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Hi Kat,

Glad to hear it's working for you so far. Just be careful to increase her territory a little at a time or you may run into problems again. If you do, just reduce the territory and begin again. Good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hello. Me and my boyfriend have a 7 month old Italian Greyhound. We live in a small apartment and it's hard to take her out every 3 hours because we both work. We tried puppy pads, but she refused to go on them. So we tried your method of keeping her in a small area with newspaper and so far it has been a success. Soon we will be able to open up the whole apartment to her and she will only go on the newspaper.

-- Contributed by: Kat

Hi Millz,

We have a brand new article on the site about Belly Bands for Dogs. Check it out and see if this might be useful for helping you train your dog to stop soiling in the house. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 1 yr old mal yorkie that will not stop using the bathroom in the house, i take him for walks and have pee pads in his area. some times when i take him out, he'll wait till he comes in the house to go!! When i catch him usen the bathroom in the house i yell "no" and put him in his cage. how can i get him to understand out is good and in is bad.

-- Contributed by: Millz

Hi Amee,

While a puppy sometimes has accidents in his bedding, laying down and peeing on himself is not typical behavior, and it may indicate some sort of medical issue. I think it would be a good idea to have your vet examine your puppy for a urinary tract infection or some other related condition. If this turns out to be the case, training will likely go smoother once the issue has been taken care of.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your puppy's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I am having a difficult time with potty training my 5 month old pup as he is constantly peeing on his bedding.he also just lays down and pees his self and just lays in it. please help

-- Contributed by: Amee Burke

Hi Heather,

It's going to be necessary to limit your dog's territory in the house for a while in order to make headway with the training. I'd recommend gating her into one room and keep her bedding and food/water dishes there. You'll need to treat her like a young puppy and take her outside for frequent breaks. Choose one word to associate with this deed such as "potty". It's also helpful to choose one place to potty, either indoors or out, that way she doesn't become confused about why she can potty inside sometimes and not others.

You might also want to check out the book I recommended to Crystal just a few posts below.

Thanks for your question, and good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I had a stray come up decided to keep it. She is about 6months old and refuses to pee on a pad. She will go outside sometimes but sometimes she will play outside come back in and pee on the carpet. Now she has started peeing in my bed she has done this twice . I put the pad in her favorite pee place and she started peeing in the living room. do not know what to do.

-- Contributed by: heather

Hi Crystal,

I'm sorry to hear you're having such difficulty. Terriers in general can be difficult to house train because the urge to mark their territory is so strong. Go to your local library and ask for a copy of How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone. If they don't have it, you might try your local bookstore or Amazon.com to find it. Many people swear by this book, but keep in mind that since your dog has already developed some bad habits, it will make your task more difficult.

You will also need to soak all the soiled areas with an enzymatic cleaner. This will break down the bacteria and urine crystals that leave trace scents behind that draw your dog back to those areas to soil again. Regular cleaning products won't do it. You should be able to find an enzymatic cleaning product at your local pet supply shop.

I hope that this combination of tips will help you put your dog on the right track to potty training. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

im at a lose. i have a 7 month old female feist. we got her when she was 10 weeks from the pet store. i admitt we didnt do as well with potty training her as my other dog ( 1 year male puggle) when we got him. for the past couple of months we've really been trying hard and we just got her spaided on the chance that she was marking since she normally pees in small amounts. it will be on couches, carpet, beds she doesnt care. ive tried cleaning with vinager and water solutions, limiting her to the room were in, bad dog phrase and no when she goes inside and good dog when she goes outside. i just dont know what else to do. if we cant get her to stop within the next 2 months ill have to let her go and i really dont want to. please help. thank you, crystal

-- Contributed by: crystal

Hi Adam,

Many pet supply stores carry a product called a Pee Post or something similar. These posts are charged with phermones that entice a dog to potty in the immediate area. I think this product might be just what you need to give your dog incentive to use the new potty area. Check out stores like Petco or other large pet retailers. You may even be able to find it online.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Sarah Nan,

I'd like to recommend a book called How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days from Shirlee Kalstone. Even if you don't accomplish the task in seven days, I still think you'll find it helpful. You may even be able to find this book at your local library. I hope you find it useful. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Need Some Help I have a19 month old lab that is very well behaved and smart, I just laid fresh sod in my back yard about 1 month ago and set up an area for my dog to go do his "business" so in the morning, after work, before bed I take him to the area to do his business and he just looks at me, so I take him back in and try in another 5-10 min, but still same thing. How can I get him to start going in the designated area ?

