It is frustrating and confusing when your house trained dog backslides. This is a guide about what to do when a previously house broken dog has started pooping in the house.
Several times this month my 1 year old Boxer has started pooping in the house. She poops 15 feet from the door. She was trained to ring the bell to go outside. She has been trained since 4 months of age.
What should I do?
By Donna from Colorado Springs
By Lizzyanny05/22/2013There could be many things causing this change in behavior. Sometinmes dogs get scared by something outside, that you may not even notice. Sometimes they just dont want to go out in the rain. I would be sure to see a Vet. and then begin a retraining plan.
How do we stop our 6 year old dog from pooping and peeling when left home with our 10 year dog? We have a doggie door that they use.
By Caron
By FARSTAR05/04/2013You never said how long this has been happening and in any case if they have both used the "doggy door" before. I suggest you consult your Veterinarian to see if your Dog has a Bladder problem. Good luck.
My almost three year old Boxer mix has been housetrained for the last two and a half years with no problems; until now. Over the summer, I let her out to potty, and she happened upon a cat in the shed. Of course, she chased it all over and ran it out of her territory, like every other instance a cat was in the yard. But, this time the cat who was guarding kittens, fought back, and they ended up in quite the tangle before I got them to stop it.
Since then, every time I let her out, she goes straight to the shed instead of doing her business. (No new household members, no medical problems, no moves or anything to stress her.) When I have taken her out, I've leashed her, chained her, tried to reward her with treats, stood with her, everything, but still, she only looks for cats. It's like she has the taste of blood now and that's all she wants. She's also become quite aggressive to other animals, even more so than before. I have no way to keep cats away, but I'm running out of ideas to make her stop.
It doesn't happen during the day much, but every night she potties on the kitchen floor. She knows it's wrong and hides and ducks her head and tail when she knows I am going to see it. I take her out 5+ times a day so she has ample opportunities. I don't have enough space for her to be crated since it has to be such a huge area, and she just jumped over or knocked down the baby gates. I don't want to give up on her because she is a great dog otherwise, but my landlord is going to make me "get rid" of her. I am not in a financial position to move so she has to stop. Any ideas?
I've been told to push her face into her mess and tell her no, then take her outside. That seems cruel to me. I don't want to lose her. She's a member of our family and we love her dearly.
By Ree
By freedombelle200101/25/2013My brother has luck with putting disposable baby diapers on his dogs, he said they do urinate in the diaper but won't do the other. Maybe your dog would take to the disposable pee pee pads.
My year old Havenese has been potty trained for a month now and she just today pooped in front of the house door. Every time I bring her out she sometimes won't go. I was getting dressed when she had to go and I don't want to punish her. Do I still say that she is fully potty trained? Or start all over again. Help please!
By Amber T.
By NewYork2Texas03/30/2013I think that we'd need more information..such as....Is she spayed? If so, how long ago? The changing of hormones could influence her. Has anything in the household changed? Have you changed feeding times?
I've fed my 3 dogs in the evening around 6pm. That way their digestive system is ready to empty the next day. Try to have only one feeding time. If you feed her treats throughout the day, her digestive system will always want to empty. Animals are the same as humans. When we eat dinner, we go the next day. Thank you for not punishing her. She didn't do it on purpose. I strongly believe that she'd rather do her business outside.
P.S You posted an adorable picture. The love that you give her, she'll give you much more in return.
By Linny from Park Hills, MO
By fufu11/02/2010You can get a product called (Off) they are dog pads. If you watch where you buy them they are reasonable. I have a 5 year old Pekingnese. I use them. He always goes to them. Also watch coupon websites for help on paying for them.
I recently brought a new puppy to my house. My 5 year old dog is house broken. I'm potty training the new puppy. All of the sudden my old dog is peeing on the puppy training pads and pooping in my leather couch. What can I do?
By Corina from Reno, NV
I have a wiener dog who is about 5 years old. He never use to go potty in the house except for very rarely. For about 6 months now every few days he will go in the house. I will let him outside along with my other dog many many times during the day and night. We have had both dogs for over a year and they are both adult dogs. They play together and everything so I don't think that it's any problem with the other dog.
