Peeing

How to Stop Dog Peeing in Same Spot in House

It’s just so frustrating! Your dog is peeing in the same spot in the house over and over and over! What does this mean? Why does your dog keep peeing in the same place in your house? What can you use to stop your dog from peeing in the same spot? And why does your dog pee in the same spot as your other dog? Does that mean anything different?

Today, we’re going to answer every question you have about this aggravating problem your dog is having. And we’ll obviously cover what you’re most interested in: how to stop your dog from peeing in the same spot in the house! Soon, you won’t have to worry about this ever again. Keep reading below for our article “How to Stop Dog Peeing in Same Spot in House!”

How to Stop Dog Peeing in the Same Spot in the House

How to Stop Dog Peeing in Same Spot in House

To stop dog peeing in the same spot in the house, if you catch them in the act, immediately give a calm but firm “no” or “stop” and take them outside to finish. Do not yell, clap, or get angry, as many dogs are doing this out of stress and that reaction will only make their problem worse.

You should then begin taking your dog outside on their leash whenever they need to pee (learn their schedule as best you’re able) along with some treats. Be patient and wait for them to go, and then reward them with praise and treats when they do. The positive reinforcement will help their confidence and make it desirable for them to go outside.

Next, you need to cover up the spot where your dog keeps peeing. Your dog’s urine contains enzymes that are attracting them to go in the same spot in the house repeatedly. Make a 50/50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then apply it to the area. The vinegar smell will be gone in an hour or so, but your dog will still detect it and be deterred.

If a urine smell remains due to your dog peeing there so much, sprinkle some baking soda on the spot while it’s still damp from the vinegar mixture. Allow it to set in and dry overnight, then vacuum it up in the morning. Your dog will still be deterred from the vinegar, and the urine smell should now be gone too.

But while these steps will get your dog to stop peeing in the same spot in the house, it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issues (anxiety, marking, training difficulties) 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 pees in the same spot in the house 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 in the same spot in the house ever again!

Why Does My Dog Keep Peeing in the Same Place in My House?

Your dog keeps peeing in the same place in your house because their dried urine contains an enzyme that acts as an attractant. They are likely feeling stressed, and marking in this same spot over and over helps to calm them and make them feel better.

Simply soaking up the urine and doing a basic cleaning will not be enough to remove the scent for your dog. They have significantly better senses of smell than we do, so even after you’ve cleaned the pee spot to the point that you can no longer sense it, your dog can still easily tell the location.

But remember that your dog is doing this out of stress, oftentimes that is rooted in separation anxiety. You need to address their problem at its deepest level, and not just merely treat the symptoms, or you’re only going to allow your dog to continue suffering. Their issue will also continue to show itself, it will just now be in different ways.

You’ll likely see your dog doing other similar misbehaviors. You’ll find your dog is peeing on curtains, running and peeing upstairs, going out and peeing on the balcony, peeing on your furniture — practically any spot will do for them.

Obviously, you don’t want to keep dealing with your dog’s pee spots, and you want them to feel relaxed and calm. To stop your dog from peeing in the same spot in your house by getting to the root of the problem (and, yes, also making them not want to urinate in that specific spot either), go back to the first section now.

What Can I Use to Stop My Dog From Peeing in the Same Spot?

You can use a 50/50 mix of water and distilled white vinegar to stop your dog from peeing in the same spot. Make the mixture in a spray bottle, and then apply it where your dog likes to pee in the house. The smell will go away once it’s dried in about an hour, but your dog will continue to be able to detect the scent and won’t want to pee there anymore.

This alone should deter your dog from peeing in that spot, but if there’s still a urine smell remaining from all the times your dog peed there, then you should sprinkle some baking soda while it’s still damp from the vinegar mixture. Allow it a while to set in overnight, then vacuum it up in the morning.

The vinegar mixture is safe for nearly all surfaces including carpet, wood, composite, laminate, leather, and tile. If you use it on a piece of leather furniture, make sure to use a leather conditioner afterward, as it can dry it out a bit.

Why Does My Dog Pee in the Same Spot as My Other Dog?

Your dog pees in the same spot as your other dog as a way of enforcing social power. Dogs will view everything in the home as a pack, with a hierarchy establishing ranking within that pack. Your dog pees over your other dog’s pee spot to show that they are dominant over your other dog.

It’s important to address your dog’s feelings of dominance if you’ve noticed this behavior as it could soon lead to aggression. And while its ultimate root cause is different than if your dog is peeing in the same spot in the house due to stress, they’ll still be treated the same way. Go back to the first section to learn what to do.

I’m sure you’re ready to come home to a house that doesn’t smell like urine anymore, so I’ll let you begin now. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading our article “How to Stop Dog Peeing in Same Spot in House.”

The Author

KB Williams

KB Williams

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