Why Does My Dog Poop On His Bed?

Dogs may poop on their beds as a form of rebellion or to express dominance.

If your dog is doing this, it’s time to consult a veterinarian or animal behaviorist to find out why he’s doing so and how to prevent him from doing so again.

While dogs do not have a toilet like humans do, they are still able to eliminate waste in a similar manner.

While some dogs use a designated spot by the door for elimination, others will go outside to relieve themselves.

Still other dogs choose a place indoors where they can be more discrete about what they’re doing.

It’s possible that your dog has chosen his own personal bathroom because he feels comfortable there, but it could also mean that he has a medical issue with his bladder or bowels.

Either way, if your dog starts relieving himself in an area other than where he normally does it, it’s time to get help from a professional veterinary clinic or animal behaviorist.

Theories on Why Dogs Poop on Their Beds

There are several theories that explain why dogs do this.

Some believe that it’s just a natural part of being a dog.

Others think that it has something to do with marking territory.

And then there are some who say that it’s simply a way for dogs to show off.

But, what’s the deal?

Let’s take a closer look at each theory.

1. It’s Just A Natural Part Of Being A Dog

One explanation for why dogs poop in their beds is that it’s just a natural part of being a dog.

They have no choice but to do so if they want to sleep on their own turf.

Some experts even believe that it works as a deterrent for other animals like cats and rodents.

The odor associated with the feces can be enough to deter an intruder.

However, there are those who argue that dogs don’t need to do this since they have the ability to control their bowels through exercise.

2. Marking Territory

According to one theory, dogs mark their territories by urinating and defecating.

Since they have to go outside for these functions, they choose their beds as a convenient place to relieve themselves.

Since most dogs prefer sleeping on their backs, this behavior is particularly common among them.

Other pets, however, are also prone to this practice.

But, how does it work exactly?

Well, according to Dr. Robert L. Thompson, author of “Pet Behavior: How To Understand Your Furry Family Member,” the answer lies in the fact that dogs associate their bed with relaxation and comfort.

This leads them to feel more relaxed and comfortable when they use their beds.

This explains why dogs often get up during the night to go to the bathroom.

In addition, some dogs also mark their beds with urine or feces as a way of asserting territorial rights.

3. They Want You to Clean Up After Them

Another reason dogs sometimes poop on their beds is that they want you to clean it up for them.

According to a study conducted by Cornell University, many dogs will only eat food from bowls that have been cleaned by humans.

In addition, another study led by Dr. Michael J. Fox found that dogs who were trained not to pee or poop in certain areas chose to avoid those areas because they knew that they would be punished if they did.

So, if you’re worried about your dog’s behavior, it might make sense to clean up after him whenever he goes into your bedroom.

4. They Are Trying to Show Off

While all three of the reasons above explain why dogs sometimes poop on their beds, some people believe that they are actually trying to display dominance over you.

For example, some owners say that they see their dogs doing this to assert their dominance over them.

However, others argue that this behavior could be a sign that the dog feels insecure about his position in the family.

To solve this problem, some pet owners try to punish their dogs for doing this.

Unfortunately, this usually doesn’t help much.

As we mentioned earlier, dogs know that they will be punished if they do this, which means that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Why Punishing Your Dog For Pooping On His Bed Probably Won’t Work

Punishment for dogs who are pooping on their beds isn’t going to work because it doesn’t address the root problem.

The problem lies in the fact that the dog doesn’t know any better than to do it.

He thinks that it’s okay to poop on his bed because other animals do it too.

So, if you punish your dog by yelling at him when he does it, it won’t make much of a difference.

It will only reinforce his belief that it’s normal to poop on his bed.

You can try making your dog sit at his place right after he pees.

But, it’ll be difficult for him to remember that position for long.

You could also try putting up a sign that says “No Peeing Here!” but that would probably make him pee even more often on his own bed.

So, what are some effective ways to teach your dog not to poop on his bed?

How to Crate Train Your Dog to Prevent Pooping On His Bed

We all know that dogs are smart, but some really aren’t.

They can be very stubborn and hardheaded at times, especially when they want something they feel they have every right to have.

If you don’t crate train your dog properly, he might just ignore your commands and do what he wants anyway.

Crate training your dog will teach him that you’re the boss.

