Potty training can be a total drag. It seems like our dogs and puppies learn all the wrong lessons at first! With young puppies, we can chalk this up to lack of bladder control. But what about with an adult dog?
It’s pretty common for dogs and puppies to pee on the carpet, even after a bathroom break. In today’s Ask a Behavior Consultant, we’re tackling this problem.
I live in an apartment and [my two-year-old retired show dog] is in a playpen with food, bed, and toys. There is also a puppy pad for her. She only goes potty when she’s on the carpet. [I praise her when] she pees and poos in the playpen and gives treats when she’s inside but she still comes out and pees shortly after she’s been let out.
– Pom Mommy
If you’re struggling with potty training problems, check out our archive of articles on the topic. You’ll get more help there!
It’s always a bit surprising to me how many adult rescue, shelter, or purchased dogs are still not potty trained. In Pom Mommy’s case, she purchased a two-year-old retired show dog, only to find out that her new Pomeranian isn’t potty trained.
Pom Mommy is finding that her new dog will pee on the carpet, even if her dog has potty pads accessible.
Why is this happening?
Why Your Dog Keeps Peeing on the Carpet
In this case, it’s likely that Pom Mommy’s dog was never potty trained in the first place.
Perhaps the dog was raised in a kennel environment or outdoors. It’s hard to say – but apparently the potty training lessons didn’t take hold.
If your dog is peeing indoors, it’s probably because she was never fully potty trained in the first place.
This is especially true for puppies or dogs with unknown histories.
If your dog was previously housetrained, be sure to take her into the vet to ensure that it’s not a UTI, medical condition, or stress-based response.
Peeing on the carpet is common because, to a dog, it seems totally sensible. Carpet is absorbent, helping avoid getting your dog’s paws wet. It’s also outside of your dog’s crate/den/play pen area, so it’s a great place to go!
That’s probably why you notice that your dog holds her pee and then pees outside – she doesn’t want to pee where she sleeps!
Praise alone isn’t cutting it for this little dog. While some dogs can learn new skills in response to praise, most dogs need to be paid a bit better.
We can relate – most of us prefer to get a paycheck instead of just a “thank-you” (especially from a boss)!
How to Teach Your Dog to Pee Outside, Not on the Carpet
Potty training a dog is labor intensive, there’s no real way around it. The thing is, right now Pom Mommy’s dog probably doesn’t know that she can cash her pee in for food! The dog also probably doesn’t know that peeing on the carpet is a problem.
It’s generally best to start potty training all over again from scratch. This will help us start off on the right paw and fix all of our problems.
Here’s what Pom Mommy (or you, if you have this problem too) should do next:
1. Take Your Dog Outside Regularly. Reward Heavily.
Set a timer if you need to. I recommend starting with every hour, on the hour.
If your dog pees outside, give her a treat (I really like the Blue Bits from Blue Buffalo because you can split the hearts in half for little dogs).
Reward heavily. If you want your dog to use potty pads as well, you also need to reward your dog with treats every time she pees on the potty pads.
2. No Playtime for “Full” Dogs. Use Confinement Wisely.
If your dog is not “empty,” your dog cannot be unsupervised.
So if your dog hasn’t peed recently, she needs to be inside of a playpen, inside her crate, or on a leash.
Use the umbilical training method or a playpen for the rest of the time.
If your dog isn’t empty or being directly supervised, your dog needs to be contained.
I use a training tether (see below) to tie my dog to the couch, doors, or my chair. Everywhere I go, she goes. That’s the umbilical method – it helps you keep a close eye on your dog.
If you’d rather not do that, use an exercise pen instead (see below).
3. Supervise, Supervise, Supervise!
Watch your dog. If she starts to circle, sniff, or squat (or lift a leg, for boy dogs), scoop her up and carry her outside or to the potty pad.
Try not to make this scary! You don’t want to teach your dog that peeing in front of you is scary.
If she pees outside or on the potty pad,
4. Be patient. View Mistakes as Learning Opportunities.
If
Instead, learn from your mistake. You’re the one with the big brain and the thumbs.
What happened that allowed your dog to have an accident? Then try to fix that!
5. Super-Clean.
Be sure to super-clean the areas with something made specifically for dog urine. Your household cleaners might clean up the sight and smell of your dog’s pee to YOU, but you need something that will break down the enzymes so your dog doesn’t smell your carpet as a bathroom! I use Clean Carl’s for my foster dogs and puppies.
Unfortunately, potty pads are pretty tricky for many dogs. It’s just not obvious to most dogs that a potty pad is all that different from carpet, newspaper, or other common household items.
Instead, I recommend using a puppy litter box (see below). Even better, teach your dog to pee outside! Again, the difference between a puppy pad and the carpet is just not obvious to most dogs.
Potty training can be a chore – but it’s worth it not to have to clean up dog pee indoors all the time!
With patience, consistency, and a few treats, you’ll get there.
