Dog Keeps Pooping on the Couch [11 Reasons + 9 Tips]

Dog Keeps Pooping On Couch

Discovering that your dog has defecated on the couch can be an unpleasant and vexing experience. This article will explore 11 potential causes for this behavior and provide practical solutions to help you address the issue.

Here is why your dog keeps pooping on the couch.

A dog may poop on the couch, bed, or any other furniture due to many changes in daily routine. These include aging, poor diet, anxiety, fear, lack of time outdoors, previous accidents on the couch, textual preferences, stress, and health issues such as bowel cancer and parasites.

Observing the issue’s exact cause is critical to eliminating this bad behavior. But how do we distinguish one reason from another? To understand, please keep reading!

Reasons Why Your Dog Poops on the Couch

When your dog suddenly starts pooping on the couch, you might be wondering what’s going on in their head.

Of course, the reason really doesn’t matter; you have to find solutions to avoid dealing with messy couches.

So, walk through all of these reasons and observe your dog to determine the cause. Then, you will likely solve the problem.

1. Changes in Daily Routine

Dogs are creatures that love to stick to a daily schedule.

Unnatural consequences can happen, like pooping on the couch or carpet whenever they experience a change in their routine.

Usually, they would like to go to the potty at specific times of the day.

Regarding a puppy, they intentionally tend to go out for potty a few minutes after:
 ♦ Drinking
 ♦ Eating
 ♦ Napping
 ♦ Playing

 When it comes to a grown dog, they need to go to the potty:
 ♦ In the morning
 ♦ At noonday
 ♦ Early evening
 ♦ Before bedtime

So, your dog might poop on the couch as they experience significant changes in their daily routine.

Here is an article about when a dog does or doesn’t pee and poop at the same time.

2. Aging

One of the main reasons for this matter could be the effects of aging. But you don’t have much control over this. However, you can do certain things, which we will cover later.

An older dog is likelier to poop in inappropriate places indoors as they often experience a lack of bowel control or fecal incontinence.

One of the annoying issues encountered as they age is “canine cognitive dysfunction,” which affects dogs in many different ways, including potty training, resulting in the dog forgetting how to go outdoors as they feel the urgency of defecation.

3. Inappropriate Diet

A dog might poop on the couch or furniture due to a poor diet.

You have to be prudent whenever choosing food from the supermarket. Refrain from buying cheap and low-value dog food.

That being said, it doesn’t necessarily mean picking expensive food items. Chat with your vet and buy whatever product they suggest. If you are on a tight budget, you can explain this to your vet, and I’m sure they will offer good alternatives based on their experiences.

Moreover, it would be best if you took necessary precautions before making any changes to your pet’s diet, as that might cause an upset stomach, allowing for sudden defecation.

4. Anxiety and Fear

If your dog has a bad habit of pooping on your belongings, including shoes, the couch, the bed, and the places with your scent, they could be prone to separation anxiety.

Psychological issues like anxiety, stress, and fear aren’t easy-going problems. The owners must take things seriously and look for solutions.

A frightened dog with a loud noise, including fireworks, thunder, or other significant and sudden noises, is most likely to poop on furniture, including your couch.

Establishing an appropriate and calm daily routine, meeting exercise requirements, and fulfilling other needs and wants are several of the most straightforward ways to relieve those psychological issues. We will discuss things more thoroughly further down this page.

Here is why some dogs pee on themselves.

5. Adjustment to the Outdoors

If your dog poops on the couch just after coming inside after playing or wandering outdoors for some time, this is because of the psychological influence of the external environment.

What I mean by that is whenever a dog goes outdoors and spends some time there, the grasses, rocks, soils, and everything else in nature are the perfect stimulants to make dogs feel the need to… you know.

The problem here is when a dog returns home without spending sufficient time outdoors, that short time outdoors isn’t enough to make them feel the urgency to pee or poop outside, but the progress made could then be carried into the indoor environment.

Also, dogs are overstimulated to a significantly higher level when they return home without spending enough time outdoors.

6. A History of Accidents on the Couch

In a case where the dog had previous accidents on your couch, but you didn’t give the couch a thorough clean, your dog is most likely to become a repeat offender at the same place due to their instinct to relieve themselves on areas where they’ve peed before and where they still can sense the odor.

Not cleaning thoroughly is the main reason this happens, resulting in the dog thinking that a spot is an acceptable place as they feel the previous scent.

In our section on solutions, we’ll cover how to clean correctly. Until then, let’s head over to the next possible reason.

7. Separation Anxiety.

Certain dog breeds are most likely prone to separation anxiety, including Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and many others.

These dogs cannot do well when left alone. Of course, any dog will be prone to separation anxiety when left alone for a long enough time, four or more hours daily.

Canines are very sociable creatures that usually seek familiar company to hang around with.

So, when a dog is left alone for a long time, nervousness will occur, resulting in sudden pooping or peeing in the places they stay, which means on your couch or even on the bed.

8. Textural Preference

Most dogs have a textural preference for some surfaces like beds and couches, giving them a preference for defecating in these places.

There is nothing you can do to eliminate their textural preference. But what you can do is identify their needs and provide potty breaks when needed. Sticking to a schedule to go potty is much more critical.

9. Spending Too Long Indoors

Even though this seems obvious, it’s worth mentioning that this vastly influences this messy behavior.

If a dog defecates on your couch in such a situation, the blame is on you, dude. Dogs aren’t supposed to be trapped inside for too long.

So, if this is the case for your dog, please rethink your work schedule and ensure to take them outside at regular intervals.

10. Sudden Changes Causing Stress

Dogs find it challenging to cope with sudden changes that cause stress.

Here are ordinary stress-making circumstances for a dog.

