Why is My Dog Urinating in My Bed After Getting a New Puppy?

Introducing a new puppy to the home can be a trying time for everyone in the family, including an older, established dog. According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are a number of different behaviors that you can begin to see, ranging from immediate acceptance of the new puppy to outright aggression. In some cases, the older dog will be caught urinating in the house, a particularly annoying habit when it happens on your bed.

  1. Territorial Marking

    • Your dog may be unwilling to share his sleeping spot.

      It isn't uncommon for an older dog that has been well-established in the household to feel it necessary to mark its territory when a new puppy is introduced to the family. When the dog has long been allowed to sleep in your bed, this is definitely considered part of its territory and leaving its scent on the bed is one way the dog is hoping to ensure that it stays that way. If the dog is urinating on the bed, chances are it's urinating elsewhere in the house, too. This isn't necessarily a setback in housebreaking; it's simply the dog's way of indicating its territory to the new puppy.

    Establishing Pack Hierarchy

    • Part of marking territory is a stronger, more dominant dog telling a subordinate what's off-limits. Within the pack, the more dominant dogs get the better portions of food, eat first and get to choose the prime locations for sleeping. For a dog that is allowed to share the bed, this definitely qualifies as a prime sleeping location. While dogs will typically not urinate where they sleep -- a trait that makes crate training an effective tool when housebreaking -- they will mark their sleeping quarters with the scent of their urine if they feel it necessary to tell a newcomer that this spot belongs to them.

    Joint Destructiveness

    • It's never too late for an older dog to learn bad habits.

      In some cases, the dog may just be annoyed at the appearance of a new puppy. Puppies lack the social graces and ability to read body language that older dogs possess, and a mature adult who has long ruled the home may not appreciate the disruption to the normal routine that comes with a puppy. It isn't uncommon for an older dog to pick up habits from a younger puppy, and may see the newcomer urinating in the home and feel that it must be all right. Urinating in the home can be one of the ultimate acts of defiance for a dog that has long been trained to know better, and urinating on the bed is a way to communicate his extreme displeasure. Most dogs will respect sleeping quarters and not soil them, so if the behavior continues it may mean the dog is trying to send a clear message.

    Stopping the Behavior

    • Supervision is key, not only for the puppy but for the older dog as well. Look at the situation from the dog's point of view, and try to be sympathetic rather than a disciplinarian. The introduction of a new puppy is a trying time for an older dog that has just had a well-honed routine destroyed. Spend as much time with the older dog as with the new puppy, and make sure the older dog is not feeling neglected. Clean up any accidents thoroughly, and clean with an odor remover that will eliminate the scent of the marking dog.