are two different body functions of different causes.

Regurgitation is an activity that occurs after your dog has swallowed something, and he then brings it up undigested and in solid form. They may also experience pain when swallowing. Vomiting, on the other hand, is a reflex action that is accompanied by retching, nausea, or hypersalivation.

Food and liquids are brought up in your dog vomits, and the food may or may not be partially digested in stomach acid. These digestive problems are all associated with digestive problems, such as issues with the transport of food to the stomach via the esophagus.

Your dog's behavior and appearance

in addition to constipation, diarrhea, regurgitation, and vomiting are all indications that there is a problem. Changes in their behavior can also signal digestive issues.

So, for example, chronic digestive issues can result in an inability to absorb all the nutrients the body needs, ultimately leading to a dry and dull coat as well as weight loss.

Appetite changes are often accompanied by flatulence and abdominal discomfort and could be an indication of a problem in the intestines. So if your dog exhibits any of these signs, this could indicate that they are suffering from chronic gastrointestinal problems.

So familiarize yourself with your dog's eating patterns and other bodily processes as this is the first step in recognizing when they have a digestive problem.

So if you've noticed Fido's behavior changing significantly and showing signs of constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting, it's crucial that you speak to your vet as soon as possible so you can get the best course of action.

Why did the dog poop on the bed?

It's not normal behavior to have your furry friend peeing or pooping on your bed.

However, if it does happen, don't assume that it's Fido being mischievous. It could signal that your dog is sick, anxious, or probably hasn't been taken out enough.

Another possibility is that your dog is just not properly potty trained. Irrespective of the reason, there are several ways to stop your dog from pooing on the bed.

Dog poop deterrent training

What you can do is simply not give your dog access to your bedroom. This is probably the best way to avoid poop on your bed, and it is, of course, a viable option.

This is especially an option that you want to try if your dog poops in your room or your bed and absolutely nowhere else inside the home. However, this should only be done after ruling out other issues, such as health or anxiety problems.

This will give you a chance to also probably clean the room and remove any residual odors from the dog feces and urine, which could probably keep attracting him back to the room. 

Have him neutered or spayed

Dogs often mark their territory with urine, and some mark their turf with poop. So if your dog is pooping on your bed continuously, it's probably because it's trying to mark his own space.

He uses the scent of poop and pee to mark the territory. So in the event that you haven't gotten your dog neutered or spayed, having this done could be the solution to the problem.

It will also limit the urge that he has to mark his territory and advertise for a mate.

Fear or Terror – Keep him calm

Believe it or not, dogs also suffer from separation anxiety, and if they are not around you, they are likely to pee and poop in places like your bed that contains your scent in order to comfort themselves.

One way to eliminate this problem is to use a dog pheromone spray around the house to help calm your dog down and make them feel more secure. Another option is to get another dog as a companion for your existing one.

Also, keeping your dog cool, calm, and collected during the day is an excellent way to prevent him from going on your bed or room. If need be, you can also speak to your vet about medication to calm your dog down.

Give your dog regular exercise

While some dogs are extremely well behaved and will mess indoors if they are trained to do it outdoors, lots of dogs will still choose to do their stuff inside if there not taken out enough.

While they can hold their feces and urine for approximately eight hours or less, they still need to be taken outdoors.

So if you plan on being away from home for more than 3 to 4 hours, have someone drop by and give your buddy a potty break. This will prevent him from going indoors on your carpets, bed, or couch.

Habits – Have your dog properly housetrained

If your dog is pooping inside your room or directly on your bed, it could just be that he's not properly housetrained. You need to make sure that they understand that they need to eliminate outdoors and not inside the house.

So what you can do is create a routine for Fido by taking him outdoors first thing in the morning after meals, and before you go to sleep, give him ample opportunity to do his business outside.

Another option is to take the poop you found in your bed and place it somewhere outdoors in a spot that would preferably like him to poop. Another tip is to always praise your dog when he poops outdoors to motivate him to continue to do it.

Health Problems – Take your dog to the vet 

it is quite possible that your dog has pooped on your bed because he's sick. This is especially if this behavior has just popped out of nowhere and he's normally very well trained.

