Dog Housebreaking Problems

Most dog housebreaking problems fall into one of several categories. Let's see where your dog fits in, and what you can do about it.

Medical Conditions

Female dog incontinence can be caused by a chemical imbalance, and is easily treated. An old dog's incontinence can have many causes, most of which are treatable.

• Canine cystitis
• Urinary tract infection in dogs
• Kidney stones in dogs
• Dog bladder stones

If your dog drinks so much that his bladder hits "overflow" before he can get outside, he may be drinking alot because of hot weather or from one of these conditions:

• Diabetes
• Cushing's disease in dogs
• Steroids and some other medications

A dog can also suffer from canine fecal incontinence, where he can't control his bowels. The resulting messes aren't dog housebreaking problems--they're accidents.

These incidents are usually in the form of extreme diarrhea, most commonly caused by one of these situations:

• Internal parasites (worms)
• Viral infection (parvo virus, etc.)
• Bacterial infection
• Medication side effect
• Improper diet
• Colitis
• Pancreatitis
• Allergies

Behavior That Can Cause Dog Housebreaking Problems

And they aren't really a result of housebreaking failure, either.

These would include:

• Dog marking behavior
• Submissive urination
• Excitement urination
• Separation anxiety
• Stress
• Fear

Puppy Housebreaking Problems

Don't assume your puppy is trained when he first potties where you want him to. Puppies are rarely fully housebroken before six months of age.

If your puppy can't seem to hold his urine for more than a few minutes, take him to the vet to see if he has a medical problem.

Adopted Dog Housebreaking Problems

Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.

Many animals wind up in such places because they aren't reliably housebroken--and the original owners were too embarrassed to tell the animal shelter personnel.

Fortunately, these shelter dogs can be successfully housebroken with patience and persistence.

Those are probably two things the former owners didn't have.

On the other hand, most rescued Golden Retrievers are housebroken because they've lived with the rescue organization's foster families before being re-homed.

However, sometimes if a dog has been kept in the backyard for a long time, he may need a refresher course in housetraining.

More Causes of Dog Housebreaking Problems

• Household Changes -- This commonly involves the addition of another pet, or when someone the dog perceives as dominant or threatening moves into the household.

• Separation Anxiety -- Your dog is suddenly left alone, and he has a lot of territory to defend. The logical canine response is to mark the boundaries of his territory with piles and puddles.

• Secret Soiling -- Does your dog sneak off to another room to do his business? Sometimes that gets started by well-meaning new owners who try to stop a puppy "in the act." The loud noises meant to startle him also make him afraid to go potty in front of you, even outside. So your timid puppy tiptoes to a quiet place where he won't get caught.

• Confusion -- Classically, this is the young dog who has been paper trained in the past and now the owner is trying to get him to go outside. Dutifully, the animal holds every drop in until you return home, at which point he runs to his old potty area and relieves himself.

• Bad Habits -- In some cases, the behavior can become a habit even after the problem is solved. That's what happens when a housebroken dog has a bad case of diarrhea, and afterwards continues to soil in the same area.

Cures For Dog Housebreaking Problems

• Puppies -- Reinforce your puppy's housetraining by continuing it further, even after he seems to understand.

• More Puppy Potty Breaks -- Little puppies have little bladders. Have a friend or pet sitter drop by for one or more mid-day walks if you work long hours.

• Golden Oldies -- As your Golden Retriever gets older, he may need to go out more frequently than before.

• Routine -- The more consistent you are about when your dog eats and drinks, the more consistent your dog will become about when he relieves himself. That makes it easier to get him outside at the right times.

• Crate Training -- Most dogs have an inborn desire to keep their sleeping and eating areas clean. That's why, no matter how old your dog may be, he'll benefit from crate training. It’s a great solution for dog housebreaking problems whether you’re housebreaking a dog for the first time or going through a refresher course.

• Supervision in Bad Weather -- It's easy to let your dog out into the fenced backyard when it's raining or snowing while you stay inside warm and dry. But if you don't happen to notice your dog staying on the porch instead of going out into the wet stuff, you're just asking for an accident. Watch him carefully or go out with him.

• Keep Him Close -- When you're working around the house, keep your dog literally by your side. Take him out of his crate, make sure he does his business outside, then tie him to your waist with a long leash. He'll be delighted to keep you company as you go about your daily work, and you'll be able to keep him out of trouble. Just pop him back in his crate if you have to leave the house.

• Proper Cleaning -- Clean all mistake areas (even if you can't see anything on the floor or carpet) with pet odor eliminators from a pet supply store. The canine nose is so amazing that home cleaning products simply won't work. Your dog will be tempted to use that potty-smelling spot again.

• Dining in the Bathroom -- After cleaning the area with pet odor eliminators, feed your dog in the area where he messed. Dogs rarely potty in their eating areas.

You don't have to endure the mess and inconvenience of an unhousebroken dog. By using a crate, and applying these suggestions with patience and persistence, you can solve any dog housebreaking problems.

Both you and your dog deserve a clean home!

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