It's Potty Time

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Housetraining frequently determines whether a dog becomes a family member or a backyard dog.  Because dogs that live with their families tend to be better trained, loved, and cared for, they’re more likely to remain with the family.  So it makes sense to dedicate a few weeks’ time to housetrain for a lifetime of devotion and companionship.  Housetraining isn’t difficult, but it does require full attention and dedication on the human’s part as well as an understanding of a dog’s physical capabilities. 

The general rule is that dogs can hold their bladders one hour per month of age (ex. five months old equals five hours), up to eight hours.  Asking a dog to wait longer than eight hours to relieve itself can result not only in accidents but also in health risks, such as urinary tract infections.  And some dogs can’t last eight hours. 

Dogs usually do not relieve themselves where they sleep.  Crate training helps so long as the crate isn’t so large that the dog can have a sleeping and potty area.  However, dogs raised in puppy mills or who have been kept in kennels for extended periods of time might relieve themselves anywhere.  Dogs kept too long in their crates might also start relieving themselves in the crate out of necessity at first, then habit.

Like people, dogs relieve themselves after waking, eating, and vigorous play.  Dogs also sniff intensely right before they relieve themselves.  Quickly take the dog to the appropriate potty area when sniffing occurs.  The movement might temporarily disrupt “the plan,” but be patient.  The need is there.  Knowing where the dog is and what it’s doing at all times ensures that the dog can be taken to the proper location to relieve itself when it gives the potty cues. Prevent the dog from having unsupervised run of the house to prevent accidents from occurring.  Either keep the dog in a restricted area (crate, easily cleaned room, etc.) or tether the dog to your belt so that there’s no wandering and sudden changes of movement are felt.

Going to the bathroom outside is not a dog’s natural instinct, especially during inclement weather.  It’s important to make pottying outside comfortable and rewarding.  Dogs prefer a soft surface underfoot to potty (which is why they usually relieve themselves on carpet or rugs in the house).  A grassy area is more attractive than gravel or concrete.  Adult male dogs might prefer a vertical surface for urination. 

While training, it’s mandatory to accompany the dog outside, both to ensure the job gets done and to mark and reward the appropriate behavior as it occurs.  It helps to refuse to interact with the dog until it relieves itself, after which a “celebration” always follows involving play or treats.  If the dog enjoys being outdoors, don’t bring the dog indoors as soon as it’s done or the dog won’t relieve itself until it wants to go inside, which might not be for hours. If fun and good times follow pottying, then the dog is more likely to potty quickly to let the games begin.  Watch carefully as some dogs do “fake out squats” to get play to start.

Don’t punish the dog if it relieves itself in the house.  The dog will learn that relieving itself in your presence is bad which can lead to “secret missions.”  Punishing dogs after the fact is confusing because dogs can’t relate the action of relieving themselves to your angry presence and the urine spot or feces.  A lowered head and body is an expression of fear, not guilt.  Interrupt a dog mid- act with encouragement to go outside to finish up.  Always follow success with praise and other rewards.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Once dogs figure out the appropriate relieving area, it’s important to be aware of when the dog is at the door so it can be let outside quickly both to allow it to relieve itself and to confirm that it is behaving properly.  Dogs “ask” to be let out when their bladders are full, so don’t wait. It’s worthwhile to teach the dog to ring a “jingle bell” or other device to alert the household when it needs to go out so there isn’t any accidental neglect.  Teaching a dog to urinate and defecate on command is also helpful.

When adopting adult dogs, assume they are NOT housetrained.  Dogs apply “rules” to the environment in which they were taught.  New house, new rules.  Some dogs start out housetrained, but then have accidents a week or two after arriving, usually because they aren’t sure if the former rule applies so they want to see if it does.  Calmly re-train.  If a dog that has lived in the household for several months suddenly becomes “un-housetrained,” take it to the vet to make sure there are no health issues.  If there aren’t any, environmental or routine changes can cause dogs to revert. Don’t scold since the dog is usually already stressed.  Re-train as a reminder.

With housetraining, it’s the handlers’ ability to meet the dog’s needs at the beginning that helps to form the dog’s habit.  While it is initially a time consuming endeavor, in my personal experience, dogs can be housetrained in roughly two weeks, with almost full reliability in a month.  It’s a small percentage of time investment considering a dog’s longevity.  Accidents can still happen due to health or timing issues.  Keep in mind that in this case, dogs learn much faster than us humans.  We take anywhere from eighteen months to three years to learn to use the toilet.