It could be that your dog is sick with diarrhea due to his diet, not agreeing with him, or he has an infection that he picked up or some other health complications. In order to pinpoint exactly what is causing these issues in your dog, you need to take him to the vet as soon as possible.

But treating the problem as soon as possible, there is a better chance of recovery. If you've got a much older dog, it's likely that they're dealing with mobility issues such as arthritis. So it's highly possible that he's not able to move quickly enough to eliminate outdoors.

One solution to this is providing him with a pet bed so it is closer to the ground and this will help with inappropriate elimination issues.

Stress and Anxiety

Your pooch could be experiencing stress and anxiety issues due to many reasons, such as separation from you for hours of the day, lack of companionship, or possibly any other reason, so a good idea is to speak to your vet and ask him to recommend some treatment or medication to help Fido feel at ease. 

Can dogs be incontinent? 

Urinary incontinence is also known as lack of bladder control and is a condition that usually affects spayed female dogs.

It's more common in larger breeds of dogs who are middle-aged to elderly.

So if you have noticed your dog urinating inside the house or having difficulty urinating, then it could be that they're battling with urinary incontinence.

The following guide will help you to better understand the condition so you can get your dog the treatment he needs.

A number of factors can cause urinary incontinence in dogs. One of the most common causes is obesity. However, some of the most serious causes of urinary incontinence include: 

• Injury to or disruption of the nerves around the bladder
• Urinary tract infection 
• Lesions in the brain or on the spinal cord Overactive bladder syndrome 
• Chronic Inflammatory disease
• Birth defect, underdevelopment of the bladder
• Tumor or other mass putting pressure on the bladder
• Psychological or emotional issues
• Fluctuating hormone levels

Signs and symptoms

If your dog is suffering from a lack of bladder control, you will start to notice several telltale signs.

So here is a checklist to make you aware of the problems: 

• Involuntary urination 
• Wet fur on the lower abdomen or between the legs
• Wet spots in bedding or sleeping area
• Frequent urinary infections
• Licking and skin inflammation around the genitals.

Common dog bowel management problems

One of the most common bowel management problems in dogs is called bowel obstruction and also referred to as gastrointestinal blockage.

It's probably one of the most common canine problems. Young dogs are especially vulnerable, and puppies tend to be more eager to put any object into their mouths since their teething and looking for something to chew on.

However, aside from that, even adult dogs are naturally curious, and many of them simply have a desire to eat or chew on absolutely anything.

So if bowel obstruction does occur, treating your dog promptly will minimize the consequences and help him along with a speedy recovery.

What is bowel obstruction?

It's basically a complete or partial blockage in the stomach or intestines of the dog, preventing liquids and solids from passing through the gastrointestinal tract.

This blockage can also decrease blood flow and lead to deterioration portions of the bowels along with the assumption of toxic contents.

Symptoms of bowel obstruction are:

• Weakness 
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting repeatedly 
• Loss of appetite
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration due to the inability to hold water Hunching or whining
• Abdominal pain

Bowel obstruction is caused when dogs ingest foreign objects. In some instances, it may be due to medical conditions such as masses at tumors, twisting of the intestines around the membrane that separates them from the abdominal wall, or Pyloric stenosis, which is the narrowing of the passage of the stomach to the small intestine or intestinal parasites.

To prevent this from happening, try and deter your dog from eating any type of sticks, bones or rocks, or any other type of solid objects that you know for a fact is not digestible.

However, in the event that this does happen when you're not around, contact your vet immediately as soon as you notice something is unusual.

Tip to better control your dog's bowel movements 

When medical issues or your dog ingesting foreign objects are not responsible for bowel complications, the culprit is often your dog's diet.

You may not understand the role that your dog's diet plays in his overall health, but if you notice changes in stool and bowel movements, attempt to change your dog's diet after seeking advice from your vet.

You should also remember that any change to your dog's diet should be gradual to ensure that his digestive system adapts. 

Dan J.

Dan is a well respected content researcher who has vast experience working projects in the pets niche. He is a frequent contributor to dogtemperament.com and loves delivering numerous helpful dog articles like this one that are read by thousands of our readers monthly.