Peeing

How to Stop Dog Peeing on Furniture

Noooo! You know all to well what that wet spot you just sat in is… your dog peed on the furniture again! What is going on when they do this? Why is your dog peeing on the furniture? What scent deters dogs from peeing on furniture? Will dog pee ruin furniture?

Today, we’re going to answer all of the questions you have about this nasty problem from your dog. And, obviously, we’ll cover the information you came here for the most: how to stop your dog from peeing on the furniture for good! Soon, this will all be a thing of the past. Keep reading below for our article “How to Stop Dog Peeing on Furniture!”

How Do You Stop a Dog From Peeing on Furniture?

How to Stop Dog Peeing on Furniture

To stop a dog from peeing on furniture:

  1. If you catch them in the act, immediately give a calm but firm “no” or “stop.”
  2. Do not yell, clap, or get angry, as your dog may keep peeing on the furniture due to anxiety and this will only make things worse.
  3. Put them into time-out in their crate or a closed-off room with no toys for 10 minutes.
  4. Learn their urination schedule as best you’re able, and when it’s time to go out, put them on their leash and take them out to where you’d like them to go with some treats.
  5. Be patient and wait for them to pee.
  6. When they do, immediately reward them with positive praise and a treat.
  7. Keep repeating this process and your dog will form a positive connection with urinating outside, and not inside on the furniture.
  8. To prevent them from peeing on specific furniture, use the following steps.
  9. Make a 50/50 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle.
  10. Spray this on any spots where your dog is marking on furniture.
  11. The mixture is safe for nearly all surfaces and fabrics including wood and leather.
  12. If you use it on leather, however, make sure to use a conditioner after as the mixture can dry it out a bit.
  13. Wait about an hour. The smell will become undetectable for you once the spray has fully dried.
  14. Your dog, though, will continue to be able to pick up the scent and will remain deterred from peeing there.

These steps will get your dog to stop peeing on furniture, but it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issue (anxiety, marking, dominance, etc.) that was causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address that, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“So, how do I make these changes last then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog pees on furniture and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog peeing on furniture ever again!

Why Is My Dog Peeing on the Furniture?

Your dog is peeing on the furniture to assert their dominance, or due to separation anxiety. They are often seen in combination. Look to the volume of urine and your dog’s other behaviors to determine for sure. If your dog pees on the furniture in large amounts, then they are experiencing anxiety because these feelings make it difficult for them to control their bladder.

Small amounts of urine in spots on your furniture here and there is more in tune with simple marking behavior due to dominance alone. So if the volumes you’re seeing are small, then they are feeling dominant, and dominant only. But anytime the volume is significant, then they are experiencing separation anxiety, but could be feeling dominant in addition to this.

If any dominance is present in your dog, then you will see them doing things like barking and refusing to stop. They’ll get aggressive towards people or animals that maintain eye contact with them. They’ll guard their food and toys, even from you. Both male and female dogs can feel dominant and want to mark, even if they’ve been spayed or neutered.

Separation anxiety occurs because your dog either constantly feels the need to protect you, or to be protected by you. The stress that they feel when separated from you then causes them to have difficulty controlling their bladder. This also occurs both in males and females, regardless of whether or not they’ve been fixed.

But the good news is, it’s not super important to know for sure which of these your dog is experiencing because they’ll be treated in the same way. And it’s important to begin immediately, because they’re likely doing other similar misbehaviors like peeing on your outdoor furniture, peeing on your doorstep, or peeing at your back door.

To learn how to stop your dog from peeing on furniture while also getting to the root of what’s causing them to do so in the first place, go back to the first section now.

What Scents Deter Dogs From Peeing on Furniture?

Vinegar is a scent that deters dogs from peeing on furniture.  Make a 50/50 solution of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray it where your dog likes to pee on your furniture. It is safe for nearly all surfaces including wood. If your furniture is leather, use a conditioner after as the vinegar mix can dry it a bit.

Wait about an hour for the mix to fully dry and the smell should be undetectable for you, but your dog will still be able to pick it up and will continue to be deterred. It should also help to rid your furniture of any musty smells that may have built up over the years.

Will Dog Pee Ruin Furniture?

Dog pee will ruin furniture, so it’s important to clean it right away and also to work to stop their misbehavior. Wood is extremely absorbent, so stains will form quickly if you don’t catch them and clean up the mess right away. Dog urine can also easily stain fabrics or leather.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to coming home after a long day and not unexpectedly sitting down in a pee spot, so I’ll let you get started on things now. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading our article “How to Stop Dog Peeing on Furniture.”

The Author

KB

KB

Hey there! I'm a dog behavior expert and lover of travel. Since 2016, I've been sharing my knowledge on dog training and behavior, while exploring the Pacific Northwest with my two rescues.