Thanks Adam Ft Collins, Co

-- Contributed by: Enter your name here

Okay, i need more tips for potty training my dog. He is a mix, && is almost 8 months old && refusses to use it outside. I have caught him inhis act so many time && i yell at him put him out side for hours && he holds it in until he gets back in the house. i dont know what to try anymore. can someone help me. Sarahnanners@yahoo.com

-- Contributed by: Sarah Nan

Hi Karen,

I agree with you about that blanket statement, and I've amended the original writer's article to reflect that.

It almost sounds like your dog suffers from anxiety when left in the crate. You might be able to increase his comfort in it by serving dinner and treats there. Just keep the door open and let him go in and out as he pleases. Hopefully this will help him feel like the crate is his special area and this may less the anxiety and related soiling.

You might also find our article on Crate Training Your Dog helpful. In the meantime, don't give up. Your puppy is still relatively young, but most dogs do grow out of the crate soiling as they become older and their bladders enlarge.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck with the training.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My (almost) 5 month puppy contradicts the phrase "a puppy won't soil where it sleeps". He cannot stay in his crate overnight or for longer than 2 hours without wetting the crate (he then pushes the towel to the side as if he's cleaning it up). How do I get him crate trained correctly? I am afraid to leave him with anyone to watch him overnight because he will make a mess in his crate. If he sleeps in bed with me, he doesn't even stir at night and has not soiled the bed, EVER. Please help!

-- Contributed by: Karen

Hi Hannah,

In addition to following a regular schedule of potty breaks, it might help to reduce your dog's territory in your home until he has learned better house manners. Some owners find it beneficial to gate the dog in the kitchen so cleanup is easier. It's also easier to teach housebreaking when the territory is smaller.

You family will need to soak all of the areas where your dog has had accidents with an enzymatic cleaner in order to remove the imbedded smells. Steam cleaners definitely do not help in this situation. The enzyme cleaner actually eats away at the urine crystals and bacteria that produce the smells.

If your entire family is consistent in the way they deal with your dog, I do believe you'll be able to complete the housetraining. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5 year old dog keeps going pee and poop in my house. I learned from this page that he doesn't pee where he sleeps.And he only sleeps with me. He will go everywhere. We take him out every half an hour and tell him "NO" BAD DOG! BAD DOG! if he pees in our house, but he just sits their and wags his tail! I don't know what to do, but my family might take him to a new home if he keeps this up. But I DO NOT want him to leave. He and I have a special bond together and I'd hate loose it!!!!!!

Please help,
Hannah B.

-- Contributed by: Hannah

Hi Jackie,

I won't kid you, potty training at dual locations is going to add stress to the process. It would be better if you conducted the training at one dwelling, making it the puppy's home base for the time being. Once your pup has the routine down pat, you can extend the training to the other partner's home, remaining consistent with the routine and expectations.

You have your work cut out for you, but if you are consistent and persistent, you should eventually have your dog trained. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my boyfriend and myself bought a puppy together we live at different houses. when potty training , will it confuse her to take her to both houses? or will it be fine as long as we stick with a potty training routine?

-- Contributed by: jackie

Hi Dakota,

The trick is to treat your five-year-old dog like she is a new puppy. Go back to square one with the training and take her out frequently. Use the same one word command until she goes. I've always used the word "potty". Be sure to give her calm praise when she has a success, but don't give her any attention at all when she doesn't go outside. Make her work for those rewards.

