I've already written about how to train your puppy, but haven't taken the time to address the problems that many of us encounter during the process. I have received a number of questions about house-training issues. Many ask how to deal with certain setbacks. Today, I will address the most frequently asked questions.
Here are 5 common issues with house training and how to resolve them.
Your dog is repeatedly soiled the same area
The most common house-training issue is that dogs go to the bathroom in the same place. This can be frustrating, but it is likely that they are doing it because of habit and have “marked” this area in the past, believing it to be a good spot.
Even if you believe you have cleaned the area thoroughly, your dog may still detect leftover urine smells. Dogs have a sense of smell that is 10,000 times more sensitive than ours. They can detect leftover odors we may not even notice.
If there is any urine smell left in your house, dogs will gravitate to this spot. If you are house-training your dog, the smells inside can make him want to go outside.
Your dog may not hesitate to use the same spot if they smell urine. It's normal for dogs to return to the same spot repeatedly. You must clean up all accidents caused by your dog. You must eliminate any odors that your dog might be picking up.
Use an enzyme cleaner designed to remove pet stains on your carpets to get rid of the smell. These cleaners contain enzymes that bind to molecules and break them apart, making it easy to remove stains and clean up spills. Enzymes in pet-specific cleaners help break down molecules which cause the foul smells associated with pet urine. You can buy enzymatic cleaning products from Amazon or most pet supply shops.
When Your Dog Accidentally Injures Himself While You Are At Work
A common house-training issue is when your dog has accidents while you are at work or away from home for a period of time. In general, a puppy can only hold its bladder for about an hour per month of age. A 3 month-old puppy may only be able hold its bladder for three hours. This is a problem for people who work full-time. It is unrealistic to expect that a puppy aged 3 or 4 months can hold their bladder for more than 8 hours.
Some dog owners work for companies that allow them to bring their pets to work, but this is not an option for most of us. How can you prevent your dog from getting into an accident while you are at work? You have several options if you do not have anyone else to walk your dog during the day.
- Take your dog for a walk during the day with a family member, friend or neighbor.
- If you are close to your home, take your dog for a walk during your lunch hour.
- Hire a pet sitter, or dog-walker for your dog to go out when you are at work.
- It is possible to take your dog to a doggie daycare, but it can be expensive.
Crate training has been suggested as a method to keep your dog safe while you are at work. Crate Training is a great way to keep your dog safe when you are away. However, it does not guarantee that accidents will never happen. While it's true most dogs won't soil their crate, if they had the option to do so, most puppies aren't able to hold it for eight hours.
I don't think crate-training is bad. I just want to emphasize that it's not a miracle tool that many people make it out as. The dogs may not soil as much in the crate as they would in the house if allowed to roam freely, but this only lasts as long as their bodies are able to contain it.
Your dog won't go to the bathroom when you're outside
How many times have you experienced this? When you take your dog to potty and they don't want to go, it is a sign that something is wrong. This happens to everyone. A dog that refuses to go outside when you're house-training them is a common problem. The meme below is popular because we can all relate.
There are many reasons why your dog may not be going potty when you take them out. Some dogs go outside to play. Others want to explore. And sometimes we take them out even though they don't need to.
As your dog gets older, their bladders will grow larger and they'll be able to hold more liquid. You'll see that as you continue to house train your dog, they won't need to go to the bathroom every two hours like they did before. You may not need to take your dog outside every two hours if you notice they're not going potty. Try taking them out 3 times an hour instead of every two hours.
Your dog may have wanted to go outside for something else than to use the bathroom. Maybe they just want to play or go outside to investigate that strange smell. If you are still house-training, I would suggest that they go back inside rather than indulge in play.
When you are potty-training your dog, you want to wait until they can ask for help reliably when it's time to poop. You can encourage your dog to play outside if they ask you to take them outside. It's up to you whether or not to let them play outside. Potty training is something I try to keep simple to avoid confusion. “Is she asking to go outside to potty or does she want to just play?”
I am not a grinch and I don't encourage you to be either. When your dog wants to play outside but doesn't seem interested, I recommend bringing them inside and playing with them. This rule may change as they age and become more house-broken. For the first few months of potty-training, I recommend making potty breaks outside as frequent as possible.
Avoid turning “does your dog need to go out?” into something more than just a potty break. You should only play with your dog outdoors if you decide to do so, not when they ask you to.
Your dog doesn't let you know when he has to go out
It is important to teach your dog how to tell you when they need to go outside. It's a common misconception that dogs can quickly learn how to tell you when they're going to the bathroom. Unfortunately, most dogs do not pick up on a simple cue such as scratching at the door when they're ready to leave. Finding a way to reliably let your dog know when they need to go outside is one of the biggest house-training issues.
You're not the only one who feels that your puppy doesn't let you know when it's time to go outside. Many dogs will circle and smell around when they have to go outside, but we don't always pick up on these subtle cues. You can teach your dog a specific signal to avoid missing the signs they use when they are ready to go outside.
Teach your dog a cue to get your attention, such as by barking at the front door. Use a bell to ensure your dog can reliably alert you when it needs to go outside.
Select the method that you want your dog to use to let you know when they need to go outside and make sure you stick to it. Encourage your dog to use the signal before you take them outside, and give them lots of praise when they do. After enough repetitions, your dog will begin to associate the signal with going out. They'll eventually start using it themselves to tell you when they need to go.
What to do if your older dog is urinating inside the house?
It could be a sign of a medical problem if your dog suddenly starts going to the toilet in your home. The same goes for young dogs. Certain medical conditions, such as UTIs, can cause dogs urinate frequently.
Urine marking is when your dog marks a specific area with urine. This behavior is common when our dogs mark certain things on walks. Some dogs will mark new furniture or items in the home. Others may begin marking after a new pet is brought into the house.
A big change has occurred in your home recently? Has there been a big change in the house recently? Your dog has a new schedule. You moved to a different house. Your dog is being left alone longer than normal? All of these things can lead to stress and indoor urination.
It's good to know that older dogs will usually respond well to potty-training refresher courses. Do not punish your dog if they have an accident. You should clean up the area they have soiled and praise them for pottying outside for a short time.
You can use a baby gate to block off the area where your dog keeps urinating. Your dog seems anxious when you go to work, and has it started peeing in the house? Start working on ways to reduce separation anxiety.
It's time to visit the vet if you've noticed no major changes in your home to explain why your dog is urinating indoors. If your dog is older and has already been trained to use the potty, urinating in or defecating within the house could indicate a medical problem. Among the most common medical conditions, your dog may urinate in the house.
- Urinary tract infection
- Bladder stones
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Liver Disease
- Cushing's Syndrome
Consult your veterinarian if your house-broken dog suddenly starts going to the toilet inside your home.