Why Is My Male Dog Urinating Indoors?

Sudden indoor urination by an otherwise house trained male dog is not normal and it is important that the cause is found quickly so you can provide the best help for your dog. In this article, you can read about common reasons, what you can do yourself, and when to contact a veterinarian.

Differences Between Male and Female Dogs

As you may have guessed, there are several differences between male and female dogs when it comes to their urinary tract. In the male dog, the urinary opening is located further from the anus compared to the female dog and the urethra (which is the urinary tube that connects the bladder to the urinary opening). This is both longer and narrower in the male dog than in the female dog. These anatomical differences provide a good barrier against infections and this makes male dogs far less prone to urinary tract infections than female dogs.

However, the prostate gland can cause problems with urination and testosterone levels can sometimes lead to undesirable changes in behaviour in entire male dogs and low testosterone levels can be a rare cause of incontinence in the castrated male dog.

Why Has My Male Dog Started Urinating Indoors?

Indoor urination can take many different forms and you may only notice a small urine patch in his bed or even a bigger urine patch on the floor in the morning. Sometimes the problem is more obvious with your dog deliberately urinating indoors perhaps in certain places or even on your washing.

There are a number of medical conditions which can cause your male dog to suddenly urinate indoors and it is important that these causes are ruled out early as some can become serious medical emergencies if ignored.

Common Medical Causes Include:

Urinary tract infection
Bladder stones
Diabetes (mellitus or insipidus)
Kidney disease
Cushing's syndrome
Incontinence (caused by a number of different conditions)

Behavioural causes include:

Territory marking – spot urination to claim space
Inappropriate urination due to loneliness, separation anxiety, stress, or environmental changes
Too few walks or under stimulation
Areas with urine smell which trigger new markings
Excitement (typically young puppies)

In some cases your dog may have an increased thirst (polydipsia) as well as a change in his urinating habits. A dog is considered to be drinking more than normal if it drinks more than 100ml per kg body weight per 24 hours during normal temperatures. Measuring your dog's water consumption over 2-3 days gives a very good indication about his fluid needs.

It is often useful to bring a urine sample to your vet for analysis. Please ask your vet for details when booking the appointment.

Young Male Dog Urinating Indoors

There are congenital conditions which can affect a puppy’s ability to hold urine and a young puppy that seems to be dripping or passing urine, without being aware, should be examined by a vet.

Young dogs may find it difficult to control urination when they get excited, typically when greeting the owner or other visitors. This is often referred to as an “excitable bladder” and the condition usually resolves as the dog matures. However, a vet check would be indicated if the condition persists past the dog’s first birthday.

As a young male dog matures, he may start marking his territory by peeing in small amounts in various places, sometimes even indoors. This may decrease with age or after neutering. A dog behaviourist can also help with tailored training if necessary.

Older Dog Urinating Indoors

It is often a sign of illness if an older house trained male dog suddenly starts urinating indoors. This could be a sign of a bladder infection, diabetes or kidney disease or simply that the dog struggles with bladder control due to for example changes in the bladder or hormone levels.

When Should I Contact a Veterinarian?

Contact a vet if your male dog:

Urinates more frequently than normal or seems to struggle holding it in
Urinates with a weak or interrupted stream.
Drinks and/or urinate more than usual
Leaks urine while sleeping or has trouble controlling urination
Starts peeing indoors despite previously being house-trained
Has cloudy or blood stained urine

It is a medical emergency if your dog is unable to pass urine at all and you should visit a vet without delay.

What Can I Do At Home?

If your dog starts urinating indoors, then it is important to first of all rule out medical issues with a vet visit. If your dog is healthy, it’s likely behavioural and could be due to things such as stress, territory marking, lack of stimulation, or not getting outside frequently enough.

Take more frequent and consistent walks.
Provide more mental stimulation in everyday life.
Thoroughly clean areas where the dog has peed to remove scent triggers.
Consult a recognised dog behaviouralist if the issue persists.

Neutering May Help

Neutering may reduce or stop indoor urination if it’s driven by high testosterone levels but the effect of castration varies between individuals – some stop entirely, others continue due to learned behaviour.

Pros and Cons of Neutering

Chemical castration

As an alternative, you can try chemical castration first to see if the behaviour changes and if other issues arise before opting for surgery. A vet places an implant under the skin that releases a hormone-suppressing substance. It usually takes 4–5 weeks to work and lasts about 6–12 months, depending on the product used. Duration can vary individually. Discuss with your vet what suits your dog best.