Does your dog have accidents inside? No matter the age of your pet this can be an extremely frustrating experience. There can be a number of a different reasons why your dog may be soiling and it’s important to know the why before you can fix the issue.
Potential Reasons for House Soiling:
#1 Is your dog actually house trained? What does reliably house trained even mean? A house trained dog understands that elimination should take place outdoors and has gone accident free for months at a time. Puppies (under 6 months) are never considered house trained and adult dogs who have an accident inside with relative frequency are not house trained either. So if your dog isn’t house trained that’s why you are experiencing soiling.
#2 Is your dog healthy? There are a number of medical reasons for soiling inside and if your dog has gone accident free for an extended period of time (6 months or more) and suddenly begins having accidents it’s time to visit your vet. We strongly recommend having a full exam including a urinalysis to rule out an infection. Ensure you track accidents (time of day, frequency) as well as water and food intake so your vet has a clear idea about what is occurring.
#3 Has something in your house hold changed? This can include new baby, new pet, change of weather (including possible storm phobias), move to a new home, change to the dog’s potty area, etc. If there’s been a change it’s time to reset your house training and work your way back up to being reliable again. This can happen to dogs throughout their lives and should be dealt with using patience and compassion.
Those are the major reasons why house soiling occurs. Sometimes a different issue can contribute so if you are unsure why your dog is house soiling then please give our training department a call and we would help you figure out the best course of action!
House Soiling Myths
#1 My dog knows better – well actually they don’t. Going to the bathroom when you need to go feels good so every time your dog eliminates in the house it’s positive reinforcement.
#2 My dog house soils because he is mad at me for leaving. This isn’t true either – dogs don’t house soil out of spite. You’re missing a piece of the puzzle.
#3 I should punish my dog for going inside the house. Really this is the WORST advice – punishing your dog for house soiling can make the situation so much worse: your dog may stop going in front of you but will hide to eliminate and your dog may begin to fear you and not understand why they are even being punished.
How to Solve House Soiling:
#1 If you are unsure why your dog is house soiling or your dog needs to go to the bathroom frequently please visit your vet first.
#2 Set up a confinement area for your pet (ideally in a space they don’t currently soil in). Crates can be used for 4 hours or less otherwise a mud room or kitchen can be a good option. The confinement space will be where your pet will go whenever you can not physically watch your dog and take them outside.
#3 Create a schedule where you take your dog outside frequently (how frequently depends on age – puppies typically once an hour, adult dogs around 5 times per day). Track when your dog goes, track accidents and ensure you are getting your pet outside regularly. Once you have developed a routine it’s easier to prevent accidents.
#4 If your pet has an accident inside the house don’t get mad. You don’t want your dog scared to go to the bathroom around you as it makes house training 100x harder. Clean it up and fault yourself for not getting your dog out fast enough.
#5 Dogs typically need to go to the bathroom: when they wake up, after they eat, after they play (or during) and after periods of excitement. Ensure you are paying attention and taking them out.
#6 If you take your dog out and they don’t go and you know they need to bring them inside, put them in their crate and try again in 10-15 min. Don’t let them run around the house.
#7 When house training always go outside into the yard with your dog. Reward them for going outside. Do not reward them for coming back inside the house while you watch from the kitchen. This reinforces the dog to get back inside as quick as possible and they often don’t finish going to the bathroom.
#8 Take your dog to their potty area after a walk. Some dogs don’t like to go to the bathroom on a walk but will need to as soon as they get home.
If you’re stuck with your house training we can help! Remember the sooner you address the issue the easier it is to fix. Training a dog who has been going inside for years can be very difficult versus a dog who has only had a few accidents – that being said we’ve done both!
