Why Is My Dog Having Accidents Again? Understanding Puppy Potty Training Regression

What Is Potty Training Regression in Dogs?

Puppy potty training regression is a return to house soiling or eliminating in off-limits areas after a period of potty-training success. This regression may be seen in dogs at 4–6 months of age or during adolescence, which usually occurs before the dog is 1 year old. This doesn’t mean that your potty training has failed! Regression can be part of the learning curve for some dogs, and you may simply need to move a step back in your training or return to basics.

If an older, well-trained dog suddenly starts eliminating in the house, it’s important to rule out medical causes, like urinary tract infections or cognitive dysfunction (dog dementia).

Why Is My Dog Having Accidents Again? Common Causes of Regression

Incomplete Training

Once your pup seems to be getting the hang of going outside or on potty pads, it’s common to want to give them too much freedom too soon. This overestimation of their progress can result in your puppy peeing in the house again.

Becoming inconsistent with rewards too soon can also result in accidents. If you notice your dog has gone a few days with no accidents and discontinue rewarding the desired behavior, it’s possible your dog may begin to have accidents again.

Changes in Routine

Dogs thrive on routine, and some dogs will begin to have accidents when there is a change to their routine. These changes could include moving to a new home, traveling, the introduction of a new family member or pet, or the owner having a change to their work schedule.

Life changes can also cause stress and anxiety, which we’ll discuss shortly. You should keep in mind that just because a dog knows they shouldn’t eliminate in your house, doesn’t mean they’ll know they shouldn’t eliminate in a new home.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can be major factors in potty training regression in dogs. Accidents in the home could happen in a dog with separation anxiety, a fear of loud noises, or when unfamiliar visitors enter the home. A good example is the submissive pee-er, who pees when there is a perceived threat as a sign of appeasement.

Adolescence or “Teen Phase”

The hormonal and behavioral changes of the “teen phase” may result in your dog regressing in potty training. Dogs this age may seem “forgetful” of their training, or they may hold out for better rewards.

Marking Behavior

Marking behaviors may be triggered by puberty, the introduction of new animals, or visitors in the home. For instance, if your adolescent dog starts feeling the urge to mark their territory, they may begin to lift a leg inside. For most dogs, this occurs prior to a year of age, but it can be seen beyond that in large or giant dogs.

Health Issues

If you’re facing an older housebroken dog peeing inside, it’s important to rule out health conditions. Health issues that cause your dog to feel the urge to eliminate, that affect their ability to control defecation or urination, that increase the outflow of urine, or that affect their cognition can cause them to have accidents in the home.

In some cases, the dog may know they’re not supposed to eliminate in the house but simply cannot hold in their urine or feces. Examples of health issues that can cause this include:

• Urinary tract infections
• Bladder stones
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Cushing’s disease

In other cases, the dog has forgotten their training. Here, we’re usually thinking about neurological or age-related conditions, such as:

• Canine cognitive dysfunction (dog dementia)
• Brain tumors

How to Tell If It’s a Medical Problem or Behavioral Regression

Medical signs to watch out for include:

• Accidents are sudden and/or frequent
• Urine or stools contain blood
• Stools are loose
• Your dog seems disoriented or confused during accidents
• Your pet is straining
• Your pet is licking at their anal region or genitals

Potty training regression can be behavioral, as well. This is more likely if the accidents happen when the dog is left alone, in new places, when visitors arrive, or after excitement.

You should contact your veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions if you notice signs of illness or you’re unsure as to the cause of regression. Your veterinarian can also help you with training trips for first-time regression.

How to Retrain a Dog to Pee Outside

Assuming you’ve ruled out medical issues, it’s time to go back to basics. These tips can help you retrain your dog to pee and poop outside:

1. Practice crate training. Crate your dog when they’re home alone or unsupervised. Your dog should not be free to roam unsupervised until they can be trusted.
2. Take them on a leash to the proper elimination spot at specific times of day.
3. Give them praise and a treat immediately after they eliminate in the proper place.
4. Use a specific potty schedule, such as first thing in the morning, after each meal, after you return from work, after play, and before bed.
5. Avoid punishment as a training tool. You should clean up accidents calmly and thoroughly without giving your dog attention.
6. Consider training your dog to use a bell or bark at the door. Reward them for the behavior and then immediately take them outside. It’s best to wait for this step of training until you’ve established a routine and have the dog consistently eliminating in the appropriate spot.

How Long Does Potty Training Regression Last?

How long potty-training regression lasts will depend on the cause and how consistent you are in your training. If regression is mild and you immediately course correct, you could see improvement in days. If the setback is deeper, it may take 2–4 weeks to reestablish your pet’s routine.

Remember to stay consistent and calm. You can confuse your dog if you give mixed signals, and punishment can result in fear-based behaviors, which can include urinating in the home. Tracking potty times and patterns may help you spot improvements or trends. If your dog’s accidents happen at specific times of day, for instance, you can adjust the schedule to ensure they’re going outside before the usual accident time.

Preventing Future Potty Training Setbacks

You can prevent future potty-training setbacks by:

• Sticking with the routine and structure you’ve developed, even after initial success
• Keeping the same feeding and potty schedule as much as possible during life changes
• Supervising your dog until they’re fully reliable, which may be until 12–18 months of age for some dogs
• Keep reinforcement going. Your dog should receive praise and rewards for desired behaviors. Even after the behavior is well-established, you should still intermittently reward your dog for proper elimination
• Make sure that accidents in the home are cleaned up appropriately with enzymatic cleaners to remove the traces of urine or feces that may result in the dog having more accidents.

When to Seek Professional Help

Veterinarians, animal behaviorists, and certified dog trainers may be able to assist you with puppy potty training regression. Contact a professional if you’re noticing:

• Signs of severe anxiety or separation issues, like pacing, vocalizing, attempts to escape, and destructiveness
• Ongoing accidents despite retraining
• Marking behaviors that aren’t improving

If you are concerned that the issue is medical, you should always contact a veterinarian first.

Patience, Consistency, and Compassion Go a Long Way

Potty training regression is a common but temporary issue if you take the right approach. The first step is always to rule out medical issues. Once your dog has a clean bill of health, it’s time to return to basics. Remember to stay calm and consistent in your retraining.

Your dog isn’t a “bad” dog—they’re just still learning what you expect from them. If you need assistance, there are professionals who can provide expert tips on retraining your dog to eliminate in the proper areas.