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!