Why is my dogs behavior regressing?

The Spruce / Sarah Crowley

Dog aggression is exhibited by growling, snarling, showing teeth, lunging, and biting. It is important to know that any dog has the potential to show aggression, regardless of breed or history. However, dogs with violent or abusive histories and those bred from dogs with aggressive tendencies are much more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs.

Unfortunately, some breeds are labeled "dangerous" and banned in certain areas. However, it's not usually about the breed so much as it's about history. A dog's environment has a major impact on behavior. Also, regardless of breed, a dog may inherit some aggressive traits. Fortunately, most experts agree that breed-specific legislation is not the answer.

Reasons for aggression are basically the same as the reasons a dog will bite or snap, but overall canine aggression is a much more serious problem. If your dog has aggressive tendencies, consult your vet first as it may stem from a health problem. Then, seek the help of an experienced dog trainer or behaviorist. Serious measures should be taken to keep others safe from aggressive dogs.

There are few things more frustrating than finding that your dog had an accident in the house. For many dogs this might be a one-off incident. Perhaps they are not feeling well, or were inside for too long without a potty break. However, some dogs do experience a condition called “potty training regression”, whereby your dog reverts back to having accidents inside rather than going out. This can be upsetting, aggravating, and make everyone in the house miserable – but it is important to remember that your dog is not doing it to spite you.

Why it Happens

Dogs might regress in learned behaviors for a number of reasons. The good news is that there are as many ways to get your pup back on track.

• Puppies often regress while potty training. This is in part due to their brains developing as they grow. While the brain is still developing, they might forget their training. As long as you are consistent in your efforts to potty-train, Fido should pick it up again quickly.
• A big household change may also trigger potty training regression. These events might include moving to a new household, having a baby, or getting a new pet. Animals love routine, so anything that shifts their daily routine will cause them stress. This stress can then cause them to “forget” their housetraining behavior.
• Medical issues can also cause some potty-training regression. Some common issues include urinary tract infections, incontinence , inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes or dementia. These issues have accompanying symptoms other than accidents, but if you are concerned it’s never a bad idea to visit your veterinarian. Many of these issues can be diagnosed through bloodwork or urine testing; and while not all of them are easy to treat, it can give you some peace of mind to rule serious medical issues out.
• Many dogs have their favorite person in the household, the one they follow around or sleep with at night. If that person leaves, even for a short while, it can trigger potty training issues. If your dog already suffers from separation anxiety, talk to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications for when you’re away. Another approach that might help ease their stress is hiring a sitter to stay at home with your pup while you are away instead of taking them to a kennel.

What to Do

When potty training regression happens, the best approach is to go back to the basics!

• The number one rule is never to yell at your dog for having an accident.
• Do not shove their face in it or otherwise intimidate them. This will only make your dog scared of you and therefore less likely to listen.
• Clean up any messes with products designed to eliminate pet odors–if their scent lingers, they are more likely to have an accident there.
• When you notice the accident, bring your pup’s attention to it and immediately take them outside. If it’s poop, pick up and take it outside with you and put it in the area they go potty to help remind them where is acceptable.
• Establish a routine of frequent breaks to prevent accidents and work on extending the time between breaks as the number of accidents decreases.

Although some issues can be rectified easily, others may require a bit more time and patience. You can rely on the experts at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training to assist with any training or classes you may need. If you live in Sarasota or Bradenton and need a great trainer, give us a call!

I know how frustrating it is to see your well-trained pup excreting again in the places exactly where he's taught not to.

Leo, my GSD, started defecating in prohibited places like the house, at the age of 10 months. For me, it was really difficult to start the potty training again from scratch.

Because only 4 months ago, I had finished teaching him where to pee and where not to. So, keeping the same patience, doing all the hard work again in quest of getting a pee-free home someday made me question my training sessions.

I felt like I might have missed something, and that led to my puppy's sudden regression.  

Being a pet owner, you will probably understand how worried I was. Fortunately, my vet helped me, no doubt, in every possible way.

She told me what causes puppy potty training regression and how to address the puppy potty training problems?

And it did work for me. Yes, I've finally achieved the pee-free home! Stay put; I'm going to share everything. 

What is Puppy Potty Training Regression?

