There are three potty training issues that can arise when trying to train a puppy, adult dog or senior dog.
Some older dogs never had the training, so they never ended up housebroken. But regardless of age, any dog can be trained to do his business outside.
Crate Training
Crate training is the best way to train any dog, so you always want to start there. The reason that this method is so effective is that dogs are extremely reluctant to go to the bathroom where they sleep.
If you have a dog that’s constantly relieving himself in his crate, it’s because the crate that he’s in is too big. He has room to go relieve himself in one area and turn around and lie down in another area, away from his elimination.
That means that your crate needs to either be downsized or you need to use a crate divider to take away some of his room. If you do that and your dog is still using the bathroom in his crate, it means that you’re not taking him out often enough or he may have a medical condition and can’t hold his bathroom needs as long as other dogs can.
“Going” Inside
Another common potty training issue is when a dog relieves himself in the house. If he’s gone through crate training, then this shouldn’t be an issue. But it can happen with puppies, especially if they end up drinking something or eating something.
Their systems are small and fast. They usually need to relieve themselves within a half an hour after eating or drinking. Adult dogs have bathroom accidents when they eat something that upsets their system or when they’re left inside for too long.
With senior dogs who have potty training accidents inside, it’s usually because their system isn’t what it used to be. They may have trouble holding their urine or they may have digestive problems that make them need to eliminate quickly after eating.
The solution is to watch your dog more closely when he’s sick and make sure you let the dog out more often when he’s prone to having accidents. Keeping him on a schedule can also help stop accidents.
Also, dogs that have potty training issues could pee inside your home if they’ve done it before, because of the scent that’s left behind. Even if you’ve cleaned up their accident and you can’t smell it anymore, it doesn’t mean they can’t.
Their noses are more sensitive. You have to use a product that can completely remove the scent.
Not “Going”
The third potty training issue you run into with dogs of all ages is they don’t use the bathroom when they’re outside even when you know it’s time for them to.
This can be caused by anxiety or by getting distracted by a bird, a squirrel, the sound of someone or something else. Sometimes dogs will need to go, but dart back inside without going, because they want the calmness and security of being in the home which they see as their den.
The solution is to walk out with your dog and stay out in the yard with him until he goes. You can help him not be distracted and your dog will feel more secure when he knows you’re with him.
