When it comes to dog training, one of the most frustrating – yet essential – components is potty training. This can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of early training endeavors, and while it is commonly associated with puppies, it can be challenging with any new dog that you bring into your home. Ensuring that your dog knows where to eliminate is pivotal to living a happy and harmonious life together (if you’re just getting started with potty training your dog, check out our step-by-step guide on how to do it).
You might think that once you have potty trained your dog, that they will be set for life. For the most part, this is correct – while any dog can be prone to the occasional accident, they typically won’t just forget where to go to the bathroom. However, there are scenarios where your dog’s potty training can regress.
If this happens, the resolution lies in identifying the root cause of the issue. In this article, we’ll outline eight potential reasons why your dog’s potty training may be slipping. As always, if you have any questions about your dog’s health, we recommend consulting with your regular veterinarian for guidance.
Age
One of the most common reasons behind a regression in potty training can be to do with the dog’s age. In particular, older dogs often have weaker bladders, and are unable to hold it for as long as they did when their body was younger. As your dog grows older, make sure to keep an eye on how frequently you may need to take them out to the bathroom.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can cause discomfort for dogs, and beyond that, it can also cause issues when it comes to their regular potty training schedule. UTIs can result in dogs going to the bathroom more frequently, and sometimes involuntarily. This can result in accidents inside the house, which can indicate that your dog’s potty training is regressing. If you suspect that your dog may have a UTI, book an appointment with their veterinarian, who can diagnose any potential issues and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.
Side effects of medication
Medications, including NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), can sometimes result in change in your dog’s behavior. Depending on the type of medication, your dog may experience a number of symptoms, including increased thirst (which leads to increased urination). Some medications can also affect your dog’s gastrointestinal system, which can lead to diarrhea and upset stomachs. Occasionally, your dog may also feel disoriented, drowsy or lethargic as the result of medication, and this can have consequences for their potty training schedule.
Spaying in female dogs
After a spay surgery, female dogs can experience discomfort, but it can also have consequences for their potty training. In the short-term, they may feel groggy or disoriented after the surgery, which can impact how they inform you that they need to use the bathroom. The spaying procedure also causes hormonal changes (notably, a reduction in estrogen) which can also lead to weakened bladder control. This condition is commonly known as ‘spay incontinence’. In the days and weeks following a dog being spayed, it is vital to take them out for more frequent potty breaks and monitor their behavior closely in your home.
Stress and anxiety
There are numerous behaviors that a dog exhibits when they are stressed or anxious, and one of them can be urinating. This can often occur when the dog’s environment changes (examples include moving to a new home, bringing the dog along for a vacation, or a new arrival in the family), and they react out of stress. In most cases, this will likely just be a temporary issue, but it is important to familiarize the dog with any context changes (not just from a potty training standpoint, but for their behavior in general).
Olfactory indicators caused by other dogs
As you may be aware, dogs have extremely sensitive noses, and are able to discern even the faintest traces of odors in relatively large areas. We often think of this in relation to our dog’s hunting instinct, but it can also affect other aspects of their lives – including potty training. For example, let’s imagine you bring a new puppy into your home to live alongside your existing dog. It’s likely that the puppy will have the occasional accident while you begin the potty training process, but here’s the problem – your dog that has already built up good habits will be attuned to the smell of urine. If the accidents aren’t thoroughly cleaned, then your dog may feel inclined to also eliminate within the home. With this in mind, it is always worth having an enzymatic cleaner on hand to be able to thoroughly remove any lingering odors from accidents in the house.
Unintentionally reinforced behavior
This scenario is rare – particularly if your dog has established good potty training habits. However, if your dog starts to go to the bathroom in the house, your own reaction could unintentionally reinforce the behavior and make it more likely to occur again. For example, if they are doing it as an attention-seeking behavior, making a huge deal out of it and yelling at them is giving the dog exactly what they want. Furthermore, praising or rewarding the dog, or reassuring them that “it’s okay”, sends out mixed signals about your expectations. When cleaning up an accident in your home, the best practice is to confine or crate the dog, and then calmly clean up the mess without reacting too severely.
In conclusion
Aside from the inconvenience of cleaning up every time your dog has an accident in your home, a regression in your dog’s potty training can be very frustrating. Identifying the root cause of the issue can help you to resolve it – whether it is just a temporary blip or indicative of a longer-term issue.
If you’re still struggling, please reach out to our team of professional dog trainers here at Greenside Canine! We are more than happy to discuss the potty training issues you are encountering with your dog, and steps we can take to help you manage and resolve the issue. Call us today at (317) 558-9145 or email us at train@greensidecanine.com for more information.