“Why does my dog poop on my clothes??” Tired of asking yourself that question? In this article, we’ll delve into why your furry friend may be targeting your clothes for their bathroom breaks and share solutions to help you stop this behavior.

From understanding why dogs might be attracted to your laundry pile, to dealing with the nightmare of finding dog poop in the washing machine, we’ve got it all covered. We’ll even guide you on how to get dog poop out of clothes, and how to get the mess out of your dryer. Keep reading below!

Why Does My Dog Poop on My Clothes?

If your dog poops on your clothes, it might be due to several reasons such as anxiety, scent marking, behavioral issues, or health problems. It’s important to understand the underlying cause to apply the appropriate solution.

Here’s a more in-depth explanation of these possibilities:

1. Anxiety: Dogs suffering from anxiety, especially separation anxiety, can show a variety of symptoms, including inappropriate defecation. If your dog is pooping on your clothes, it could be an anxiety-driven behavior, particularly if it happens when you’re not around. Your clothes, carrying your scent, can provide them comfort in your absence.
2. Scent Marking: Dogs use their feces and urine to mark their territory. By defecating on your clothes, your dog could be trying to mix their scent with yours to establish a combined territory. This behavior is more common in unneutered males but can happen in any dog.
3. Behavioral Issues: If your dog hasn’t been fully house trained or has developed bad habits, they might poop on your clothes simply because they don’t understand that it’s not appropriate. Alternatively, if they’ve been scolded for pooping indoors, they might choose to do it on your clothes where they feel safer.
4. Health Problems: Health issues, particularly gastrointestinal problems, can cause your dog to lose control over their bowel movements. If your dog suddenly starts pooping on your clothes, it might be time for a visit to the vet.

Determining why your dog is pooping on your clothes is the first step to stopping the behavior, which you can continue reading about in the next section below.

How to Stop Your Dog From Pooping on Your Laundry

To stop your dog from pooping on your laundry, it’s essential to address the underlying issues such as anxiety or behavioral problems, keep laundry out of their reach, maintain a consistent potty training schedule, and reward your dog for using appropriate toileting spots.

Here’s a deeper look into these steps:

1. Address Underlying Issues: If your dog is suffering from anxiety, work on easing their distress. This might involve creating a safe space for them when you’re gone or possibly seeking advice from a veterinarian or a pet behaviorist. If health issues are causing the problem, seek veterinary care promptly.
2. Keep Laundry Out of Reach: One simple solution is to keep your laundry out of your dog’s reach. Use a laundry hamper with a lid, or keep your laundry room door closed. Reducing your dog’s access to your clothes can break the cycle of this behavior.
3. Potty Training Consistency: Reinforce your dog’s potty training. Stick to a regular feeding and potty break schedule so your dog gets used to doing their business outdoors. If your dog is pooping on your laundry due to poor potty training, this can be a crucial step to correct their behavior.
4. Reward Appropriate Toileting: Dogs respond well to positive reinforcement. If your dog uses the right spot for pooping, reward them with treats, praise, or playtime. This encourages them to repeat the good behavior and ignore your laundry.

These will get your dog to stop pooping on your clothes, but like we said in the first step it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issues (anxiety, training difficulties, attention-seeking, etc.) that were causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address those, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“So, how do I make these changes stick?”

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 poops on your clothes 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 pooping on laundry ever again!

Dog Poop in Washing Machine

If you find dog poop in your washing machine, it’s crucial to clean it properly to remove bacteria and prevent potential health risks. Use a disinfectant cleaner, run a cleaning cycle with hot water, and thoroughly clean the machine’s parts. Be sure to monitor your dog to prevent a repeat of this unusual incident.

Steps to Clean the Washing Machine

Firstly, don’t panic. Although it’s not an ideal situation, your washing machine can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to ensure it’s safe to use again.

1. Remove Solid Waste: Remove any solid waste using gloves. Dispose of it properly and ensure no residue is left behind.
2. Use Disinfectant Cleaner: Clean the interior drum of the washing machine with a household disinfectant cleaner. Pay extra attention to any crevices or hidden corners.
3. Run a Cleaning Cycle: Next, run a cleaning cycle with hot water. You can use a washing machine cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, which are natural cleaning agents.
4. Clean the Parts: Don’t forget about the detergent drawer and other removable parts. These should be cleaned separately using a disinfectant or a solution of vinegar and water.
5. Air Dry: Finally, leave the washing machine door open to air dry completely before using it again.

Why Did My Dog Poop in the Washing Machine?