I will let the dogs outside and leave them be out there for 20 minutes to a half hour, sometimes longer. Both dogs have had free range of the house until recently. We have gotten a kennel for the wiener dog. He goes in his kennel only when he is naughty, otherwise we allow him to go all over the basement and kitchen (no carpeted areas). They get let out at about 8am and every 2-3 hours during the day and the last time at night is around 2-3am. He doesn't do it at night. Just during the day when we are all home. Sometimes he will go out and come in and within 10 minutes he goes on the carpet.
I don't know what to do. I have tried all the potty training tips that I have used on all my other animals. I give him lots of praise when he goes outside, along with treats. I don't think that it's a medical issue because it's not just pee or poop, it's both sometimes. I'm debating on getting rid of the dog because I can't get him to stop. Please help!
By Amanda
By Sherielu09/21/2012Dachshunds are sometimes difficult to house train and I sometime think that they feel if they pee on it is theirs. Mine is a constant struggle with my wiener dog peeing in the house.
Now I use a Velcro closed belly band that I sewed myself. I change it when he makes a marking mistake. Maybe something like that with regular scheduled walks would help you.
My 3 year old trained Maltese has started to do #2 if I leave her alone to go on an appointment. I'm not gone for more than an hour. I make sure she has been outside in the morning to do her necessities. When I return, I see the "gift" she has left me. It seems she is trying to get back at me. I'm very frustrated because she has never done this before!
By Lily F
By heather dianne03/29/2012PS. I made the pen with 4 large pieces of wooden garden lattice from the hardware store which are hinged together on 3 sides - leaving a gate effect. I then lined the lattice with plywood - stapled it on with housing staple gun to prevent the dogs climbing the lattice. Then I put gate latch's on to keep the gate end closed. Works great.
My nearly 4 year old Labrador who has been fully house trained for years now has suddenly decided to poo (3 times!) and wee in the kitchen when I had gone to bed. He is acting normal apart from the obvious and I haven't changed his diet, and cannot begin to think why he has done this. Can anyone help me please?
By Katie
I recently moved and brought my 7-8 year old Lab/Pit mix with me. He has been moved a few times before and has never had this problem. About a week or so after moving he started peeing and pooping in the house. I corrected him with a spanking and making sure he went on even longer walks in the mornings and evenings, because that is his routine.
He stopped for a week or 2 and then I decided to get a kitten and now it's worse than before. I can walk him and 15 minutes later if I don't watch him 24/7 he will pee or poop in the same spots in my living room. I have tried changing his feeding routine, longer walks, and cleaning the carpets, and now he has to be confined to a bathroom when we leave and I don't like it =( Anyone please help me figure it out.
By Andy
By Rchinaberr04/03/2012First of all, spanking a dog after the fact never does any good. They don't understand why you are hitting them. They don't associate going to the bathroom with corporal punishment and it only makes them more fearful - exactly what you don't want to happen.
It could be that there was a dog inside your new house that peed everywhere and now that your dog is in the space, he is trying to get rid of that scent by replacing it with his own. Again, all "normal" dog behaviors. Adding a cat just made the urge to stake out his territory even stronger.
You should try to clean the carpets and any places he goes with a good cleaner that breaks down the enzymes in the urine so all traces of smell are removed. Good idea about the longer walks - the will certainly help. Also, when he does potty outside, praise him big time "Good boy! Good boy go potty!" so he starts to understand peeing/pooping outside is pleasing to you. You might even have to involve treats at first.
And, as frugalsunnie said, make sure to get him checked out by a vet to eliminate any medical conditions like UTI.
Good luck - don't give up on him - he is worth it!
My 6 year old Maltese is potty trained and has started pooping on the floor at any given time. We are a busy family, but nothing has recently changed. There is no certain time that this problem takes place. Can anyone help?
By SWS
By misty195609/15/2011I wish I knew I have a 7 year old Maltese that is doing the same thing as yours. I have had him for 6 years and he has never done this before. I take him outside to the fenced yard and refuses to go. I am ready to scream. If you find a solution please let me know.
