A guide to Preventing House Soiling in Dogs
An incredibly frustrating part of pet ownership is when your animal defecates or urinates inside the house. It not only stinks, it can be very difficult to clean up, especially if your house is carpeted. Preventing house soiling can be challenging, especially if the behavior seems to persist despite the training you have done. Understanding why the behavior happens and managing it based on the underlying issues will help keep your house cleaner and you and your pet happier.
Why Does House Soiling Happen?
Medical Issues: This is a very common cause for house soiling. Infections, digestive issues, and other health issues can lead to a dog inappropriately eliminating inside the house. It is important to rule out these first.
Incomplete House Training: Puppies and rescue animals may not be trained appropriately yet, so they haven’t learned where is appropriate to urinate and defecate.
Behavioral Issues: Stress, anxiety, changes to the household, and other issues can trigger house soiling.
Marking Behavior: Unneutered males and, sometimes, un-spayed females may try to mark their territory inside the home.
Effective Strategies for Reducing House Soiling:
Rule out Medical Issues:
Especially if this behavior seemed to pop up out of nowhere, it is important to seek out your veterinarian to see if there are underlying medical conditions. If there are, then your animal will need treatment in order to prevent house soiling.
Training Techniques:
Establish a routine for going outside. Just like you, your dog can’t hold it forever. Taking them out first thing in the morning, after meals, when you come home from work, and before bed can prevent your pet from trying to hold it in for too long.
Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog with treats, praise, and affection whenever they appropriately eliminate outside. They will learn that this is the behavior you are looking for. Interrupt your dog when they start going inside and immediately take them outside to finish.
Managing the Environment:
Using pet gates and crates can prevent your pet from having access to areas where they may be tempted to mark or where the clean-up will be more difficult.
Ensure a dog who is just starting in their house training journey is well-supervised. It is difficult to interrupt them and train them appropriately when they lack supervision.
Clean messes thoroughly. Enzymatic cleaners can help eliminate any odors that your dog may continue to smell even if you can’t. They are more likely to soil in the same spot if they can smell previous accidents.
Address Underlying Issues:
Behavioral support may be required if you suspect the house soiling is due to anxiety or other behavior problems. Seek the help of a behavior consultant if needed.
If the behavior is due to marking territory, it may be helpful to get your dog neutered or spayed.
Special Tools and Considerations:
Carpet Cleaners: They can be pricey but they are worth the investment when you consider the cost of replacing carpet. Try to clean up messes as soon as possible using a vacuum that can spray enzymatic cleaning solution and suck up the debris out of the carpet.
Crates and Pet Gates: These tools can not only prevent any destructive behavior your dog may have, it can also eliminate the opportunity your dog has to enter areas where clean up can be difficult when you can’t supervise them, such as at work.
Dog Walkers and Day Care: An 8 hour workday is a long time for a dog to hold their bladder. Think about how many times you have to go while you are at work. Investing in getting your dog day care or hiring a dog walker to come in the middle of the day can give them more opportunities to relieve themselves appropriately.
Preventing house soiling in dogs requires patience, consistency, and understanding. Addressing the underlying issues will help you manage the behavior more effectively. With the right tools and tailoring your approach to the unique needs of your dog, you can maintain a cleaner home and a happier environment for both you and your pet.
