how to stop your dog from peeing and pooping in the house
POTTY TRAINING TIPS FROM AN EXPERT
We’ve all been there–you’re in a rush to get to your next task and suddenly a warm sensation overcomes your foot. Once again, you’ve stepped in pee, if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky, it’s poop, smeared all over your favorite shoes and now the rest of the floor. House training your puppy or adult dog doesn’t have to be difficult, but it can often feel like it is. Soon, you’ll be potty training your dog like a professional.
WHY DO DOGS PEE AND POOP IN THE HOUSE?
It’s been too long since they last went out. A general rule of thumb is that your puppy can only hold it their age in months plus 1 so a 2 month old puppy can hold it for a maximum of 3 hours, even overnight. For adult dogs, this is a bit trickier but a good rule to follow is to potty your dog every 2-3 hours proactively. For puppies, every 1-2 hours is more appropriate.
They have a UTI. If your dog has a urinary tract infection, they will often pee many times but urinate less each time they go. If you think your dog has a UTI, make a vet appointment as soon as possible.
Their stomach is upset. Maybe your dog ate something funky, or you tried out a new treat recently–if your dog is suddenly needing to use the restroom with urgency or has an accident in the house, pay attention to the consistency of the stool. Is it softer than normal? If so, it’s possible your dog has an upset stomach. Refrain from giving them additional treats, and contact your veterinarian if the issue persists.
They’re not old enough to hold it. It can take a year or so for our dogs to develop full control of their sphincter muscles. It is not uncommon for adolescent dogs to have accidents every once in a while simply due to lack of control over their sphincter muscles.
It’s the most comfortable place for them to go. Dogs can have preferences, too! Some dogs simply prefer to use the bathroom where it is temperature controlled. Especially if a habit is developing, accidents can sometimes come down to their comfort and the convenience of using the bathroom indoors.
They developed a surface preference for indoors at an early age. Puppies can develop a surface preference by the age of 8 weeks old. Most of us don’t even have our puppies by then (which is a good thing). That being said, if your puppy is left to use the restroom indoors while in this formative window, in their sleeping or eating area, or encouraged to use things like piddle pads, it can be easy for puppies to receive a mixed message about where to go to the bathroom.
Use enzymatic cleansers to clean up messes
Dogs can be triggered by the odor of urine and feces. They have an incredible sense of smell. If your dog uses the bathroom on a piece of bedding especially, be sure to wash that with a detergent booster that uses enzymes to break down the urine or feces. You can use a product such as Biozyme or Nature’s Miracle to do the trick.
HOW DO YOU POTTY TRAIN YOUR DOG?
Develop a potty training schedule. Structure and routine are extremely important for dogs learning potty training habits. It’s important to take your dog outside as soon as they wake up, right after every meal, within a few minutes of drinking a lot of water, and take note of times when your dog does have an accident indoors. You might just realize that accidents are happening consistently when friends come over, or right after playtime.
Block off access from attractive indoor restroom areas. If your dog does develop a habit of peeing on a certain rug, or pooping in a certain corner, be sure to block off access to those areas. If you notice your dog wandering to those areas, that’s a sign they need to go out–take them!
Reward your dog for going to the bathroom outside. While your dog is using the bathroom, calmly praise them and immediately reward them with a favorite treat after they’re done. You can discontinue food rewards after your dog has gone at least a month without accidents in the house.
Don’t free feed but do feed your dog on a schedule. If we know when food and water goes in, we can anticipate when it needs to come out. If we don’t know though… we’re leaving a lot up to guessing. Unless your veterinarian specifically recommends your dog is free fed, we highly recommend feeding your dog at scheduled times throughout the day.
Potty before and after exciting activities. Stimulating activities will stimulate your dog’s need to use the restroom. Someone coming over, someone arriving home from work, playing with someone, training with lots of food rewards–these are all times when our dogs are likely to need to use the restroom soon after.
Teach them where to signal to you that they need to go. If your dog is not communicating with you that they need to go outside, you might be missing the signals or they simply do not understand how to signal to you. When you’re inside, say clearly, “let’s go potty outside” (or whatever short phrase you prefer) and take them to the door. Reward them! From there, take them to their dedicated potty spot and continue to say something like “go potty” until they do. Reward for pottying outside. Continue with this pattern and soon you will notice your dog heading towards the door when they need to go out. Going to the door should consistently result in a treat and prompt going outdoors.
Provide supervision if they have not used the bathroom outside recently. If you know your dog likely needs to use the restroom but you took them out and they didn’t use the bathroom, simply follow these steps. Bring your dog inside, crate them, tether them to you, or put them in their pen. Wait 5-10 minutes. Take them back outside and try again. Only once they have pottied inside can they have access to the rest of the house.
Don’t scold your dog for pottying in the house. Dogs learn by consequence and by association. If you catch your dog using the bathroom, remember that dogs do not have a sense of right or wrong. They simply do what works for them in the moment. If your dog uses the restroom inside, it is because they needed to go and their training is not far enough along. No big deal. Try to positively interrupt them, scoop or leash them up and take them outside to finish. Try your best not to scare them as not to create negativer associations with using the bathroom in front of you. Dogs that are scolded for using the bathroom are often dogs that run and hide so that they can use the bathroom. We do not want using the bathroom to cause anxiety for your dog.
Use enzymatic cleansers to clean up messes. Dogs can be triggered by the odor of urine and feces. They have an incredible sense of smell. If your dog uses the bathroom on a piece of bedding especially, be sure to wash that with a detergent booster that uses enzymes to break down the urine or feces. You can use a product such as Biozyme or Nature’s Miracle to do the trick.
HOW CAN DOG FLOWER HELP?
Potty training doesn’t have to be hard, and if you’re finding that you need support, we are here to help. Our private dog training can provide assistance with house training, puppy training, obedience training, and more. Not sure where to start? Scheduled a FREE 10-minute Discovery Call with Meaghan below.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR, DOG TRAINER Meaghan SUMMERBELL
Meaghan Summerbell (KPA CTP, CSAP-BC, CTDI) is a multi-certified professional dog trainer serving East Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and Happy Valley, Oregon. Meaghan is dedicated to helping people understand the inner workings of canine behavior on a deeper, more meaningful level so you can become your dog’s best friend, too.
This is an AI free blog post. All blog posts are written and published by Meaghan.
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