Potty problems are challenging, but there are solutions to teach you dog where you'd like him to go.
One of the most frustrating challenges a dog owner may have to deal with is a problem with their dog’s potty training. From potty training an adult dog to dealing with marking or submissive urination, there are all kinds of potty problems that you might be facing with your dog.
Talk to your vet first
The first thing to do if your dog is toileting inappropriately is to take her for a full medical check up to rule out any medical issues she might have. This is especially important if your dog was toileting outdoors and then started having accidents. If she is given a clean bill of health then the problem might be behavioral in nature.
Avoid making the problem worse with punishment
Never punish your dog for having an accident inside your home. It is important that your dog feels confident and able to toilet outdoors when you are present. If a dog is punished when she has an accident indoors she will not toilet outdoors if you are there with her. Never rub your dog’s nose in an accident. This will only cause your dog to fear you, or at least toileting in front of you. When you do this, you teach your dog to 'sneak away' to toilet, and this is much harder to fix!
What to do if you catch her in the "act"
If you catch your dog in the act of toileting inside:
- Issue a gentle vocal interrupter (a kissy sound works well for many dogs) and
- Take her outside immediately
- Encourage her to finish outside and praise her and giver her a treat when she does so
- Pay attention and prevent further accidents, praising her every time she potties outside and giving her ample opportunity to do so.
