Accidents happen, especially when you're potty training a dog. Puppies and senior pets are known for having the occasional accident, but it can happen to any dog. That's why it's important for all owners to know how to stop a dog from peeing on carpet.
It is incredibly difficult to get the smell of urine out of carpeting. The urine seeps into the fibers of the carpet and the padding underneath. Even the best rug cleaning machines can leave some odor behind.
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Whether you've adopted a puppy or an adult dog that still has indoor accidents, you will need to properly house train him. If you need resources to help you with this training, we have plenty:
- How To House Train An Adult Dog: A Step-by-Step Video Guide
- 10 Reasons You're Unsuccessful at Potty Training Your Dog
- 8 Basic Tips for Potty Training A Puppy
- 10 Tips on Toilet Training Puppies Effectively
If your dog is already house trained but continues to pee on your carpet, it's probably because the smell of urine is still there. Even if you can't smell anything, your dog probably can. A dog's sense of smell is 10,000-100,000 times greater than ours!
It may also be because your dog has gotten into the habit of peeing in that spot. Some dogs like to “go” in the area all the time. If this is the case with your pup, you'll need to break the habit if you want to know how to stop a dog from peeing on carpet.
How To Stop A Dog From Peeing On Carpet
Enzymatic cleaners are the very best way to get urine smell out of carpeting. These products use enzymes in their formulas to help break down stains and odors. Enzymes are macromolecular biological catalysts that help to speed up chemical reactions. Different enzymes break down different types of odors.
The best urine stain and odor removers use enzymes to break down the urine to ensure that every particle is removed. Therefore, there won't be any bit of urine in the carpet for your pet to smell.
You can also buy commercial pet repellents that deter your dog from peeing in that area. These products have a deterring odor that dogs don't like. When they start sniffing around for a place to go, they'll get turned off by the odor of the spray and leave the area.
Making natural pet repellent is an option, too. Most dogs don't like the smell of citrus, including lemons, limes and grapefruit. You can make a homemade dog repellent by adding 2-3 tablespoons of citrus juice to a spray bottle filled with water. You could also use 15-20 drops of citrus essential oil in place of the fresh citrus juice.
If you don't have citrus juice or essential oils on hand, you could also use rubbing alcohol or vinegar to deter your dog from peeing on your carpet. Whichever you choose, use a 1:1 ratio of water and alcohol/vinegar in a spray bottle.
No matter which dog repellent spray you decide to use, spray it generously in the area where your dog usually urinates. Be sure that you spray about 2 feet around the area in all directions. This will ensure that your dog stays away from the area. If you notice him sniffing close to his usual spot, take him outside right away.
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