Dogs don’t typically choose a washing machine as a place to relieve themselves. This behavior could indicate a few different issues:

1. Stress or Anxiety: Your dog may be experiencing stress or anxiety, causing them to act out of character.
2. Lack of Access to Usual Spot: If your dog couldn’t access their usual spot to poop, they might have chosen the washing machine as an alternative.
3. Health Issues: Some health issues can cause a loss of bowel control. If this behavior is out of the ordinary for your dog, it’s worth scheduling a vet check-up to rule out any underlying health problems.

In conclusion, if you find dog poop in your washing machine, it can be cleaned and disinfected effectively. However, it’s important to identify why this happened to prevent a repeat of the incident. You can then begin working to stop the behavior, which we explained how to do earlier in this article.

Not doing anything will just lead to the problem spreading. You’ll soon find your dog pooping in the closet, pooping in the bedroom, pooping in the garage, pooping in the home office, and maybe even pooping under the bed. Won’t that be obnoxious? Obviously, it would, so you should get to work on helping your dog with their issue now.

Dog Poop on Clothes: How to Clean

To clean dog poop off clothes, start by removing as much poop as possible using a disposable tool. Then, pre-treat the stain with a laundry stain remover, let it sit for a few minutes, and wash the clothing in the washing machine using the warmest water recommended for the fabric.

Let’s dive deeper into these steps:

1. Remove Excess Poop: Start by using a plastic bag or disposable gloves to carefully remove as much of the poop as you can from the clothing. You can use a blunt object like a spatula or a plastic knife to scrape off the solid bits. Be sure to do this over a trash can or toilet to dispose of the waste properly.
2. Pre-Treat the Stain: After removing as much of the poop as possible, apply a laundry stain remover to the stain. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. This step helps to break down the stain before washing.
3. Wash the Clothing: Wash the stained clothing in the washing machine. Use the warmest water setting that’s safe for the fabric type (check the clothing label for this information). Be sure to use a good quality laundry detergent that can help eliminate stains and odors.
4. Inspect and Air-Dry: After washing, inspect the clothing for any remaining stain before drying. If the stain is still visible, repeat the previous steps. Once the stain is completely gone, air-dry the clothing to avoid setting any potential remaining stains in the dryer’s heat.

By following these steps, you can effectively remove dog poop stains from your clothes and ensure they are clean and fresh. The best way to keep them clean, however, is prevention. We explained how to stop your dog from pooping on your clothes earlier in this article.

How Do You Get Dog Poop Out of the Dryer?

If you discover dog poop in your dryer, you must clean it thoroughly to eliminate bacteria and odors. First, remove any solid waste, then clean the drum with a household disinfectant, and run an empty cycle on the highest heat setting. Finally, air dry the dryer before use. Monitoring your dog can prevent a recurrence.

Steps to Clean the Dryer

Stumbling upon dog poop in your dryer is quite a shock, but there are straightforward steps to ensure your appliance is spotlessly clean and safe to use.

1. Remove the Poop: With gloves on, carefully remove any solid waste from the dryer. Dispose of it properly and make sure there’s no residual poop left.
2. Clean the Drum: Wipe the entire drum with a household disinfectant cleaner. Use a cloth or sponge to ensure you get into all the nooks and crannies.
3. Run an Empty Cycle: Next, run an empty dryer cycle at the highest heat setting. This will help to kill any bacteria and eradicate lingering odors.
4. Air Dry: Once the cycle is complete, leave the dryer door open to allow it to air dry completely. This will help to dissipate any remaining odors.

Why Did My Dog Poop in the Dryer?

Dogs typically don’t use appliances as bathrooms, so if your dog pooped in your dryer, there might be a few reasons:

1. Stress or Anxiety: Dogs sometimes engage in unusual behavior when they’re stressed or anxious. This could potentially lead to them pooping in strange places, like your dryer.
2. No Access to Bathroom: If your dog couldn’t get to their usual bathroom spot, they might have chosen the dryer as a makeshift toilet.
3. Health Issues: Certain health conditions could lead to a loss of bowel control in dogs. If this behavior is new, consider a vet appointment to rule out any health problems.

In conclusion, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your dryer after finding dog poop inside is critical for health and hygiene. Moreover, getting to the bottom of why your dog exhibited this behavior can help prevent future incidents. You can then work on stopping the behavior altogether. We explained how to do that earlier in this article.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to a stress-free doggo and clean clothes that stay that way until they’re worn, so I’ll let you begin now. Best wishes with everything, and thank you for reading our article “Why Does My Dog Poop on My Clothes?”