It also teaches him that you control his environment and actions.

This makes him more obedient in general, which means he won’t act like a spoiled brat by pooping on his bed even if he thinks he has every right to do so because he wants to show off his independence.

Here are some steps you should take to crate train your dog.

• First, make sure your dog has been potty trained before you start crate training.

• Put a small crate next to his bed so he knows where his crate is while sleeping.

• Whenever he goes into his crate, put him there.

Do not let him go back to sleep until you open the door or give him permission to come back out.

• Feed him only after he comes out of his crate.

• When you return home, make sure you praise him every time he comes out of his crate.

• Repeat these steps over several days, and then gradually increase the frequency of your crate training sessions.

• Make sure you keep the crate close to your dog’s bed at night, but remove it when you leave home during the day.

Tips for Cleaning Up Dog Poop

If your dog does this regularly or if he has done it in the past, there are some steps you can take to help clean up after him.

First, let’s look at what causes dogs to do this.

• Your dog might be doing this because he’s bored or frustrated.

You should give him something to do that will keep him occupied.

This could be training new commands, playing fetch with a ball, or having a playdate with another dog – anything that will keep him busy while you work on getting his poop under control.

• Another reason your dog might poop on his bed is to show you who’s boss.

If you have a dominant dog, he might try to assert himself by doing this.

Ask your vet whether your dog needs an obedience class.

If not, you can train him yourself using these tips.

• If your dog is just being rebellious, he might be trying to get your attention.

Letting him know you’re aware of his actions will stop him from doing it again.

• There are many reasons your dog may poop on his bed.

It’s important to figure out what the problem is before taking any action.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Pooping On His Bed in the Future

When you first notice that your dog has started pooping on his bed, don’t panic.

It’s an easy problem to fix with some simple steps.

• Clean up any waste promptly after it happens.
• Keep your dog away from his bed for a few days.
• Don’t let your dog sleep on his bed until he’s fully trained.
• Try using a dog bed instead.

Conclusion

Before we get into the details of why dogs do this and what can be done to stop it, let’s first take an overview of how this problem occurs.

In most cases, dogs will only poop on their beds if they are being treated poorly by their owners.

This can include not feeding them enough, not allowing them to relieve themselves when necessary, or even beating them for no reason whatsoever.

Some dogs may also start to poop on their beds because they’re bored.

If a dog is left alone all day without any stimulation, he may resort to other ways of relieving himself, such as peeing or defecating on his bed.

Of course, this practice doesn’t help with the problem at hand; dogs are supposed to relieve themselves outside, where there are more opportunities available.

Other reasons that lead to dogs pooping on their beds include pain, illness, stress, fear, anxiety, or boredom.

In these cases, it’s important to make sure that your pet isn’t suffering from one of these issues, which requires a visit to your vet or animal behaviorist.

If you think your dog is starting to do this, it’s best to act quickly and put a stop to it before it gets worse.

First off, you need to determine whether your dog is actually doing this or just pretending.

Sometimes, dogs start to poop on their beds and then stop after a while, but they don’t really mean it.

Other times, a dog may continue to do this until he becomes too sick to care about anything.

To see if your dog is indeed doing this, try putting something under his bed that he usually uses for relief.

For example, if he normally goes to the bathroom in the kitchen, put some food there instead.

If he still uses his bed for relief, it means he’s only pretending.

Next, you need to figure out why he’s doing this.

Is it because he’s unhappy?

Is he trying to communicate something to you?

Or is it just a case of him being bored?

If you suspect that your dog is doing this to communicate something to you, you may want to consider talking to him about it.

The more you know about what he wants, the better equipped you’ll be to solve the issue.

If your dog is simply bored, you need to do everything you can to keep him busy.

You can play with him, give him treats, and entertain him with toys and games.

He may not like all of these things, but if you offer them regularly, he’ll eventually learn to appreciate them.

If your dog is feeling stressed or anxious, you may want to put him in a different room or leave him alone for a few minutes every now and then.

These strategies aren’t perfect, but they’ll help.

If your dog is experiencing physical pain, he needs to go to the vet immediately.

If you suspect that he has worms, contact your vet, who will prescribe medication and treat your pet accordingly.

Finally, if your dog is tired, take him for a walk.

This will wake him up and get him moving around, which will make him feel better.