How to Get Dog Pee Out of Blankets & Bedding (And Stop the Smell for Good)
If you’ve landed here looking for how to get dog pee out of blankets after finding yet another wet surprise, you are definitely not alone.
When you’re on your last straw and dealing with repeat accidents from a dog who is fully potty-trained, it is beyond frustrating.
I still remember finding our miniature Dachshund, Gretta, casually christening our brand-new throw blanket out of nowhere after months of zero accidents, and I’m thinking: Why is this happening?!
Unfortunately, whether you’re dealing with a confused puppy or an aging senior dog, a regular laundry cycle often isn’t enough to get rid of that stubborn pee smell.
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Why Do Dogs Pee on Soft Blankets?
This one has always completely baffled me. Then one day, while I was doom-scrolling Instagram, I ran across a puppy breeder explaining her method: she trains her brand-new puppies to go directly to real grass, and during cold or wet weather, she uses an indoor grass patch instead. She Never used puppy pads!
Puppy Pad Training Can Create a Soft-Surface Association:
Brand-new pups who start out using puppy pads can sometimes develop a soft-blanket peeing habit.
When they learn from a very young age that it’s okay to go potty on something soft (like a puppy pad), they may continue to associate that texture with a place to go – even after they’re fully potty trained.
What If Your Potty-Trained Dog Suddenly Starts Peeing on Blankets?
We experienced this with our miniature Dachshund, Gretta. For her first couple of years – way after she was fully potty-trained, she would randomly pee on a soft blanket or our bed.
We couldn’t figure out why she was doing it. Our first move was to have her checked by our vet to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI) or any underlying health issue (dogs often have accidents to tell us they aren’t feeling well).
Once we got the all-clear from her vet, it finally started to click. Her breeder had her pee-pad trained before we brought her home as a puppy. So, it started to make a lot more sense why she might still see something soft as an acceptable place to tinkle.
Could Separation Anxiety Be the Reason?
Sometimes, the blanket itself isn’t really the problem.
If your dog is potty-trained but seems to have accidents mostly when you’re gone – separation anxiety could be part of the reason.
I’ve personally dealt with dogs who had severe separation anxiety, and I know how heartbreaking it can be. When your dog is truly anxious about being left alone, indoor accidents can be one of the ways that their stress shows up.
I put together a separate post with some tips that helped us along the way. Read: Separation Anxiety Solutions for Your Dog.
Why Do Senior Dogs Pee on Blankets and Bedding?
It’s a completely different story when you’re caring for an older dog or a dog with special needs. As dogs enter their senior years or have mobility issues, messy accidents on their bedding become a lot more frequent.
Our senior dog, Bastian, started having incontinence issues around 15 years old, so we were constantly rotating his beds and blankets. Dog diapers were a big help, although we only had him wear them part of the day.
When accidents happen regularly, blankets and bedding can absorb layer after layer of urine, creating a deep-set odor that regular laundry cycles just can’t touch. That’s when figuring out how to properly get rid of the pee smell becomes an absolute must.
How to Get Dog Pee Smell Out of Blankets & Bedding
If a blanket still has a faint lingering odor after a regular wash, your dog’s sensitive nose will pick right up on it, turning that blanket into a repeated ‘tinkle target’.
I’ve reached out to several other dog mamas for help and here are the methods that work!
How to Stop Your Dog from Peeing on Blankets
If you want to stop the habit, here are a few easy steps you can try today:
1. Limit Access to Favorite Peeing Spots:
If your dog likes to sneak off to target throw blankets on the couch or bed, keep bedroom doors closed, and drape throws over chair backs or store them in baskets when you aren’t using them.
2. Clean the Surface Under the Blanket, too:
Remember that if they peed through a blanket onto a rug, couch cushion, or carpet, the scent is still lingering underneath. Always treat the base layer with an enzymatic spray so they don’t return to mark the exact same spot.
3. Watch for the Signs and Redirect Your Dog:
Keep a close eye on your dog in living spaces. If you notice them pacing, sniffing, or circling a soft blanket, immediately interrupt them and guide them outside to their proper bathroom spot with plenty of positive praise and yummy treats.
Have You Dealt with the Dreaded Blanket-Pee Problem?
I’d love to hear how you handle these little household surprises. Do you have a secret DIY trick or a holy-grail product that finally saved your favorite blankets?
Drop your best tips in the comments below so our community can share notes and keep our homes fresh!
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