Why Is My Dog Reverting Back After Being Housebroken?

House-trained dogs make for a well adjusted pet in any family. Older dogs that have already been trained to go to the bathroom outside may revert back to the pre-trained days under the certain circumstances. Being consistent in your training approach will help you readjust your dog back to soiling outside rather than inside.

  1. Crate Training

    • Kennels act as a den for dogs.

      Dogs are den animals and find comfort in small, secure places. Providing your dog with a crate can help stop potty accidents when inside. Most dogs will not urinate or defecate in the crate, because they see it as a place for sleeping and relaxing only. Making the crate up to be as comfortable as possible for your dog will help adjust your pet to the idea of crate training.

    Attention

    • Playing outdoors helps your dog exercise and keep a potty schedule.

      Dogs seek attention from owners as they would from a pack leader in the wild. Giving your dog ample attention and exercise may help decrease accidents in the house during family downtime. Allowing your dog to be outdoors as often as possible will help them get back into the swing of going to the bathroom outside. Taking your dog for a walk until they do both movements after they eat can bring the inside soiling to a minimum.

    Restricting Food and Water Overnight

    • Dogs on a feeding schedule are often more regular in their bowel movements than dogs left to pick at a full dish over the course of the day. Dogs that are also not allowed to eat overnight may have less of a chance of defecating in the house. Although not a good idea to restrict your dog from drinking at night, limiting the water source down to roughly 1 to 2 cups of water may decrease the need to urinate in the middle of the night.

    Medical and Behavioral

    • Sudden house soiling by a previously trained dog may indicate a medical issue your pet is experiencing. Urinary and stool problems in dogs must be diagnosed by a veterinarian to ensure the proper care to correct the medical issue. It also may be a behavioral issue, especially if the dog's owners have a sudden drastic change in schedule. Readjusting your dog to the new changes takes time and consistency. Using positive reinforcement will help your dog get back into the flow of the family routine.