Congratulations! Your pet is finally house trained. You’ve got a steady routine in place for regular bathroom breaks, he goes right away when you let him out, and it’s been a long time since his last accident… until now.

We’ve all been there and with a little research and a solid game plan, you and your pet can get through it. Before you can fix it, it’s important to determine the root of the issue.

Medical issues

If your pet is old enough to no longer chalk her accidents up to immaturity, it’s important to consider a conversation with your veterinarian to rule out any potential health issues. There are many potential ailments that could be causing incontinence, but UTIs are common culprits and can be cleared up with a round of antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.

Excitement

If your pet’s puddles are accompanied by excessive wiggling, tail-wagging, and jumping, it’s probably safe to assume that the problem stems from excitement. This typically occurs when someone new (human or otherwise) enters your home and your four-legged friend just can’t contain their joy. It’s most common in puppies, and the good news is that it’s a problem they usually outgrow when they develop adequate muscular control.

The best thing you can do while you wait for that to happen is teach your pet how to properly greet guests. Having her sit calmly and wait to be acknowledged or ignoring her until she settles down should greatly reduce the number of accidents you have to clean up.

Fear

When something large, loud, or otherwise frightening is triggering your pet’s accidents, it’s easy to know that fear is the root of the problem. This is a common issue in submissive pets and although most common in puppies, it can persist throughout their life. Avoid standing over your dog, yelling at him, or intimidating him. Discipline should always be firm but fair, and never harsh or violent. Try this —-> Essential Pet Pet-EZE. 

Marking

Marking is a territorial behavior, not an accident. When your pet marks, it’s only with a small amount of urine. The purpose is to leave their scent and claim that object or space as theirs. Marking is most common among intact male dogs, but it is not gender or species exclusive; cats and female dogs can do it also.

The best way to prevent marking or to reduce it is to spay or neuter your pet as early as possible. Intact pets have a higher likelihood to mark indoors and the longer they practice this habit, the harder it will be to break.

If marking has been an established behavior, you need to find a way to break the pattern. The best way to curb marking is to catch them in the act. As soon as you see them getting ready to lift their leg or squat, distract them and get them outdoors. Praise them as soon as they relieve themselves in the proper place.

It’s also important to thoroughly clean any area that has been marked. We suggest using a high quality pet stain cleaner, specifically designed to eliminate urine odor. Restrict your pet’s access to these areas, and give them plenty of opportunities to go outside. Also, take care to put away any objects that may induce marking such as new purchases or guests’ belongings— anything that your pet might want to “claim” with their scent. Also, any time you are not able to be in your home with your pet, consider crating them, so they don’t have access to the entire house.

With a little bit of patience and a whole lot of persistence, you can get your pet back on track and your home back in order.

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