Thanks for your question, and I'm sure you can get your dog on track if you remain consistant. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a 5 year old dog and am having problems with her going to the bathroom on the carpet. I knew that it was going to be hard potty training her at 5-years-old but I thought anything is possible. I keep looking and looking and couldn't find anything! All the websites were about getting a new DOG but I've had my dog for 5 years! All the other ones were about puppies. I really need help with my dog! She's really smart too I wouldn't have a doubt in my mind that she could learn very quickly not to GO in the house! PLEASE HELP ME THOUGH!

-- Contributed by: Dakota

Hi Karen,

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time getting your puppy trained. Please see my advice to Lauren just below this post. I think you can adapt it to your situation and hopefully turn things around.

Remember, calm consistency is the key to teaching your dog anything you want him to learn. Good luck.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Lauren,

I certainly sense your frustration over the situation. What kind of regular schedule do you have for taking your puppy outside? When first house training a new dog, you want to take him outside first thing early in the morning. Give him enough time to relieve himself more than once so he has a chance to empty out. Once you come back in, confine the pup to a single room to lessen his territory. Sometimes it's most convenient to gate a pup in the kitchen, just in case there is an accident it's easy to clean up the linoleum. Once your dog learns not to soil the kitchen, you can gradually widen his territory within the house.

After that first potty break, you should really take him out again within half an hour, and repeat this process as often as possible throughout the day so your dog comes to understand that pottying happens outside.

Now, when you do take your dog outside, you need to begin using a simple one word command to associate with the deed. I've always just used the word potty. Just say it strongly enough to catch your dog's attention. When he does go, repeat "potty" and "good boy" in a calm but pleased voice so your dog understands he did well. The idea is to reinforce the good behavior you want.

If you go outside and your dog does not potty, do not scold him, but also do not give him any kind of praise reward. He has to earn that, so just take him back inside quietly and try again in about 15 minutes.

If you can stick to a regular schedule of potty breaks for at least a couple of days, you may be able to establish that pottying takes place outside. Just be consistent with the commands and don't give up.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I adopted a 15 week maltese/shihtzu recently and I am having many problems house training him. I have decided to use piddle pad training since my backyard doesn't yet have grass (he doesn't like the dirt). He never learned to be "clean" because he was around so many other puppies at his breeder so he doesn't have any problems relieving himself in his crate. Some night he is really good about not soiling his crate, other nights he urinates in the crate. I've made his area in the crate extremely small so he can't move away from his urine, but it's not helping the situation. I do not know what to do. If I start waking up in the middle of the night with him, won't this promote him never learning how to hold it throughout the night? I need help!

-- Contributed by: Karen

Hi Marie,

Are you using a potty command when you take your dog outside? She needs to learn to associate urinating and pooping with that word. Use the same command consistently, and give your dog a praise reward when she is successful. If she does not pee outside, put her back in her crate for ten minutes and try taking her out again. Hopefully she'll have success then and you can reinforce the good behavior. Whatever happens, don't scold her when she doesn't go while you're outside. Just come back in and crate her for a few minutes without giving her attention. She needs to work for that reward.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I have a 6 month old yorkie named Baxter. I regret to say I bought him from a pet store when he was 2 months old. I am having big problems housebreaking him, if we let him out and then leave the house for 2 minutes, he pees and poops on the couches... etc. When we go to work we baby gate him in the kitchen and he'll poop on the floor and mash it in with his feet, body, etc. It's so gross, and we don't know what to do. He obviously didn't learn how to be clean, I'm sure because of the pet store. Any advice? What should I do? I know he can hold it because he sleeps with me for 8 hours through the night without having an accident or getting up! Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Lauren

I rescued a 6 mo. old puppy from a pet store where she had been living her entire life. We have had her for 2 months and she has been doing pretty good with potty training except she still doesn't get it that outside=potty. She is in a crate at night and wakes up around 5:30 am. I have to stay outside with her for as long as 30 minutes in the morning to wait for her to pee- she usually goes poop right away. If I bring her in before she goes, she will immediatley pee in the house! If I simply let her out without going out with her she will not go at all. She also still has accidents during the day unless we are outside most of the day. She doesn't have a signal to let me know she needs to go outside; she will go right in front of me on the floor. I need some advice!

