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6 Common Reasons for Potty Accidents in Dogs

6 Common Reasons for Potty Accidents in Dogs

Published: 02/27/2017

Updated on January 24, 2023
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Summerfield
DVM CPDT-KA

Medical Problems | Incomplete Housetraining | Change in Routine or Environment | Separation Anxiety | Urine Marking | Cognitive Dysfunction

Potty Accident

There are few problems more frustrating for most dog owners than potty accidents in the house. This is a relatively common issue in dogs of all ages, and can lead to lots of stress and aggravation for both you and your pet.

Fortunately, this problem is often very easy to fix once you determine what is causing it. Read on for some of the common reasons that your dog may be having accidents.

Medical Problems

If your dog was reliably housetrained in the past and recently began having accidents, it’s always best to have a check-up done by your veterinarian before doing anything else. This is because there are a number of common illnesses and medical problems that often cause dogs to have accidents in the house – some possibilities include a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and prostate or bladder tumors.

If your dog does have a medical problem, you won’t be able to get the accidents under control until the underlying issue is diagnosed and properly treated. You should always rule out medical issues before attempting any training or behavior modification to fix the problem.

Incomplete Housetraining

Puppies or young dogs often have accidents in the house because they simply don’t know any better – they may not have ever been completely housetrained, especially if they recently came from a shelter or rescue.

If this is the case, you will need to go “back to basics” and treat the dog like an 8-week-old puppy who doesn’t know where to potty, even if your dog is a bit older. This means very frequent trips outside, rewarding with a treat for pottying outdoors, and constant supervision in the house to prevent any opportunity for accidents. For some dogs, crate training helps them to get with the program a bit more readily. Most pups and young dogs will catch on within a few weeks, as long as you’re patient and consistent.

Recent Change in Routine or Environment

Dogs are creatures of habit – any change in their daily routine or surroundings can sometimes cause them to become confused and begin having potty accidents. This can sometimes happen if an owner’s work schedule changes or someone in the household moves out (such as a child leaving for college).

It’s also important to realize that housetraining is very location-specific for dogs. Just because they understand the rules at your house, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will understand not to potty inside when you visit friends or relatives, or in a new house if you have recently moved. Take some time to remind your dog of basic housetraining rules every time you visit someplace new. For instance, go outside frequently for potty breaks and make sure to supervise your dog closely indoors until you’re sure things are back on track.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

If your dog only has accidents when you’re not home, it’s very possible that it may be suffering from separation anxiety – having accidents in the house is a common sign of this problem. You can set up a video camera to record your dog when you leave the house if you suspect that this may be the cause of your dog’s accidents. It’s normally quite easy to tell when watching the video if your pup is anxious or upset. If so, it’s best to talk with your veterinarian since many pets with separation anxiety need prescription medication to treat the problem effectively.

In the meantime, confining your dog to an area of the house with hard floors can make it easier to clean up accidents when you get home. You can also try giving your dog a special long-lasting treat every time you leave the house, such as a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter or frozen with canned food. This can help to reduce anxiety by keeping your dog busy and giving it something to look forward to when you’re gone.

Urine Marking in Dogs

For male dogs that have not been neutered, urine marking is a normal behavior – they lift their leg and pee on things in order to “leave their mark” for other male dogs and to help attract females. While it’s a normal behavior for male dogs, it’s extremely inconvenient for owners and can make housetraining quite a challenge! Because of this, it’s recommended to have male dogs neutered if they are not show or breeding animals.

Some unspayed females will also urine mark, although this is less common than in males. In females who do mark, spaying is recommended to help resolve the problem.

Cognitive Dysfunction

Older dogs sometimes develop a problem called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) – this is similar to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Many affected dogs will sometimes forget their housetraining and have accidents in the house, even if they were previously very reliable about going outside.

Other symptoms of this disorder include restlessness or pacing at night, getting “lost” in familiar places, staring off into space, or seeming to forget familiar people. If you suspect that your senior dog may have this problem, talk to your veterinarian about your concerns, as there are medications available that can help.

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