Dog Behaviour Problems and Toilet Training

Dogs are sensitive beings. They absorb much of what is going on in their environment and are aware when things are out of sync. So it's not unusual for dogs to have behavioral problems and toilet training issues, especially during times of great upset in their lives.

  1. Family Crisis

    • Older dogs may need to be re-trained if there has been upset in their lives.

      Many circumstances can cause a dog to either fail in his toilet training or backslide into bad toilet habits. Dogs understand there's a problem when a family is experiencing financial or medical issues and in the confusion he may forget about toilet training. When there is upset in the house, the dog is not always a priority and his basic needs may be ignored. Your dog may resort to the one thing that experience has taught him will get your attention.

    New Residents

    • A new dog or person in the home, even if only temporary, may cause an upset in toilet training.

      Newness can cause a dog to behave differently. A new addition to the family–canine, feline or infant–may confuse your dog about his place in the "pack." When a dog becomes confused about who the leader is because there's a new personality in the home, he may act out by toileting inappropriately in the house.

    Submission

    • If your dog is urinating when very excited, it is displaying a phenomenon called "submissive urination." According to the Dumb Friends League, an authority on animals based in Denver since 1910, especially shy dogs will exhibit submissive peeing when they feel threatened, are being punished or during greetings. In this case, the behavior is not connected to toilet training at all, it's about anxiety. Treating your dog especially gently and keeping greetings low-key should help this this problem.

    Marking

    • If urination is the problem, your dog could be marking territory. Marking will occur on vertical surfaces as the dog lifts his leg. It happens most when there is something new in the home such as a visitor's suitcase or purse, a shopping bag, or a new piece of furniture. A new baby may cause marking because the dog is letting everyone know that he is also a member of the pack. Spaying or neutering almost always remedies this situation.

    Basic Toilet Training Tips

    • For problems during initial toilet training, it's always best to return to basics. If you have adopted a shelter dog that may have been chained up outside, he may require retraining. Establish a routine, take him out at the same time every day, or every few hours, if possible. Praise lavishly and use words like "go potty" so he associates the word with the act. Toilet training puppies takes a bit more patience. Take the puppy out within 20 minutes of eating, and every few hours during the day.