I have a four year old Maltese dog which we love very much. We have never left him alone and he is the center of attention in our home. He is a very good dog and has been house broken for years now.
My dog is potty-trained and does really good, the only thing is when I take him out right before we retire for the night, he simply will not poop, no matter how long we sit out there or how many times I take him out to try. Then, in the morning, I'll find poop on the carpet. How do I fix this problem? What can I do? Thank you!
By Stacey from Eagle Mountain, UT
By Lorelei07/19/2011You could regulate feeding time earlier in the day, so the dog can empty before the end of the day OR take the dog on a long walk of an evening. This helps to get things moving and the dog may well empty before your journey has ended. We take our dogs around our field and they love the evening walk and do all their business before going back into the house for the night. Good luck.
I would like ideas for re-potty training a 1 year old teacup Yorkie. My Yorkie is 1 1/2 years old. The potty training has recently become a nightmare. It was difficult to potty train her on pee pads, but eventually I thought we had made it! Then she started occasionally going on the floor.
I was wondering why that my older dog is starting to potty in the house. She is 14 years old, but this just started like 3 weeks ago. How can I stop this? She is housebroken and has been for years. Can you give suggestions to help? Thank you so much.
By Patricia
By Gloria Z07/09/2012I agree with Lizzyanny you should take the dog to a vet to be checked. I can't imagine how embarrassed that poor dog is when this happens. Please don't scold or punish your dog when this happens. She might have cancer or something else but you won't know until you take her to the vets.
I once adopted a dog and the third night she was with me she wet the carpeting. I was so mad at her I hollered at her. But then it happened - She started to cry - tears were streaming down her face. I never knew a dog could cry and I've had a lot of them. I felt so bad that I had hurt her feelings that I broke down and cried too and promised never again to scream at her. She was one of the best dogs I ever had God rest her soul.
I have an 11 month old puppy, a Poodle/Norwich Terrier. She just started to poop in the house after having her outside. We had pine straw and now we have mulch, could this be the problem?
By WC
By hiphophood07/30/2012Possibly, yes. Especially when the dog is fairly young. You are just going to have to stay outside with the dog and not let it inside until it uses the bathroom.
My friend's Staff of 8 years old has started to poo at night in the lounge. She does not know why and what she can do.
By John
By Gloria Z06/21/2012Have they changed their brand of dog food? Perhaps there is something physically wrong with the dog and the only way it can tell the owner is by doing something unusual. Have it checked out by the Vet to be sure nothing is wrong with it. Around this age dogs start to get cancer and other problems so get it to the Vet.
I have a 11 year old female golden Lab, who over the last few months has been urinating and pooping in the house. This is since my daughter has moved back in the house with her boyfriend and baby. Could this be psychological or her age? What can we do?
By Chris from Chicago, IL
By mrsmalice01/28/2011Thank you guys for your advice! I actually changed her food to a brand with no corn or wheat and only filled her water bowl half way. She has not had an accident since. And she is warming up to the new baby, she used to stay away from him. We also just moved into a house from an apartment, with a large fenced yard, she now has free reign and can potty at her leisure. Again, thank you for your feedback, it was indeed helpful.
My three year old Patterdale terrier is fully house trained and has been since she was a pup. We have not moved houses, changed her diet, or had any stress at home that she could pick up on; however, she has begun to poop on the downstairs rug at night while we are asleep. She appears to be normal in all other aspects and knows that she's wrong in hiding, etc. We take her out on at least 3 long walks a day and she goes out to the lawn in between. Why is she doing this?
By Sob
By jabsgram03/17/2013Have her anal glands checked. I know it sounds weird but their glands around the anal get clogged with waste and it gives them the feeling of having to "go". Does she scoot on the floor? That is a sure sign. Also if she has any lower back problems it may cause a pressure on her bowels.
I have a German Shepherd and he will be 7 years old in November this year. In the past 4 months he has started to use the living room as his business area. We have tried keeping him outside in the day, but he still does it. The vet says there is nothing wrong. We have even tried the puppy spray, but that has not worked. Any ideas on how to stop him from doing this?
