Adult Dog Potty Training

Adult dog potty training - "Man, I thought those reeking days were over... do we need to do dog potty training again - this time as an adult dog?"

If your dog was already toilet trained properly, why would he suddenly start toileting inside again?

Even a dog that was:

- Already toilet trained properly,

- Was keeping to an appropriate toileting routine for a nice amount of time,

- Isn't sick or anything like that,

Can quite suddenly start toileting inside the house.

Dogs will toilet inside the house for 3 main reasons:

They don't know any better. This is the case with small new puppies.

Your dog, however DOES know better.

Well, here's another 2 reasons why...

You may think of your dog as a nice little pet, a cute addition to your human family.

But, your dog thinks differently...

Like a DOG!

Your dog is 99.98% the DNA of a wolf. They have the instincts of wolves.

Wolves in the wild live together in packs, and there are pack-leaders.

Here's how HE looks at it...

YOU and YOUR FAMILY are an addition to HIS dog pack. And most of the time HE considers himself YOUR leader.

If you've never been educated about becoming the pack leader, chances are you aren't. There's a specific set of rules that you need to follow to let your dog know that YOU are in charge, not THEM.

He thinks he's responsible to protect you and he's in charge to make all the decisions regarding HIS pack - you and your family. Essentially, he's the boss and you're the employee.

It's the boss's job to make sure it's pack members are safe and don't get lost.

It's the boss's job to make his leadership and territory is obvious to its pack members and to invading outsiders.

In the wild, anyone who leaves the pack is lost. The way a lost puppy finds his way back -- is by following its nose back to the den. And what does the den smell from? You guessed it... (YUCK!).

So if your adult dog is toileting inside, and it's when you're away:

Your dog has assumed the role as pack leader and takes responsibility over your disappearance. When you leave your home, he thinks you got lost. Now it's his job to help you navigate your way back by smell. So your dog kindly 'refreshes' the smell of its den (your living room carpet), to help you get back safely.

If these accidents are happening even when you're home, here's the other reason:

Because your dog is the pack leader, leaders mark their territory to show everyone who the boss here. They mark their territory by toileting around their space.

In summary, potty problems at the adult stage most of the time is a 'dog psychology' problem, not a training problem.

Putting your dog through more adult dog potty training is not the solution here. He already knows good and well that your living room is not meant to be his toilet.