Is My Dog Peeing For Attention?

In this research you will know the answer to the query “Is My Dog Peeing For Attention?“.

Even though dogs are mans best friend you can expect various communication problems between the two of you. Unfortunately for you and your carpets dogs often communicate by peeing.

You can learn more about what your pet is trying to convey by peeing around the house by reading this article. Dogs of all ages use this method of communication but this type of behavior is more common among puppies.

The answer is yes maybe if you’re wondering if your dog is peeing for attention. But this isnot as simple as it seems.

Since he may not know why hes doing it it is your responsibility to figure out why and of course how to stop him from stinking up the house. 

Can dogs pee to get attention?

When a house-trained dog starts making puddles at random times it may be a way of getting your attention. While it can be hard to understand a dogs thought process it is safe to assume that if hes managed to get your attention once by soiling the house he’ll do it again.

Attention-seeking peeing in dogs

Lets take a look at the most common reasons why your dog might do this.

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety affects many dogs including large and fearsome breeds like German Shepherds. In addition to the fact that dogs hate to be left alone they have no way of knowing when you’re coming back. Dogs do not understand why you’re going to work so they might be genuinely worried you would not return.

You’ll know you’re going to be away for a while when your dog sees you getting your morning coffee and getting dressed for work. 

You do not have to assume he pees on the floor as you put your coat on if he does it as you’re putting it on. That would be like acting out of spite. Peeing may simply be a sign that he is afraid of you leaving the house. In other words he may not be doing it deliberately but because he cannot resist.

A clever dog might figure out that you will have to clean up the puddle before leaving so you would not be leaving too quickly. To keep you around some more a sensitive dog might give you a scolding.

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety you should research how you can deal with it. 

It is generally a good idea to gradually increase the period of separation as you train him. During the first few days leave the house at the usual hour but come back five minutes later. The dog will learn to trust you. Afterward leave the house for fifteen minutes thirty minutes and so on. This will reinforce the fact that he does not need to worry. 

The dog should not be scolded or punished as this will only make him more anxious. The fact that you’re angry gives him all the more reason to believe you would not return. 

Boredom

Even if you work from home and separation anxiety isnot an issue your dog may be peeing to get your attention. However if you spend hours in front of your computer your dog will become bored. In the middle of the room he knows that letting go will make you get up and attend to him. You should not scold or rub the dogs nose in the puddle. You do not know that your tapping away at the keyboard is important and he may resent you for not paying attention to him. 

In order to stop this type of unwanted behavior stop giving your dog what he wants which is attention. Just ignore him while cleaning the puddle. Make sure he is not present in the room.

It is important however to consider the underlying issue and find ways to relieve your dogs boredom.

You can do this by increasing the duration of your walks together. Rather than taking him out for a quick pee in the morning take him on a 30-minute tour of the neighborhood. Allow him to sniff around trees and lamp posts to see who is out and about or allow him to interact with other dogs. He can think about this for a couple of hours and a brisk walk will burn off the excess energy so he can nap for a while.

You can also provide your dog with entertainment by giving him a toy filled with treats. Trying to figure out how to get to the juicy treats will keep him busy for a while and all the excitement might make him sleepy afterward. The dog can also chew on a large bone if you keep an eye on him while he is in the same room with you. The bone should be removed after 20-30 minutes at any time if it shows signs of splintering.

Jealousy

The attention and love of their favorite human is something they do not want to share with anyone two-legged or four-legged. Your dog might resort to peeing to get your attention if there are any changes in your family life.

Nevertheless experts consider this style of peeing to be territorial marking.

As an example if you have a new baby in the house your dog may suffer a great deal especially if its the first child and he used to be the center of attention before it arrived.

As a way of claiming the house your dog may pee in the babys room or on its toys. Give your dog a treat whenever the baby is around or sit on the floor and give him a good belly rub while your partner takes care of the baby. 

You may experience this if you have a new partner. You should not be surprised if your dog urinates on your boyfriends new shoes. This is my home get lost! Punishing the dog will only reinforce his belief that he is losing you and will exacerbate the peeing issue.

You can also expect some kind of attention-seeking peeing if you bring home a new pet. Taking a quick pee while you’re fussing over your new pet is a great way to get some attention. This is also a way to let the newcomer know this is his territory. 

What is my dog suddenly peeing in the house?

Your dog might be urinating around the house all of a sudden for no reason other than wanting attention. Here are some other reasons why your house-trained dog might be peeing in your room.

Submissive urination

Attention-seeking has nothing to do with this. It is more common in puppies or dogs that have been abused in the past to exhibit submissive urination.

Using submissive pee is a way for your dog to show he knows hes not in charge. Your pet begs not to be punished by submitting to you or another dog who is usually older.

The behavior and body language of your dog will show fear so you can easily identify submissive peeing. In order to convey submission a dog may crouch or lie on the floor with his ears flat against his head. In order to avoid creating the impression that he is looking for a confrontation he will avoid eye contact.

When your puppy is young this type of behavior will eventually outgrow him but with an older and more sensitive dog you’ll need to be careful. In this case punishment is counterproductive as it will only make your dog more fearful. You and your dog need to establish a bond of confidence.

You will have to resolve the conflict between your pets if the submissive urination is caused by another dog in the house.  

Excitement peeing

Dogs that are sensitive may pee to express their excitement. He does not do it on purpose its just that excitement makes him lose control of his bladder. 

If you have visitors and your dog is overwhelmed with emotion or if you havenot seen them in a few hours he may do that to greet you. It makes him so happy to see you home that he goes to the bathroom on the floor. 

Consider ways to minimize the excitement if your dog tends to do this type of emotional peeing. Make sure your guests do not make too much fuss about the dog for instance. When your pet has become accustomed to the idea that they are in the house tell them to ignore the dog. 

Donot make it too public if its about you. Your loud display of affection may cause the dog to get overly emotional. Welcome your pet in a low voice and give him something else to think about. If you’re changing into your home clothes head straight to the kitchen and give him a small treat. After the dog has calmed down invite him to join you on the couch for a while. 

Medical issues

Never ignore the possibility that you may have a health issue. A dog that is house-trained may start peeing around the house when they have a urinary tract infection. Make sure your dog is checked out by the vet if it does not seem to be a behavioral problem. 

Remember that female dogs with spayed ears are more prone to urinary incontinence. You may be able to get meds from your vet to control the symptoms but you will have to learn to live with this problem.

Conclusion

While they may not be aware of what they are doing or why they are doing it dogs are capable of peeing for attention. Find ways to resolve your dogs separation anxiety or boredom rather than addressing the symptoms. Ensure that your dog is physically and mentally stimulated so that he can cope with being left alone. Show your dog that nothing has changed between you and that you still love him no matter what a new kid or partner is doing. 

Dogs do not pee out of spite but rather out of complex frustration feelings over which they have little control which is why they should not be punished. 

If you want to read more about dog health tips read here: Dog Health Tips and Tricks.

Is My Dog Peeing For Attention? (Watch Video)