By Beckie
By dawndee03/12/2010Something has happened in his life to unsettle him. Has a family member left home? Have you moved the furniture around? Have you changed his daily routine in any way? Did the weather change to freezing cold? One of the other reasons could be he is unwell and it would be advisable to get a liver function test done on your dog as his dog food could be causing him to feel ill and this is his way of telling you that things aren't right in his life.
I hope you don't bellow at him and smack him as this will only make his behaviour worse. Keep him out of the room, and deodorize the area with vinegar which masks his smell. I dog sit and two of my charges showed the same behaviour until I took them both at various times to have their ears checked out for inner ear problems and then liver function tests. Both were being poisoned by the toxins in their food and both have had plastic liver shunts fitted to give them a better quality of life. And the peeing has stopped!
I recently got my puppy and he is 9 weeks old. At first he would poop and pee outside, no accidents at all. Then this past Sunday it was rainy and nasty outside he would only pee and once we came in and when I wasn't looking he pooped.
I have a 4 year old nursing Portuguese Waterdog. We have a dog door which she uses during the day. It is also open at night. However at night or when I leave, (even if others are in the house) she urinates and defecates on the carpets. She is fed frequently because of nursing. Has anyone experienced this? Any suggestions for treatment or cause?
By Janice
My dog is neutered and he's five going on six years old now and he's been potty trained since he was one. We just moved like a few months ago and he was fine with it, because he went from a condo to a big house.
I have a 17 month old Chihuahua who has been neutered and was doing great at potty training. We started with crate training and then we let him out of the crate after about 10 months and put a box by the front door with real grass in it in case he had to go while I was at work.
I have a six year old Lhasa/Bichon who has been housebroken since puppyhood. For about the past year or two, she has been pooping where we walk; the front and back decks, the walkway to and from our cars...
We have 5 month old Pug Chihuahua mix. Toilet training was we thought complete as he was going out the cat door to go toilet by himself. There were no accidents for over a week then out of the blue has decided to go in the house again and just uses the cat door to go out to play. I am not sure why he has decided to use the house again for toilet. Please give me some advise.
By Dianne
By sabrinadog05/24/2013Sounds like your puppy is on the right tract but just needs moral support. Go out with him and praise the little guy when he does his business. I had to potty train two little girls at the same time so be patient cause an occasional accident will happen.
I have a five year old Beagle mix. She is completely house trained, and has been since being twelve weeks old.
My Jack Russell Terrier is 6yrs old and has been potty trained to use a doggie door since she was 8 weeks old. All of a sudden she's peeing and pooping on rugs in my daughters' rooms when we're not home or when everyone is sleeping. I don't know how to punish her because she's still going outside too.
By Stevie L
By frugalsunnie06/11/2013When a formerly house-trained dog breaks training there is something serious going on and punishment is completely out of line. You need to figure out why your dog is doing this. There a lot of different reasons a dog will suddenly start using the indoors for a bathroom.
First, has the dog been ill or injured? JRs are notorious for running full speed into a wall, for example-is there a chance your dog is suffering a concussion? A concussion will change a dog's personality and behaviours.
Has your JR shown any signs of listlessness, anxiety (common when ill) lack of interest in companionship or conversely suddenly become extra clingy? Is he off his feed, not drinking enough water or drinking too much (sign of canine diabetes)? Any other common signs of illness?
If you can't answer definitively, or if you can say yes to any of the above, you need to take your dog to the vet now.
If you can positively say 'No' to the above, however, the regression to breaking house-training is almost always a dog's only way of telling you he/she is under tremendous psychological stress and it is up to you to figure out the cause, then take steps to relieve the stress.
For example, has someone started a new job; is there a new pet in the house; have you recently moved house; has the JR recently lost a companion (other animal or a human he/she was especially close to)? If a JR thinks they are being unfairly treated, too, they will use elimination behaviours to express their anger.
Whether physical or psychological, something is really wrong with your dog. He won't learn anything from being punished. Punishment will only increase the stress and cause your dog to increase, not decrease the incidents.
Take your dog to the vet for a check. Be honest with yourself and do a home evaluation to determine what is stressing your JR if the vet gives him an 'all-clear'. Your vet is a perfect source of assistance, btw, for JR related behavioural issues.
