Is your dog fully potty trained? Of course, you say, if you've got an adult dog, right? But is it true? A fully potty trained dog is a dog you can confidently take to any indoor environment knowing that there won't be an elimination "accident". And that includes no peeing in the agility tunnel!
Can you honestly say that you don't keep an extra eye on your dog at a friend's house or pet supply store for fear of a mistake? Do you ever come home to an unexpected puddle on floor and find yourself making excuses such as, "well, I'm gone for
so long" or "but that's just marking"?
A dog that thinks it is okay to occasionally eliminate in your house, in other people's houses, or who marks indoors is simply not fully potty trained. He hasn't learned to exclusively associate the act of elimination with the great outdoors.
If this sounds familiar don't be afraid to go back to some remedial potty training. Use a
crate or long-term confinement to help your dog get it right. It is never too late to re-train your dog, it may take some time but it is worth the effort to have peace of mind, a urine-free house, and a dog that is a clean canine citizen.
If you have a puppy, of course she is not yet fully trained. And if you have recently brought a
new adolescent or adult dog into your home you may think he's already trustworthy in the house because of his age, but you may be wrong. Either way, this is the perfect time to work out your house training
plan of action and stick to it like glue; and for a
longer period of time than you think. This is where many potty training plans go awry, a perfectly good foundation in toilet training can be ruined if it is abandoned too early. Don't be too hasty in allowing your dog unsupervised free time in the house. Instead, give her a real chance of success by maintaining your potty training schedule for many months and give your dog new freedom progressively and gradually. Remember, habits form over time, not overnight, and good habits are as hard to break as bad ones.
