Dear Miss Behavin’:
Our two year old Dalmatian mix, Freya, recently had a few potty accidents in the house. We think it happened at night and while we were gone during the day. I know we aren’t supposed to smear her face in it, but what other tips are there for a potty-training tune-up?
You are absolutely correct that putting your dog’s face into her mess isn’t going to fix anything. There are a few simple, proactive steps you can take instead to get Freya back on track.
As a standard precaution, make an appointment for Freya to see her veterinarian to rule out any medical causes or concerns. This is especially important if the accidents seem unusual or frequent.
Be sure to thoroughly clean up any messes with a product designed specifically for dog urine and feces – this is especially important on carpeted surfaces. There are certain enzymes that eliminate the smell of urine which will decrease the likelihood of a repeat incident.
In addition to cleaning the area thoroughly, you might need to close off this area for a short period of time until Freya is back on track. This can be as simple as placing a laundry basket upside down over the area or closing a bedroom door to prevent access to that room. This is particularly useful if she’s had more than one accident in the same spot. If her accidents have been scattered, close off extra bedrooms and areas of the house and confine her to a smaller space such as the kitchen or living room.
It’s often hard to say exactly why a dog has an accident, so we have to do our part in proactively preventing it from happening again. You’ll want to give Freya additional opportunities to relieve herself. This might mean an extra potty walk in the evening or taking her out to the back yard and ensuring she goes to the bathroom before you leave for work. The same is true after exercise as dogs will understandably drink more water.