Why Do Dogs Always Poop On Carpet

Does your dog like pooping on your beautiful carpet? A common scenario pet parents experience involves their dog standing on the tile or wooden floor, then purposely walking over to the carpet to find the perfect spot to poop. This common behavior has pet parents puzzled and looking for answers. There are a variety of reasons that cause dogs to poop on the carpet, the most popular are stress, illness, a new schedule, and simply liking the texture of the carpet. 

This behavior is considered normal to a degree and is not necessarily something to worry about. However, if you are tired of cleaning poop stains off the carpet, the following information will help you pinpoint your dog’s behavior and teach you how to make the behavior stop. 

The most common cause of dogs pooping on the carpet is biological instincts. Have you ever taken your dog for a walk and noticed their poop routine? Dogs generally circle around sniffing the area until they find the right spot. Sometimes they are sniffing other dogs’ poop smells or their own. Dogs naturally prefer to poop in the same area as they did previously. Poop stains in the same area on your carpet are evidence of this instinct and typical behavior. 

Dogs that are house trained understand this is not right. This means they can be pooping on the carpet intentionally to gain attention. A new schedule and anxiety can also be a possibility. Your dog might not be able to hold their bowels in time for his or her new schedule. If your dog is afraid of loud noises and the pooping on the carpet perfectly matches the arrival of thunderstorms, this can also be the cause. 

Medical reasons can be an issue as well. Your dog might not be able to control himself or herself due to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses such as a parasite, bacteria, virus, food allergy, bowel cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. If you suspect your dog is pooping on the carpet due to an illness, a visit to the veterinarian as soon as possible is recommended. 

Your dog’s age can also have something to do with it. As dogs age, they often experience fecal incontinence. The main cause of fecal incontinence related to age is lack of muscle strength to hold it, they forget to go outside, hind-end weakness, and arthritis. 

Dogs often experience separation anxiety when their owner leaves the house. This anxiety is realistic since dogs run in packs and you are their new pack. Some dogs naturally calm down and understand their owner will be back soon while others take the separation seriously. Separation anxiety appears in destructive behavior, including, but not limited to pooping on the carpet. 

As a pet parent who enjoys a clean carpet, you want to do everything in your power to discourage this behavior. Determining the cause of the behavior in your dog is essential to solving the issue. If your dog is older you need to consider his or her bowel health. A visit to the veterinarian is helpful in pinpointing the cause of pooping on the carpet. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, taking steps to eliminate his or her stress will help address the issue. 

Discouraging the behavior by using house training techniques is recommended. If you have just adopted your dog, they might not be familiar with house training. Whether your dog is a puppy or senior, these types of accidents on the carpet might be related to not knowing the rules combined with anxiety from getting to know their new environment. Patience is needed even when your dog is pooping on your expensive carpet. 

Sometimes dogs poop on the carpet just so they can get attention from their owner. If your dog seems to jump around and be excited when they get your attention after pooping on the carpet, it’s a good possibility that sneaky little rascal is just doing it for fun. 

Pooping on the carpet is a normal behavior that can be broken with proper diagnosis and training. A dog that is pooping on the carpet due to illness or old age won’t benefit much from training. Discussing the issue with a veterinarian and asking for solutions regarding your dog’s specific health issue will help address the problem. Sometimes a simple pee pad placed over your dog’s favorite poop spot on the carpet can solve the problem for older dogs with health issues. 

If your dog is a puppy or new to your family, providing house training will solve the issue. General house training techniques often solve the issue. In addition to training, a helpful tip is using a specialty pet carpet cleaner that removes deep odors and stains that can deter your dog from finding his favorite spot on the carpet. If your dog has anxiety issues, it’s best to focus on creating a calm environment. Dogs are den animals and feel safe in den-like places. Dog crates often create this environment and provide exactly what your dog needs to feel calm. There are also other items you can use such as a thundershirt, which snuggles your dog when he or she wears it and lessens the level of anxiety. 

Chances are, your dog probably pooped on your carpet as you were reading this article. That sneaky little rascal is at it again! This time, observe the situation and focus on determining the cause. If your dog is jumping around you all excited while you are on all fours cleaning the carpet, chances are he or she is getting a good laugh at watching you.