-- Contributed by: Marie

Hi Sarah,

It's going to take some time to rehabilitate this dog after what he's been through, but I believe it can be done. For the time being, I would treat him like a new puppy in training, and take him out frequently to establish the pattern of where he's supposed to go. Regarding the kitchen soiling, you might want to try taking him out twice before you leave so he'll be emptier when you go. This won't be a cure, but it might cut down on the volume.

It seems the root of the problem truly is the anxiety, and it will take time for your dog to build up trust that he won't be abandoned again. You can help this along by not rewarding the anxious behavior. Avoid making a big display of affection when you leave or arrive home. If your dog is acting anxious and you overtly comfort him, you could reinforce the idea that there is something to worry about when you go away. Remaining calm and consistent will gradually inspire your dog to greater confidence. In time, the soiling should stop.

As an additional measure, you may want to ask your vet to examine your dog's bladder for any sign of weakness. The soiling might be involuntary during times of high stress.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope these suggestions help.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, I have a 4 year old rescue who has been in a shelter for a while. He has some separation anxiety. Whenever I leave and sometimes when I'm home he'll pee in the kitchen. it's happened right after I come back from taking him for a walk and right after I've taken him for a walk, but left for work and come back 10 minutes later. I don't get it! I take him out all the time and unless I have him in the same room with me at all times I'm afraid he'll just pee in the kitchen and make another mess.... Help!

-- Contributed by: Sara

Hi Jennifer,

My hunch is that your puppy is a bit confused. There is one set of potty rules at your parent's house, and another at yours. I think you'd have better house breaking success if you went with complete outdoor training. That way it will be easier for your dog to learn that it is never acceptible to potty in the house. Consistency is always the key to house training.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Joan,

Re-training an adult dog is very much like training a puppy. You need to keep taking him outside to the area you want him to do his business and give a command to potty. When he does, tell him how good he is. If he doesn't go at all, just return indoors silently. There is no reward when he doesn't go. If you're consistent, your dog will quickly learn to oblige.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with your new companion. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi! I have a 5 month old jack russell chinese crested mix puppy. He is the most adorable and loving thing but he still is not potty trained. I live in an apartment. I bought training pads and everything. My parents have a house and he always goes outside there and is completely trained but I cant get him trained for his home/my apartment. Please help.

-- Contributed by: Jennifer Dore

Hello, I've recently inherited my elderly parents' elderly dog. (about 15 yrs. old) He is a mild mannered mutt - possibly a mix of shepard and collie. We brought him to our house in the winter and would just let him into the yard to do his business. However, with the warmer weather, we have fenced off an area at the back of the yard that we hope to have him use. When living with my parents, he had an area next to the garage he used. Never having had a dog, we really don't know how to "re-train" an adult dog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

-- Contributed by: Joan

Hi Suzanne,

It may be useful to limit your dog's territory until you're sure she is only going potty when you take her outside. You can gradually increase the area she's allowed to roam inside the house as she proves trustworthy. Baby gates work well for blocking off rooms without doors, and there are extra-wide gates available for archways.

Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I RECENTLY TOOK IN A HAVANESE SHE IS 2 AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAD HER BEFORE NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO HER.I FINALLY GOT HER POTTY TRAINED SO I THOUGHT BUT SHE SNEAKS OFF OFF AT LEAST ONCE A DAY A DOES HER DEED IN MY FLOOR ANY SUGGESTION.

-- Contributed by: SH

Hi Clara,

It's possible that your puppy has a bit of a weak bladder. I would recommend taking her out more often to empty herself, especially right before you put her in the crate. Some puppies also piddle when they become excited, so try to keep your energy low and non-chalant when you approach the crate. In most cases, the piddling gradually stops as the puppy grows older, so hopefully this is just a temporary problem.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Brandy,

There are a couple of things you can do to get the potty training situation back on track.

