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A Dog Trainer’s Ultimate Guide to Toilet Training Adult Dogs
Is your adult dog having toileting accidents? Canine expert Yashaswi elaborates on the process of toilet training adult dogs.
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Returning home to puddles of pee isn't just a puppy parent problem. While puppies are known for accidents due to their developing bladder control and learning process, adult dogs can slip up too. Even well-trained adult dogs can sometimes have sudden, unexpected accidents. Understanding the reason behind why these accidents are happening is the first step towards toilet training adult dogs.
Why is My Dog Having Toileting Accidents?
If your adult dog is already toilet trained and is suddenly having accidents, it is important to first figure out the cause of the disarray in your dog’s toileting habits before addressing it. Here are some of the most likely reasons why your dog may be toileting erratically.
Whether the reason for your dog’s accident is medical or behavioural, it is important to first address them with the help of your veterinarian or canine behaviourist. While that happens parallelly, here is how you can begin re-training your dog to toilet at the right spots.
- Inconsistent training: Adult dogs that continue to toilet indoors or are sporadic in their toileting patterns may not have received enough consistency and reinforcement in their toilet training journey. An irregular daily routine with no fixed timings, especially for physical exercise, can lead to irregular toileting habits.
- Environmental changes: A change in your dog's daily routine, environment and climate, or living situation can often impact their toileting habits. If you have adopted an adult dog from a shelter, they may not be toilet trained or could be used to a different surface altogether.
- Health and medical issues: Medical issues could be the reason for the dog’s sudden toileting accidents, especially if there have not been any lifestyle changes. Some of the common health conditions that could affect their toileting habits are diabetes, UTIs, STIs and gut issues. Consult your vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions before you begin working on possible behavioural causes. Moreover, dogs reaching puberty might start peeing in inappropriate places to mark their territory.
- Stress: Overwhelming feelings of stress, whether it is fear or overexcitement, can alter your dog’s toileting habits. For instance, whether they get overly excited to go out for a walk or are fearful of certain triggers outdoors, both these factors are likely to make eliminating outdoors difficult for them.
- Separation anxiety: Toileting accidents are a very common symptom of separation anxiety in dogs. It could peeing/pooping on the bed, sofa or furniture, peeing/pooping near the door. However, these accidents will only be triggered by the absence of one or multiple people in the house.
Whether the reason for your dog’s accident is medical or behavioural, it is important to first address them with the help of your veterinarian or canine behaviourist. While that happens parallelly, here is how you can begin re-training your dog to toilet at the right spots.
Image courtesy: pexels.com
How to Pee Train an Adult Dog?
An average adult dog can pee anywhere between 2 to 5 times a day. When dogs pee at the same times and spots, they start associating those places with their bathroom breaks. Over time, they will naturally choose those spots, which is the key to toilet training.
- Choosing the toileting location: The first thing to remember when choosing the right toileting location for your dog is the three S’s of toilet training- Space, Surface, and Scent.
- Space: Whether it is your balcony, an extra bathroom or a grassy patch in your front yard, ensure that the primary association your dog has with the space is to the toilet. If they are toileting indoors, work on building another association with the space by either scatter-feeding treats or engaging with your dog in the area.
- Surface: Dogs make strong associations with the surfaces they toilet on. If you see peeing on floor mats or carpets, introduce pee pads of similar textures and remove their access to the mats or carpets for a while.
- Scent: Dogs are likely to toilet at places where their scent is already present. Ensure that you are cleaning up accidents with ammonia-free cleaners so that the scent does not linger. Additionally, you can introduce the pee smell to your desired location by dipping a tissue or newspaper in their pee and rubbing it on the surface.
- Set up a toileting routine: Dogs thrive on routine. Begin the first week of your toilet training by setting up fixed timings for their meals, physical exercise as well as nap times. This will regulate their biological clock and make their toileting patterns a lot easier for you to predict. Once you set this routine up for your dog, you will notice your dog wants to pee after waking from sleep in the morning or after naps, play times and sometimes after meals. Now all you have to do is ensure that you take them to their designated toileting spot at these times and at every 3–4-hour intervals, depending on your dog’s age and bladder control.
- Look for body language cues: Dogs have certain body language cues they will exhibit before they pee such as circling, sniffing the ground, etc. Observe your dog to learn what their cues are so that you can quickly redirect them to their toileting spots when you see their signs.
- Managing accidents: Toileting accidents are inevitable during the toilet training process. Use ammonia-free cleansers. Do not scold your dog for accidents, either. Giving them too much attention, even negative attention, can sometimes encourage them to toilet just to get a reaction from you.
- Positive reinforcement: Another great way to reinforce good toileting habits is by praising your dog or offering them treats as soon as they pee at the right spot. You can take it a step further and add in a cue word such as “Pee pee” or “Hurry up” before you give them the treat put this behaviour on cue.
Image courtesy: pexels.com
How Can I Potty Train My Dog?
An adult dog can poop anywhere between one to three times a day, depending on their diet & lifestyle. An irregularity in their usual frequency can be a sign of gut issues and should be addressed by a veterinarian. Once you rule out any medical issues, toilet training an adult dog to poop in the appropriate place requires consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. Here are the steps to help you through the process:
There is no shortcut to toilet training a dog, whether she is a puppy or an adult dog. Always remember to be consistent, patient and kind with your pup and yourself. It will only make the toilet training process faster and better.
Happy pet parenting!
- Designate a toileting spot: Pick a dry, clean area with a comfortable texture to poop on. Ensure that the location is distraction-free and your dog has no previous associations with it, they should only visit the place to toilet.
- Establish a routine: Ensure that you are feeding and exercising your dog at the same time, every day. This helps regulate their digestion and makes their bathroom schedule more predictable. Once you set this routine in place for a few days, you will be able to narrow down certain time slots when your dog is more likely to poop. These are likely to be once they get up from sleep, after meal times and after playtime. Now all you have to do is take them to the designated spot to finish their business.
- Shuttling technique: If your dog refuses to poop at their designated location, then try the shuttling technique. At their routine poop time, have them on the leash and engage them in a short play session to put a little pressure on their bowels. After a few minutes of play, take them to their spot and wait patiently. If they refuse to poop after a few minutes, walk them back to a neutral space after a few minutes and start engaging again.
- Look at body language cues: Keep a close eye on your dog for signs that they need to go, such as circling, sniffing, or trying to leave the room. When you notice these signs, quickly redirect them to the designated spot.
- Limit access: While you are toilet training your dog to poop at the right places, it is equally important to break the habit of pooping at the wrong ones. Temporarily remove their access from their old toileting spots till they are toilet trained. You can limit their access to places where they eat, play or rest as dogs usually avoid soiling these areas.
- Use positive reinforcement: Similar to pee training a dog, you can reinforce good toileting habits by praising your dog or offering them a treat as soon as they poop at the right spot. With enough practise, you can also add a cue word right before they begin to teach them to relieve themselves on command.
There is no shortcut to toilet training a dog, whether she is a puppy or an adult dog. Always remember to be consistent, patient and kind with your pup and yourself. It will only make the toilet training process faster and better.
Happy pet parenting!
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