  • Change in residence
  • Being inside for too long
  • Loud noises and some types of music
  • Traveling in a car
  • Big groups of people
  • Introducing new people and pets
  • Being around stressful family
  • Less exercise
  • Other changes in routine

Even a well-house-trained dog might defecate on the couch if they feel stress triggers.

11. Health Issues

Specific health problems could cause movements in the bowel, which means the dog loses control of the bowl.

Here are some of them.

  • Bowel cancer
  • Intestinal worms
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Bowel disease
  • Parasites

Here is why a dog might pee once or twice a day.

How to Keep Your Dog from Pooping on the Couch?

Now you seem to know all the reasons well. So, it’s time to observe what you can do about it.

Here is what you can do to keep your dog from pooping on the couch.

Blocking access, observing their pooping routine, giving enough time outdoors, cleaning previous accident spots, crate training, addressing psychological issues, chew toys, creating a proper diet, and meeting with a vet are possible solutions to keep your dog from pooping on the couch, bed, or on other furniture.

So, I will give you nine different solutions that you can take to solve the problem.

1. Block Couch Access

If your dog has a habit of defecating on the couch or bed, eliminating such bad behavior is tricky and time-consuming.

So, blocking the couch access is the first thing you want to do before taking other actions. Even though this is a temporary solution, it can buy some time for you to work on getting rid of this behavior.

  • You can use a gate to restrict access
  • Use a decently-sized x-pen

In the meantime, you can let them get onto the couch under your supervision. However, you must train them to get your permission to do this, which can avoid numerous problems you’re not even considering.

Here is why some dogs pee upstairs with 9 reasons and 11 solutions.

2. Understand the Time Your Dog Poops

Next, you want to understand the times at which your dog poops. I mentioned earlier possible times when a dog or puppy tends to poop.

Of course, every dog is different according to its personality, age, health concerns, and many other reasons. So, your dog might develop a different potty schedule, resulting in him getting used to pooping on the couch or the bed.

After observing the relevant times during the day, take your dog out at the new specific times. You will definitely be amazed at how quickly the problem can be solved.

By the way, here is how to change your dog’s poop schedule.

3. Give Them Enough Time Outdoors

As I mentioned earlier, not giving enough time to spend outdoors is one of the main reasons your dog poops on the couch.

Let them wander outdoors on grass and spend some time there. They will start to poop as they get stimulated enough. So, no panics anymore.

Play a bit with your dog. It will help them speed up their bowel movements, resulting in well-timed peeing and pooping.

Any dog will prefer to poop outside rather than on your couch if properly trained

4. Clean the Couch Properly

This is the point where most owners do things wrong. Of course, accidents can happen. But, if you don’t clean the couch or bed properly, the dog will sense the scent, resulting in continued pooping there.

Here is how to make the couch poop-odor free.

1. First, remove the poop.

2. Then, use distilled white vinegar to spray that spot.

3. Wipe off excess liquid with a paper towel.

4. Get some baking soda and sprinkle a considerable amount onto that spot (make sure to cover the whole spot).

5. Leave it for 60–90 minutes.

6. Use a vacuum to remove all the baking soda.

7. Then, use an enzymic product to clean the area again.

8. Let the couch dry.

You have to make sure to keep the dog away from the couch during this entire process. If you follow the steps correctly, the odor will be removed completely.

5. Provide Good Crate Training

Consider providing proper crate training to your dog, as this is one of the most straightforward and fastest methods to house-train a dog.

If you wonder why I said that, a lack of house training is also why a dog poop on couches and other furniture. So, giving friendly crate training is also a significant part of house training.

6. Deal with Psychological Issues

As discussed earlier, psychological issues can also suggest why a dog wants to defecate on a couch or bed.

So, being innovative and doing something to eliminate such psychological issues as stress, anxiety, fear, and separation anxiety is best for the movement.

Here are several essential things worth considering.

  • Don’t keep your dog alone regularly for more than 6–8 hours
  • If you’re away from home for many hours, kindly ask your neighbor, friends, or family to feed and walk your dog
  • Hire a dog walker
  • Spend some time with your pet
  • Provide good exercise first thing in the morning
  • Provide mental stimulations
  • Avoid stressful occasions as much as you can (the stressful situations we’ve discussed earlier. If avoiding these is impossible, make it easier for the dog)

7. Provide Chew Toys

Dogs hate to get bored, especially high-energy dogs. So, a bored dog will most likely be destructive and even pee and poop on your couch, bed, or furniture.

So, providing chew toys is a genius idea. Moreover, puzzle toys can also prove highly effective.

8. Create a Proper Diet Plan

As we discussed earlier, choosing poor, cheap foods from the supermarket and sudden diet changes can cause an upset stomach.

So, discuss with your vet or nutritionist prior to creating a diet plan for the dog.

9. Consult a Veterinarian

Chat with your vet to check if your dog has any health issues.

Things to Be Aware Of

Knowing the possible reasons why a dog poops on a couch, bed, or other furniture and knowing the solutions you can take is crucial. However, there are certain related things you need to be aware of.

Don’t scold or punish: Scolding or punishing to correct bad behavior will not work. Positive reinforcement techniques will help when you train the dog. Everything should be done with a strategic and long-term plan with a vision of possible outcomes.

Cleaning: Suppose your dog’s mess on the couch. It could be an accident. However, as discussed earlier, remember to clean it properly to prevent repeat offenses.

Take the dog out at night: Take them out before bedtime to make sure they sleep throughout the night.

Regular vet checkups: Take regular vet checkups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re a dog owner struggling with the problem of your pet pooping on the couch, this article has provided 11 potential explanations for the behavior, as well as nine different strategies to help you tackle the issue. We hope our suggestions have been helpful and that you’re now equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to overcome this challenge. Thank you for reading, and we wish you the best of luck in resolving this problem with your furry friend.

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