First, you need to be extremely consistent about taking your dog outside on a regular schedule, beginning first thing in the morning upon rising.
Second, give her a firm "no' command if you catch her in the act of pottying in the house and immediately take her outside. She needs to make the connection that you don't want her to do this.
Third, take the stool from an accident outside and place it in an area you want her to use, effectively creating a potty stop. You might also want to add a product called a "pee post" to this area. It's charged with phermones that should encourge your dog to pee in the area as well.
Finally, soak any areas she has had an accident in the house with an enzymatic cleaner. This will eat away at the urine crystals that normal cleaning can't remove, and take away any lingering scent that draws her back to use the area again.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help you correct the situation and reclaim your home. Thanks for your question, and good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my schnauzer puppy has started a new behavior of urinating right when we are taking her out of her crate to take her outside to use the bathroom. what can i do to stop this? why is she doing this?

-- Contributed by: clara

Some how my dog thanks she has to potty inside so she can go out side and play how could I stop her from doing that?

-- Contributed by: Brandy

I have a pomeranian, she is about 6 years old, and I adopt a puppy poodle a week ago, she is 6 month old. I would like to know is it possible for two dogs to share one potty?

Hi Haydee,

Could you clarify for me what you mean by one potty? If you're using one of those indoor grass mats, both dogs should be able to use it if you keep it clean. If one shows a reluctance to share, you can always add a second mat.

Thanks for your question, and good luck with the training. :)

-- Contributed by: Haydee

I AM HAVING A BAD TIME IN HOUSEBREAKING MY BOXER PUPPY SHE IS VERY SMART BUT STILL GOES IN THE HOUSE. ALSO WHEN I'M AWAY FOR A SHORT PEROID OF TIME WILL CHEW MY WINDOW BLINDS UP. HELP

Hi Holly,

Do you have a nice roomy crate for your dog? if not, now is the time to get one. You can confine your dog to the crate when you're not home and this will prevent her from destructive behavior. You can also confine her to her crate during the house training process at times when you are too busy to supervise her. Doing this, in conjuction with a regular schedule for potty breaks should help get your dog on track. Consistency is the key here.

Thanks for your question, and good luck. :)

-- Contributed by: holly

My daughter has an 11 month old male chichuau who won't stop eliminating in the house. No matter how many times you take him outside (and he does go when he out) he still does his business in the house as well. He does tell you when he needs to go out from time to time but no consistently. Also, he cowers when you catch him and knows he's done something wrong. How do we correct this problem? Thank you.

Hi Carol,

I love Chihuahuas, but personally, I've never been completely able to house break one, even with great consistency.

That said, I have heard that some people have had success using doggie diapers. The theory is that once your dog wets it, he won't like the wet feeling and this will make him more reluctant to soil in the house while he's wearing the diaper. Of course, you'll need to remove the diaper every time you take the dog out. Perhaps this, in conjuction with a very regular routine will help your daughter get a handle on the problem. If not, I'd continue to have the dog wear the diapers when he's loose in the house.

Thanks for your question, and I hope this suggestion turns out to be helpful.

-- Contributed by: Carol

Hi, i kind of have the same questions i just got a puppy she is 3, 1/2 month German shepherd and we are gone to work for around 10 - 12 hours we use a kennel so she won't have accidents around the house, she goes potty in side the kennel now, i give her food one hour and a half but she waits until we leave to go, at night is the same i can give her the food at 5 pm and she waits until midnight or after to go i spend an hour with her ut side an she just wanna play or sleep on the grass.

what should i do??

Andres

-- Contributed by: andres

Hi Priscilla,

Part of how well your dog will handle that long period between potty breaks depends on how well it was previously trained. Remember, accidents aren't that unusual when a dog moves to a new home. I'd recommend gating your new pet in a room that has linoleum and leaving some puppy training pads on the floor just in case.

Springer Spaniels also need a good deal of exercise to keep them physically and mentally in shape. I think you'll find the information in our breed article very helpful.

Good luck with the adoption, and thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, my partner and I live in a duplex (apartment) and we are getting a springer spaniel 4 yrs old. Im apprehensive as the dog will be at home for 12 hours and we do not have a bag yard. But we do have a 20feet balcony. We will commit to walking the dog on a daily basis and provide her with good food and exercise. Are dogs ok to be left at home for such a long period of time and will they be able to hold in from going to the toilet for that long a period of time? Please help

Thank you

-- Contributed by: Priscilla Salveen
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