Dear Miss Behavin’: Our dog, Lucy, was perfectly housetrained, but lately she has started having accidents in the house. What could have caused this unfortunate change?
Reply: Before jumping to conclusions, it’s a good idea to have a dog (or cat) checked out by the vet if she suddenly start having accidents indoors. You want to rule out a medical cause first, especially since animals can be pretty good at hiding discomfort. Once the vet gives your pup a clean bill of health, you can start investigating other possible culprits.
The first one has a lot to do with what time of year it is: Winter. Here in sunny California our dogs are spoiled with great weather for most of the year, so a change in the forecast can trigger behavioral changes. Many dogs simply don’t like to get their paws wet, so either resist going outdoors or won’t stay out long enough to do their business.
We humans are also less likely to take our dogs for walks or hang out with them in the backyard when it’s cold, which means our dogs spend more time indoors too. I’m certainly not advocating for leaving your dog alone outside (no matter what the weather conditions, don’t leave your pooch in the backyard all day unsupervised). But there are things you can do to prevent housetraining mishaps.
I know this sounds unpleasant, but you’ll need to brave the elements and accompany your dog outdoors, standing there to make sure she actually goes to the bathroom. If you stick to your guns, she’ll learn that the only way to get back in your cozy house is to go potty, which means she’ll learn to do it very, very quickly. You can also sweeten the deal by giving her verbal praise or a tasty biscuit after a successful attempt.
If your dog refuses to budge from your house to go outside in the rain, you may need to resort to putting her leash on and physically walking her outside. Yes, you will feel like a sucker standing there in the pouring rain waiting for a miracle, but it sure beats finding an unpleasant surprise later.