FAQ - Potty Problems

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Last updated on August 27, 2008.


QUESTION
I have two male dogs who pee and sometimes poop in the house at night. They won't pee in the house during the day, only at night. They'll also poop at night. They know not to because they act really guilty after doing it.

ANSWER
If they only pee (and poop) in the house at night, I doubt that there is a medical issue at play here. Anything medical would occur during the day as well. But just in case, have them checked by your vet to rule out any medical problems.

You would best address this problem with a potty schedule and a crate.

Dogs need a structured environment to thrive, and having a good schedule helps them know when it's time to go out, and where they should be going to potty. Always go at the same time and to the same places to potty.

A crate is a great help in house training and for lots of other reasons. A crate helps fulfill a dog's natural instinct to "den". You should train them to sleep in their crates - they eventually will do it even with the crate door open! It gives them a private space to go, and dogs don't usually mess in their dens, so it helps prevent accidents.



QUESTION
I have a 3 month old Maltese / Shih-Tzu mix and he's been paper trained in the apartment, but how do I go about teaching him how to potty outside? I took him out for a walk for the first time today and he just peed in the middle of the sidewalk...it was so embarrassing!

I don't mind him going on papers at home in his play pen, what I meant was how do I prevent him from peeing, for example if we were at the supermarket, on the floor. Or is it just one or the other? Either pee on paper or pee outside?

ANSWER
Peeing in the middle of the sidewalk is just fine - it's outside. But ideally, you'll want your pup to do his business in a more appropriate place, such as next to a doggy pickup station (if your neighborhood has them), or at least on the grass.

The best way to housebreak your dog - meaning, teaching him to only go outside - is to approach the training as if he has never been trained to potty in a specific place before. In other words, as if he's never been potty trained at all.

A good way to start is by setting a schedule, and always take him out at those times and to the same location. Always have a reward ready. When he goes, praise him like it's the best thing he's ever done, and give him the reward (treat, toy, whatever). Make it special. Going outside needs to equal good things happening.

Indoors, don't let him potty anywhere. Get rid of the paper or potty pads, they send him mixed messages.



QUESTION
Why has my 8 month old Pekingese / Poodle mix suddenly stopped using his pee and poo pads and found another spot on my carpet to go?

I got him when he was 7 weeks old and he automatically went to the pads on his own without any problems and has up until the last 3 days and now I have had to enclose him at all times and he cries and I hate that. We love him so much and I would love it if someone could give me some advice on this.

ANSWER
Since this is a recent development, your first step to addressing the problem should be a trip to your vet. A lot of the time when a behavior changes suddenly - such as messing in inappropriate places - it can be due to a medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection. Have your dog checked out by the vet first.

If the vet check comes back clear, I would consider properly house-training your dog instead of paper training. Paper training sends mixed signals to a dog - it teaches them that going indoors is appropriate and wanted. It doesn't teach them that there's a difference in where indoors it's appropriate and where it isn't.

FOLLOW UP
In the case of this question, the sudden peeing was caused by a urinary tract infection and was resolved once the infection had been treated.



QUESTION
How can I teach my 3 month old Jack Russell to use the bathroom outside?

ANSWER
With puppies you have to take into account how long they can hold it. At three months old, your dog should not have to hold it for longer than 4 hours, if that much.

First, set a potty schedule. Always take puppy out first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Establish potty times within an hour after eating and any time before and after crating puppy. Always take your dog outside on a leash and to the same place. As soon as he goes, reward him for going by praising and giving treats.

When you're not home, use a crate to confine your dog. Most dogs won't potty in the crate unless they're forced to hold it way too long or the crate is too big.

NEVER punish your dog if he goes indoors. If you catch him in the act, pick him up and take him out. Praise him for any part of his business he does outside. Never punish the dog or yell at him for going inside if you did not catch him in the act. He won't understand why he is being punished, only that you're mad.



QUESTION
My 5 month old Ridgeback was doing very well with housebreaking and even started letting me know when he had to go. We recently bought a new fleece crate pad for his crate. On day two with the new pad, he peed on it. This morning after a trip to the park, he peed on it. Later today, after a walk, he peed on it again. Why is he doing this now? Is it the new bed? Is he acting up?

ANSWER
Just to be sure that you're not looking at a medical condition, I would recommend taking him to the vet to have him checked for a UTI.

If I understand your post correctly, the peeing behavior did not start until you brought home the new crate pad. This might be a silly question - but where did you buy the pad? Sometimes pads that are bought at pet stores smell like other dogs (or even have pee on them!) because people let their dogs "try" them at the store, encouraging them to sit or lay on the bed. This may be why he is peeing on it, especially if this is the only place he will pee in the house.

I would try removing the bed altogether, cleaning the crate, and crating him without the bed, to see what happens. If you have no pee without the bed, then the problem is the bed (or its smell). You could try to have it dry cleaned or soak it in enzymatic cleaner, then wash it.