Some dogs reach adulthood without being fully house trained, often through no fault of their own. This may happen if the training process wasn’t completed when they were young or if they previously lived outdoors.
The good news is that adult dogs can still learn new habits.
With patience, consistency and a clear routine, most dogs can successfully learn to toilet outside.
While many puppies learn house training early, it doesn’t always go smoothly. Some dogs may never have been trained properly, particularly if they were kept in kennels or outdoor environments.
Other dogs may have had inconsistent training, which can lead to confusion about where they should go to the toilet. Teaching an adult dog new habits takes time and commitment, but many dogs learn surprisingly quickly.
How long it takes will depend on several factors, including:
Indoor accidents are not always caused by a lack of house training.
Dogs may also toilet in the house because of:
If your dog suddenly begins toileting indoors, please speak to your vet to rule out health problems.
Dogs that are not fully house trained often return to the same areas repeatedly. These locations are frequently near doors, exits or particular rooms.
Some dogs may wee and poo indoors, wee inside but poo outside or poo inside and wee outside.
Many dogs also prefer to toilet when people are not watching. For example, they may leave the room or wait until their owner is out of sight.
This can happen if a dog has previously been punished for toileting indoors. Instead of learning where they should go, they simply learn not to go in front of people.
Dogs that feel anxious about toileting around people may take longer to house train and will need extra patience.
Creating a consistent routine is the most effective way to teach an adult dog where to go to the toilet.
First, thoroughly clean any areas where your dog has previously toileted indoors. Dogs are attracted back to the same spots if the scent remains.
Use a biological washing solution or a pet-safe cleaner that removes odours completely.
Take your dog outside:
Choose a specific toilet area in the garden and take your dog to the same place each time.
Let them walk around and sniff the ground, as this helps stimulate toileting.
Avoid playing games during these trips, as the goal is to help your dog focus on going to the toilet.
When your dog toilets outside, calmly praise them.
If nothing happens after about five minutes, bring them back inside but watch them closely. Try again after around 20 minutes.
At first, you may need to make several trips outside until the new routine becomes established.
During the early stages of training, supervision is essential.
Keep your dog within sight and watch for signs they may need to go outside.
Pay particular attention after:
Common signs include:
If you notice these behaviours, take your dog outside immediately.
Dog crates can be helpful when used correctly. Most dogs avoid soiling the area where they sleep.
If your dog is comfortable with a crate, it can be useful when you cannot supervise them directly.
However, the crate must be introduced positively so your dog feels safe and relaxed inside it, as a distressed dog may still toilet in the crate.
During the early stages of training, it is best not to leave your dog alone for long periods.
If you must leave for a short time (less than two hours), your dog can stay in their crate if they are comfortable there and have had a chance to exercise and toilet beforehand.
For longer absences, confine your dog to a single room that is easy to clean in case of accidents.
Most adult dogs can sleep through the night without needing to toilet. However, some may still need a night-time break while learning.
Placing your dog’s bed or crate near your bedroom can help you hear if they wake up and need to go outside.
If they do wake up, take them outside calmly and quietly, then return them to bed without exciting them.
If accidents occur overnight, you may need to set an alarm temporarily until the routine becomes established.
Never punish your dog for accidents discovered after the event.
Dogs cannot connect punishment with something that happened earlier. Instead, they may become anxious when you return home, which can worsen the problem.
Simply clean the area thoroughly and continue with the training routine.
Many owners believe their dog ‘knows they’ve done wrong’ because they appear guilty.
In reality, this behaviour is called appeasement behaviour. The dog is responding to their owner’s body language or tone rather than feeling guilt about the accident.
Dogs showing this behaviour are often trying to reduce tension or avoid conflict.
Continue the routine for at least two weeks. During this time, your dog will begin to associate toileting outside with praise and rewards.
If they are not given opportunities to toilet indoors, they will gradually develop the habit of going outside instead.
Once progress is being made, you can slowly increase the time between trips outside while continuing to watch for signs that your dog needs to go.
Maintaining a regular schedule for feeding, exercise and toilet breaks will make the process easier.
House training an adult dog can take time and effort, but consistency and patience will usually lead to success.