My 9 year old dog has started peeing on the rug, at some point during the day when I am home. She has always had separation anxiety issues and had accidents while we were gone. But since we moved into our new house in February, she’s been having trouble adjusting and acting out. Ive been working from home the past 5 weeks and have found pee at least two separate times. I put her out at least 3 times during the day and take her for a daily walk. I’m not sure when she’s doing this and why let alone how to stop it!
Hi Kelsey – I think we might need to address the separation issues to help deal with this problem. You can check out our separation anxiety offerings to get help.
We moved to a new home that had carpet downstairs in November 2019. Our 5 year old Beagle has been constantly peeing on the carpet since we moved in. Our last house did not have carpet. She goes out side often, is in the kennel when we leave and we have recently had to start putting her in the kennel over night. We use a spray when we find the pee, and use our carpet cleaner about once a month. I don’t know what to do to get her to stop peeing!! It smells like a barn downstairs ?
My dog is 9yrs old. A shih Tzu. We bought brothers. This one is smarter and more stubborn. I put his nose in it. He does this on and off. He has ruined more than one rug. I put him in his crate now and he claws and will not stop barking. I have it. Sometime he will not go in the crate and runs around the house and snaps if i put him in. He is usually a very sweet dog and is mostly close to me. If I didn’t love him, I would not keep him. PLEASE HELP, Linda
I am actively trying to reward potty pad or outside peeing. My puppy hasn’t done either yet and is only peeing inside on the carpet. I took her outside for hours and supervised after giving her water. I still have no results. Any advice? I am considering trying the umbilical method but she is not leash trained yet. I figure it might take her a while.
The umbilical method is a good next step!
If I put a rug at the front door my dog will pee on it. If I don’t put a rug there she has no pee in the house issue. What’s up with that?
Same here! If I try to have any type of rug, my dog pees on it. But if there isn’t a rug in sight, then no pee. It’s very frustrating and I’m at my ends. She’s been potty trained and goes at least three times a day and is over two years old. We’ve been cleared for UTI and have been told she will “grow out of it” but I’m still waiting. I’ve run out of ideas on what to use the get rid of the pee scent so she doesn’t think it’s a spot for her to let loose on. Help!
Would you like to schedule a consult to see if I can help you problem-solve? Just hover over the 1-on-1 training tab on the menu of the site to see your options. I’ve got so many questions and suggestions for you! And be sure you’re using the tips already laid out in this article.
I am having the same exact issue. I rescued my dog in February. She is a little over a yr old and I don’t know her back history. She’s pees and poops outside and is a great dog. If I put any carpet on the floor she will pee on it. If there is no carpet she doesn’t pee. She has been doing this ever since I got her. She goes for several walks a day and we have a yard. No sure what else to do except not have any carpets which is very frustrating. I’m washing rugs daily. Please help.
Would you like to schedule a consult to see if I can help you problem-solve? Just hover over the 1-on-1 training tab on the menu of the site to see your options. I’ve got so many questions and suggestions for you! And be sure you’re using the tips already laid out in this article.
Can u help me? I have a 5 month old pamaraion and hes a boy. We ben using pee pads to train him. He pees on the pads but at night he pees on my carpet in front of my bedroom door bc at night we close the door n leave a pad on the floor. Wen we wake in the morning he has peed. I NEED HELP!! PLEASE
Hi Erin, absolutely. Let’s schedule a call to get things sorted out: https://journeydogtraining.com/product/1-15-minute-behavior-help-call/
My dog is a 7 year old male. He recently had a bad experience at the vet & was apparently trying to bite them. So was sedated for his hair cut & bath needle etc. it wasn’t our usual vet & we’ve had no trouble before with hair cut. First time he’s had a bath away from home. I usually do it & will be doing so again from now on. I know it was a very traumatic time for him. When we come home he was very lethargic & sleeping a lot virtually took about 3 days to wake up properly was licking between his toes flat out to the point it was really annoying then I noticed some blood in between his toes. ( I’m sure he had too much anaesthetic) took him back to vet has had a course of antibiotics for inflammation between his toes & cream to put between his toes once a day which are healed up now & has finished he’s tablets. But Is now peeing inside on the carpet 1/2 times every second day or so. Have growled at him. He knows as soon as I find it he’s done wrong & cringes at the door to go out. I hate that he’s cringing from me. He sleeps with me & usually wakes me if he wants to go out & is usually a very obedient cuddly boy. But now is waking me after he’s wet on the carpet. What should I do I don’t want to take him back there. & because of COVID & border closure i can’t really go anywhere else
Diane, that’s a really tough situation. Unfortunately, I can’t really address the medical concerns since I’m not a vet. That said, for the potty issues it’s worth just going back to the beginning of positive-reinforcement potty training (we’e got some articles on that here). I do think another vet consult might be needed to ensure that there’s not a medical reason for the potty training regression. Maybe you can get a telemedicine appointment?
Hi!
