How to discipline a dog after peeing inside?

Dogs peeing indoors is a problem faced by many pet owners. When seeing the wet puddle of urine, the owner will inevitably feel helpless and angry, but before taking action, we need to deeply understand the reasons behind the dog's behavior so that we can better discipline the dog and let the dog develop good excretion habits. ​

Dogs do not know where to defecate by nature. In their cognition, there is no essential difference between indoors and outdoors, especially for puppies. Their urinary system is not fully developed and they cannot hold urine for a long time, so once they feel like urinating, they may solve it on the spot. For adult dogs, suddenly peeing indoors may be a physical problem. For example, urinary tract infection, kidney disease, etc. may cause dogs to urinate frequently and urgently, and cannot control their excretion behavior. At this time, what we need to give the dog is not severe punishment, but timely care and treatment. Take the dog to the veterinarian for a comprehensive physical examination, determine the cause of the disease and actively treat it to help the dog recover. Only when the body is comfortable can the dog resume normal excretion habits.​

If the dog is healthy, then indoor urination may be a behavioral problem. Dogs are very sensitive animals. Changes in the environment, the increase or decrease of family members, and the addition of other pets to the home may make them nervous and uneasy, so they mark their territory by urinating indoors to relieve their inner stress. For example, when we move, dogs may feel unfamiliar and afraid of the new environment. In the process of getting familiar with the environment, they may leave their own smell in every corner of the room. At this time, the owner should give the dog enough patience and comfort. Spend more time with the dog, communicate with it in a gentle tone, take it to get familiar with every corner of the new environment, and let it gradually relax. ​

When we find that the dog urinates indoors, we should pay attention to the way of discipline. Scolding and beating the dog loudly will not only fail to solve the problem, but may make the dog more afraid and confused, and even fear the owner, which will aggravate its behavioral problems. Dogs do not understand why we suddenly get angry. They only know that the owner's mood has become terrible, which will make them uneasy. There was once an owner who immediately scolded and slapped the dog loudly after finding that the dog urinated on the carpet in the living room. As a result, the dog will not only continue to urinate indoors, but also secretly defecate in corners where the owner cannot see, and will be very timid and cowardly every time he sees the owner. ​

The correct way is to gently use a small object to make a sound when the dog is peeing, attract its attention, and then quickly carry it to the designated defecation area. For example, we can prepare a special dog toilet, lay a urine mat with the smell of dog urine, and place the dog toilet in a relatively quiet and well-ventilated corner. When the dog shows signs of peeing elsewhere in the room, guide it to the dog toilet in time. Once the dog has finished defecating in the dog toilet, give it a warm reward immediately, such as delicious snacks, cheerful praise, and intimate caressing. Dogs are very smart animals, and they will quickly understand that defecating in this specific place can be loved and rewarded by their owners. ​

Establishing a regular daily routine is also crucial to solving the problem of dogs peeing indoors. Feed the dog with food and water regularly and quantitatively, and then take it out for a walk at a fixed time to give it the opportunity to defecate outdoors. Generally speaking, dogs usually have the need to defecate within half an hour to an hour after eating and drinking. We can use this rule to take the dog out on time every day during these time periods. After the dog successfully defecates outdoors, it is also necessary to give it positive feedback. If you stick to this rule for a long time, the dog will gradually form a biological clock to defecate outdoors. ​

In addition, for the places where you have already urinated indoors, you must thoroughly clean them to remove the smell of urine. Dogs have a very sensitive sense of smell. If there is a residual smell of urine, they may think that this place is suitable for defecation and urinate here again. We can use a special pet deodorizer and clean it thoroughly according to the instructions. Avoid using detergents containing ammonia, because the smell of ammonia is similar to urine and may mislead the dog. ​

Although it is a headache for dogs to urinate indoors, as long as we understand the motivation of the dog's behavior and discipline it in a scientific and caring way, we will definitely be able to help the dog develop good excretion habits. In this process, the trust and affection between us and the dog will continue to deepen, making the dog a more intimate and lovely partner in our lives.