Expert QA

My 6-month-old beagle urinates inside, even though I take it out for walks regularly. What is causing this, and how can I stop it?

From the Editors of The Dog Daily

Your young beagle could be urinating inside for a number of different reasons. The most worrisome one is that your dog could have an underlying health issue. Liz Palika and Kim Campbell Thornton, authors of Your Beagle’s Life: Your Complete Guide to Raising Your Pet From Puppy to Companion, point out that excessive urination and urination inside the house “can indicate a bladder or kidney infection, or diabetes.” Excessive thirst will often accompany the behavior you’ve noticed. To rule out any of these conditions, schedule an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian.

Another possibility is that your dog has just developed a bad habit that, to him, is perfectly fine and normal. Beagles will sometimes mark their sleeping areas by urinating on them. Remember that they are scent hounds, so information shared via the olfaction system -- no matter how stinky it is to us -- works for them.

If you rule out health problems and determine that a behavioral issue is the likely cause, a refresher period of housebreaking -- perhaps with a crate -- may be needed. Wash all bedding and other soiled areas thoroughly, as dogs tend to go where they’ve done their business before. Use a non-ammonia enzymatic cleaner for floors and other soiled areas.