My almost 5 year old German shepherd mix has recently been having accident in our home. Every once in a while she’ll have accidents on the one rug in our living room. For the most part she’s usually good. I’ve been working from home and have noticed more accidents when myself and husband have to leave to go somewhere. Tonight while we were getting ready to eat dinner, my husband sat in our living and she started to pee right in front of him on the rug. I’m not sure why she would do this and we’re both stumped. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Hi Liz, has she been checked for a UTI? Does she seem anxious when she’s alone?
Hi,
I have a 6 year old mix that we rescued when she was about a year and a half. She was house trained when we got her and in general don’t have an issue with her doing pees inside unless there are extenuating circumstances. What we do have a problem with is she pees in her bed and snuggles into it at night. It’s almost like it’s a comfort thing to her. Is there any way we can retrain her?
Hi Nuala, has she been checked for a UTI? Does it only happen when she’s sleeping?
I have a 5 month old teacup yorkie, our house has carpet only in the bedrooms, and we always keep the bedroom doors closed. She’s good at using the doggie door and going out to go pee but as soon as a bedroom door opens she runs in and pee’s on the carpet. How do I get her to stop peeing on carpet? I hate taking her to anyone’s house that has carpet, I’m afraid she’ll pee all over, please help
Hi Kimberly, can you try putting her on leash and letting her into the room just an inch, then taking her out again, and rewarding her? This should help teach her to go in without peeing but you have to use a leash to prevent her from getting away from you!
I have a 4 year old rescue dog; she is 9 lbs and a bundle of joy except she pee’s on rugs. I have removed the area rug in the family room. We take her out regularly and she will on occasion let us know she wants to go out. At the most random times I will find a puddle or a wet spot on the small rug at the door. She even peed on the sofa the other day. It appears if no one is in the room and she needs to go she finds a rug to go on. I have had her about 9 months and have been working on outside but still am having a pee accident a few times a week. There is no UTI, already ruled that out. I don’t know if I should start using a pee pad, I am at wits end and can’t keep having her pee around the house. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to speak to her vet but he does not talk to us due to the excuse of covid, her visits are without me present and his conversations on the phone after her visit are very short – yes I need to find a new vet.
Hi Michele – I’d re-train her as if she were a puppy. Use confinement or the tether method to supervise, take her out often, CONFIRM that she goes outside, reward appropriately, and repeat. https://journeydogtraining.com/tether-training/
Hello, i have a 2 year old girl named molly. She is half german shepherd half chihuahua. I recently just moved into a new apartment with her and she keeps peeing on my new carpet. At first i though its a new place, she’s probably trying to mark her territory! Understandable. I purchased some pee pads for her to try and aim on incase we cant get her outside right when she needs to. She is already familiar with the pads and knows she gets rewarded when she uses them! But its like since we moved she refuses to use the pee pads! She knows to use the bathroom outside . And she always goes when she is outside.i have a pad down in my bedroom, living room, hallway and even my back patio. Do i have to re- potty train her because of the move??? Is there anyway i can teach her to use the pads again? As i said sometimes i dont have time to walk her outside my building but its getting me because everything she knows and i taught her just isnt there? Please help me!
Hi Liya – generally we suggest going back to the basics with potty training 101 whenever we see a regression, unless there’s a medical concern going on ass well.
Hello, I’ve been having trouble with my 7 month old pup she will get let out frequently during the day and night and even in the middle of the night and yet sometimes she won’t even go when you let her out she’ll sit on the porch and wait till she’s let in and then pee on the carpet it’s to the point the carpet is needing to be replaced I’ve shampooed it multiple times and I have a puppy pad out for her she won’t pee on it but she’ll poop on the carpet also. I have tried treats I have tried sitting outside with her and she still just won’t go half the time. It’s to the point that I don’t know what to do anymore. What can I do to make her stop peeing on the carpet?
Hi Evelyn, if the basic suggestions here aren’t helpful it’s probably time to schedule time to talk. We can help you over the phone if you book a call in the menu above!
I have a Jack Chi who is a 1 yr and 9 mos old. She has always been potty trained to go on the pads. We can’t get her to go potty outside. She has no schedule when it comes to being able to tell when she has to go. After she eats I have tried 15, 20, 30 minutes up to an hour to take her outside thinking she will have to poop, but nothing. I could spend 2 hrs outside with her hoping she will go to the bathroom only for her to use potty pads as soon as we walk in the house. She does occasionally poop, not pee outside and we reward her with treats. She recently for the past few months has been peeing on only one rug in the house. It was a rug we bought used, so I shampooed it thinking maybe she smells other dogs on it. Doesn’t matter, she still rather pee on it then the pads now.
Hello, so my stepmoms daughters dads dog she is a husky, ( i dont know how old she is shes like a baby i am assuming) but we take her out like alot but a few moments later when she comes back in give her about 5 mins she pees like alot in our rug and i said to my family that she could have a bladder problem and they think so because all of them agreed. And she has never done this when we watched her, then all of the sudden boom she is peeing like crazy even though we take her out. Pls help me out <3
Hi Anastasia. I’m so sorry you’re struggling. Has the dog seen a vet yet to confirm the bladder issue? You likely won’t be able to resolve this without treating the bladder issue first.