It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor.
The short answer is: no. While it's usually harder to train an older dog than a puppy, it's never too late to train a dog — you just have to be willing to put in the time, patience and determination required to create boundaries, establish new habits and eliminate destructive behaviors.
By 6 months old, the muscles that control the bladder are fully developed in most puppies. This means that accidents should be few and far between. While your puppy has the physical ability to control their bladder, their behavior and training skills may still be catching up.
Yes, an older dog can absolutely be potty trained. In fact, house training an adult dog can actually be easier than house training a puppy. This is because adult dogs are more likely more used to holding in their pee, so getting accumulated to a bathroom schedule may be easier for them.
If your dog keeps pooping in the house, they may have a health issue, or something might have changed in their routine, diet, or home environment that's causing the accidents. The first step is to rule out a medical reason, which involves making an appointment to see your veterinarian.
Adult dogs age one year and up: up to eight hours, but ideally no more than six. Senior dogs age eight and up: depending on size and health, anywhere from two to six hours.
Your Puppy Isn't Fully Potty Trained
If your puppy keeps peeing in undesired spots throughout your home, it may be the result of incomplete potty training. Potty training a puppy takes time and energy. Even if you believe that you have fully potty trained your puppy, they can quickly prove you wrong.
Puppy Bladder Control Chart
In general, by the time your puppy is 4-6 months old, she should have full control of her bladder (which means you can finally start sleeping through the night again!). Once your puppy has bladder control, she should still go out several times a day (three to five total) for bathroom breaks.
Not all dogs are house trained
Not everyone tries to house-train their dogs, for example if they are kennelled outside. This means that some pet dogs reach adulthood having not been fully house-trained. Luckily, in most cases, house-training an adult dog is quite simple and new habits can be taught quickly.
The Best Option: Ignore Them
Dogs crave human attention, with studies even showing that their oxytocin levels increase when they stare into their owner's eyes. So, if you find poop in the house, don't make a big deal out of it.
The reason puppies hold on outside and then pee immediately once they get back in is that the house is their happy place and the yard is not. As soon as they come inside, their parasympathetic tone increases and only then do they feel the urge to urinate. Your job is simple in theory: make outside a happy place too.
Mixing nutmeg, ginger, garlic, mustard, cinnamon, and chili powder in water to spray in an area can make a potent mixture that dogs may avoid. Make sure to dilute them in water and not sprinkle the spices so that a dog may inhale or ingest them.
Take your puppy outside frequently—at least every two hours—and immediately after they wake up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking. Pick a bathroom spot outside, and always take your puppy (on a leash) to that spot.
Delaying their potty break by 15 minutes every night will teach them to wait a little longer to do their business, eventually turning it into a morning routine. Once your puppy is three or four months old, they will most likely be able to go the full night (7 to 8 hours) without a toilet break.
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
If your pup is still struggling with house training and is having repeated accidents, don't worry or beat yourself up. Housetraining is one of the most difficult processes new puppy owners face, and the majority of puppies still have the occasional accident until they are over 6 months in age.
Your Pup Still Doesn't Have Full Bladder Control
If your puppy will only pee inside the house, you need to remember that young pups don't have complete control over their bladder. Most puppies aren't able to hold it until they are about 4-6 months old, and this is the time most accidents happen.
It typically takes 4-6 months for a puppy to be fully house trained, but some puppies may take up to a year. Size can be a predictor. For instance, smaller breeds have smaller bladders and higher metabolisms and require more frequent trips outside. Your puppy's previous living conditions are another predictor.
In the first six months of life, puppies need a lot of attention, care, and exercise. Puppies younger than 10 weeks won't be able to hold their urine for more than an hour at a time, and it's not until 6 months of age that puppies can wait up to six hours to go to the bathroom.
In general, you can leave a healthy puppy home alone when they are over 10 weeks old. However, this doesn't mean letting puppies roam free around your home. Before your puppy reaches this age, you can start crate training. This helps ensure that your puppy will be ready to handle being in a crate while you're at work.
Time passes
Owners often wonder if dogs have a sense of time passing and if our dogs miss us when we are gone. Well, the answer to that is a definite yes. When dogs in one study were left home alone for varying periods of time, they responded with differing levels of enthusiasm on their owner's return.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.