Your Guide to Housetraining at Any Age

One of the top questions we are asked as dog trainers is how to stop your puppy or new dog from peeing and pooping in the house. Many times, new pet parents worry their adult dog can't be trained, that this habit is just embedded, but there's hope! The good news is any dog young or old can learn new habits, the secret? Consistent and positive associations in 6 easy steps!

Six Rules That Lead To Success

1) Your pup should always be supervised or confined.  Supervise your pup closely or have them in the crate (or pen if you are using pee-pee pads).  Supervised means if your pup has an accident, you will see it taking place and quickly intervene.  The only exception to this rule is if you know your pup has just “done all of their business” and now has an “empty tank.”  Then, you may be able to get away with a brief period of less intense supervision, but never no supervision. You can keep them baby gated in a room with you, tethered to you by a leash, or in their kennel.

2) Take your pup to the right place as often as they need to go.  Learn your pup’s patterns and set up your routine accordingly.  Watch for sniffing, whining, circling, panting, or suddenly wandering away from you.  These are signs that they need to “go.”  Take them to their potty place and stand calmly!  For young puppies it's recommended you also, take them after they: chew heavily on a toy, play hard, or wake from a nap.

3) Give your pup a treat immediately after they “go” in the right place.  The right place is going to be outside or the pee-pee pad, depending on what you are training for at any particular time.  Choose one high-value food treat that you will only use for going to the bathroom in the right place.  This makes it more memorable.  Do not interrupt your pup while going to the bathroom to give them the treat, we want them to finish their business and then get the reward!

Hint: If you are using pee-pee pads, and you eventually want your pup to “go” outside only – do not offer a food reward for going on the pads.  Save that for outside.  For now, offer lots of verbal praise instead. 

4)  If you catch your puppy “going” in the wrong place, interrupt him with “eh! eh!” and either

a) If you think they will relieve themself further, immediately take them outside or to the pee-pee pad.  If/when they finish in the right place, praise them warmly and give them that special food treat.  Or…

b) If you think they have already relieved themselves enough that they are not going to “finish” outside or on the pee-pee pad (this is the most likely scenario), then be sure to confine them immediately (to their kennel or pen) after you catch them in the act.  This is so that they do not run over to play with your towel while you clean up the mess. 

Remember, when you catch them in the act, DO NOT yell harshly – you only need to interrupt the unwanted behavior – you never want to frighten your pup to the point where they think they should hide from you. Clean up the mess and resume as you were, with a little more supervision.

5) NEVER scold your pup if you find a mess AFTER he has had an accident in the wrong place.  They will NOT learn anything from this after-the-fact correction, and it will make them nervous, which makes training far more difficult.

6) Always clean up accidents as quick as you can with an odor neutralizer, such as Anti-Icky Poo, Nature’s Miracle or equivalent.  Household cleaners are not the same as pet odor neutralizers!

Always remember to praise and reward the wanted behavior!

Happy Training