Most Common Dog Potty Problems Solved

Problem: Your new puppy isn't potty trained.
Solution: As a general rule, your puppy can hold it for the same number of hours as is his age in months. For instance, a 2-month-old puppy can hold it in for about two hours in his crate. Of course, that rule doesn't always apply: If he's 9 months old, he should never have to wait nine hours to go to the bathroom. So take your pup outside as often as possible — but until he's had all his vaccinations, be sure that his designated outside area is not accessible to other animals. And, of course, supervise your puppy the entire time he's outside. Crate training is another good option: Since your puppy won't want to sit in his own waste, he'll learn when and where to go to the bathroom. Find out how to get started here. 

Problem: Your dog pees when there are visitors at the door.
Solution: Dogs (especially females) urinate when they hear the doorbell as a sign of submission or excitement. In either case, tell visitors to ignore your dog when greeting to minimize this behavior. It's also a good idea to take your dog out to go to the bathroom before guests arrive. Learn what you should never do.

Problem: Your dog pees on your indoor plants.
Solution: Urine marking is when dogs leave small amounts of pee on what are usually vertical surfaces like walls, poles and even plants. This behavior is mostly seen in unneutered male dogs. But because it can be difficult to distinguish marking behavior from medical issues, you should talk to your veterinarian to rule out health problems. Learn more about the best ways to reduce this annoying behavior. 

Problem: Your dog won't go potty in the rain.
Solution: Pups with picky potty habits need to learn how to do their business on command. That way, he'll know to go every time he's let outside (whether he has a full bladder or not). It's not as difficult as it sounds; trainer Mikkel Becker reveals how it's done.

Problem: Your house trained adult dog is suddenly having accidents.
Solution: Start by taking your pup to the veterinarian to rule out any medical issues; he could have a urinary tract infection or another medical problem. In the meantime, you may want to rethink your indoor waste cleaning routine — your pup might be doing his business inside because he smells the lingering odor of past accidents. This is what you should be doing to clean up any messes.

Problem: Your dog's waste is ruining your lawn.
Solution: Dog waste plus fertilizer in your yard can equal brown spots and dead grass. To stop this from happening, try adding water to dry pet food to dilute your dog's urine and be sure to pick up poop in a timely manner. If your yard is already showing signs of waste damage, here's what you can do to revive it.