Before you proceed, let me tell you what dog training regression is? Well, when your dog takes some steps backward from his learning trajectory and goes back to his old habit of soiling inside your house- you can address this behavior as puppy training regression.

If you think you had a great training session and it's totally uncommon for your dog to ever put you through all these, you're mistaken.

House Training regression is pretty common in dogs, especially in puppies. Yes, puppy potty training regression is mostly found at young ages from 4 months to 1 year.  

But that doesn't mean your dog can't show such behavior at 3 or 4 years of age. There are different reasons which can trigger the training regression in your dog at any age.

Here I've discussed all the probable causes in detail. Just scroll down and have a look.

What Causes Puppy Potty Training Problems?

Along with the adolescent changes in the brain, there are several other causes, which can be linked to your dog's training regression. I have mentioned all 3 major reasons below. My vet discussed each of these in detail. I have shared exactly what she told me. Take a look; you're also going to be benefitted. 

Stress

The first potential reason is stress. Yes, if your pup is handling a lot of stress, it may ha+ve a bad impact on his potty routine. And as a result, your puppy won't pee outside. But how can a dog be stressed? After all, he doesn't have to earn a living. Moreover, he has been taken care of like a baby, then? 

It may sound gibberish, but yes, it's true. Your dog can get stressed, especially when you bring another pet home, and your dog doesn't get enough attention like before.

Or, his favorite housemate has moved out, or you've become a mother and don't get enough time to spend with your pup. Any of these reasons can give stress to your fur-buddy.

Their life goes well when it's planned or predicted, but when something unexpected happens, you're more likely to see training regression in your dog. 

Anxiety

Here comes another potential trigger. If your dog faces sudden events that make him anxious, then your puppy won't pee outside and defecate in your home instead.

Anything can fuel anxiety in your dog. Some pups find this emotion overwhelming, whereas some others struggle to cope up with anxiety and leave messes to clean up.  

Different events and situations leave individual effects on dogs, but the common sources of dog anxiety include the fear of separation, loud noise, fireworks, even thunder.

Sometimes, a dog becomes anxious when his folk goes through major changes or trauma. If your dog is in any of these anxiety triggering situations, you may face house training regression. 

Other Medical Issues

For older dogs, regression is common if he's going through medical issues like bladder stones, urinary infections, or diabetes. In such cases, your dog needs proper clinical attention along with special care at home. Take your dog to a vet and get him checked thoroughly to find out what is the exact issue. 

"My dog has regressed in potty training"- How to Help Him Stick to the Training?

You got a clear idea about the triggering causes of puppy potty training regression. Now it's time to check out the tricks to make your pup stick to the training. Scroll down to know.

Prepare a Daily Schedule

It's important for your pup to put on a consistent daily routine, which will include the amount of water and food consumption. Make sure you are providing high-quality dog food to eliminate any risk of poor digestion. Also, take a note of your puppy's potty habit to find out when he needs to go.  

Along with that, make a potty area for your pup and take him there every few hours to defecate. When you're out for work, arrange a decent-sized playpen with a puppy mat to ensure that he can do his business whenever he wants to without messing up your home.

Track When and Where Indoor Accidents Happen

If stress or anxiety are the causes or in case this behavior of your pup is related to a certain trigger, then tracking down the place and time of the indoor accidents will help you a lot. Once you keep an eye, find out whether there is a trend or not. Along with that, also check if the accidents are related to a certain time or a certain place.  

My dog has regressed in potty training, and he used to urinate whenever I left him alone at home. When I tracked it, I made changes in his food and water consumption. Additionally, I used to take him to the potty area each time before leaving the house. Now, he is totally fine. You can also try the same and see the changes in your dog. 

Offer Treats for a Job Well-Done

Giving your puppy positive reinforcement is equally important. Whenever he does a good job with showing signs, give him his favorite piece of cookie or increase his playtime for a few hours.

Along with that, teach your pup how to tell you that he needs to go out. He'll get the tactics within one or two weeks. Until it becomes his habit, keep praising, and rewarding him. 

Never punish your dog for defecating inside your house. Instead, build a good habit gradually. If your dog has any kind of medical condition, you need to be extra careful.

Proper medical treatment is mandatory in such cases. However, if you have further queries to resolve, put it in the comment box below. I’ll be there to help you. Stay connected for more pet guides. Happy Petting!