Stop the Mess: Why Does Dog Pee on Couch? Get Expert Advice Here!

Okay, so, the other day I noticed something pretty gross – my dog, Max, was peeing on the couch! Not cool, Max, not cool. I love the little guy, but this was a big problem. I mean, who wants a pee-stained couch? Nobody, that’s who. So, I knew I had to figure out what was going on and how to stop it.

What I Did First

• First, I ruled out any health problems. I took Max to the vet to make sure he didn’t have a urinary tract infection or something else going on. Thankfully, he got a clean bill of health. Phew!
• Then, I thought about when this was happening. Was he being left alone too long? Was I not taking him out often enough? I realized I might have been slacking a bit on the potty breaks since it was colder outside, so I started a timer to make sure I was getting him out every few hours, no matter what.

Getting Back to Basics

Since the vet said he was healthy, I figured it must be a behavioral thing. I went back to basics with potty training, just like when he was a puppy. Lots of positive reinforcement. Every time he went outside, he got tons of praise and a little treat. I made a big deal about it, like he had just won the lottery or something. “Good boy, Max! Good pee-pee outside!” You know, the whole nine yards.

Cleaning Up My Act (Literally)

I also cleaned the couch like crazy. I used an enzymatic cleaner specifically for pet stains to really get rid of the smell. Dogs will often go back to the same spot if they can still smell their scent, so this was super important. I scrubbed and scrubbed until that couch was spotless.

Keeping Him Off the Couch

When I couldn’t be right there to supervise, I made sure Max was in his crate or in a different room. I didn’t want him having free access to the couch until I was sure he wouldn’t pee on it again.

Success! (Mostly)

It’s been a couple of weeks now, and things are way better. He hasn’t had an accident on the couch since. I’m still being really diligent about taking him out regularly and giving him lots of praise when he does his business outside. It was a bit of a pain, but totally worth it to have a pee-free couch again. I guess sometimes you just have to go back to the basics and be patient, even with an older dog.