The following link is to a site I love, it's all things dogs and you can do a search on JRs to find out more:
http://dogs.about.com/
Good luck, I hope your JR is ok physically and that you are able to figure out why he is so stressed he is relieving himself in all the wrong places! Please update us to let us know how he's doing.
Why does my dog poop and pee only on certain floors of the house? I have a almost 2 year old terrier mix (Maltese/Pom or something like that). Anyhow, he was a shelter dog. I got him at 4 mos old. He was hard to house break. He was crate trained initially. As a new member he had several places in the house he used for elimination. Some we knew of, some we did not.
We just adopted a kitten and our 14 yr old dog has started to pee in the house. Is this jealousy or a health problem? We have never had to deal with a house trained dog suddenly doing this.
By Liz M.
I have a 3 year old pup that never pooped inside the house unless she was sick and we recently moved in (in the past 6 months) with my partner and her dog. Her 2 year old pup has taught my 3 year old good girl pup to poop in the house.
Her dog just never got trained and we've tried everything short of crating her (my partner won't). I don't know what to do, my girl never did such things and now she seems to think it's okay even though they both get in trouble when they go in the house. Help!
My partner has a Cairn Terrier and I have a 1/2 Spitz, 1/2 Border Collie. I love these girls but I'm at wits end with them. Any ideas for training the other pup and getting mine to stop? I've even brought myself to diaper the little one in order to make her stop. Is it too late for training?
Trish from Washington DC
Only other thing I can think of is to watch them 24 hours a day for a couple weeks and take them out like you would a puppy and praise them for going outside and catch them sniffing around the house before they have a chance to go inside. Crate training is easier. You could also board your pups for a few weeks in a good kennel that takes the dogs out frequently, then they can house train them while you clean your carpets professionally. (02/14/2008)
By junebug_000
Are the dogs being walked at all? They need at least a half-hour of exercise morning and night, every day. Crating the dogs after being exercised is not cruel, however forcing dogs to live in a stressful home, where they are constantly getting in trouble, is cruel.
I think using a trainer that can make house calls and getting some couples therapy for the humans is in order. Invest in solving this problem so you can have a nice clean home if for no other reason. And yes, not too late for training. For the dogs either. (02/15/2008)
By Bonnie
But first, train yourselves. 15 minutes after they eat solid food take both for a walk and don't come back until they've pooped. Put up food so you have control over when they eat solid food. Of course leave water down. You must be firm with yourself, no matter how tired you are; no excuses. You will also enjoy the walks (2 times per day). Until they are trained, take them out yourself, don't just let them out, so it will be a positive moment for them.
In our family, I had to take our puppies out, because everyone in the family lacked self discipline but me. However, I don't like cleaning up poop, and I don't like to hear others whining. I guess I didn't train my kids right. At least I got the dog thing right. (08/13/2009)
By PIKKA
My older dog has been sick and is now pooping and peeing in the house. What to do?
By Jonnab from CO
By muttmom
My 3 year old racing Greyhound cross Alsation has in the first week peed on my bed and then 2 days ago she has pooped on my bed? Would you know why and how do I combat this? She is full trained. Please help.
By gobbit from west Midlands, UK
By jtithof
By Maryeileen
Please help. Both of my dogs have started to poo and wee in the house. They are house trained with their own room and doggie door to the garden. But over the last 3 weeks on and off they have started messing in the house. We haven't had any changes to the household so I'm stuck as to why they both have started doing it. Please help.
By Angela from Windsor, England
By Trippay
Our dog is six years old and we have had him since he was a puppy. He is very well behaved, house trained and neutered. But when the weather gets colder he starts getting lazy and starts urinating and defecating in the house when we go to work or when we are in bed.
We walk him twice a day, making sure he gets a good long walk of at least an hour and days out at the beach, etc. We also make sure he goes out in the garden at bed time or last thing at night. What can we do to stop him? All answers truly appreciated.
By Samantha from Liverpool, UK
My dog has been house broken for years. She has since started pooping/peeing in the house at night. I read that they digest their food in about 10 hours.
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Previously House Broken Dog Has Started Pooping in the House