Dog Toilet Training Problems: Why Your Puppy or Adult Dog Still Has Accidents (and How to Fix It)

Are you struggling with toilet training after the puppy phase or with an adult dog?  It is a common enquiry we receive and there are a number of things to consider and action if you are dealing with these problems before engaging a professional dog trainer.  Let’s take a closer look.

Common Toilet Training Enquiries We Hear

We routinely get enquiries from dog owners who are finding that their dog either always or intermittently toilets inside well past the initial puppy phase.  Sometimes this is due to missed opportunities early in the puppy’s training but other times the most obvious protocols have been followed and there are other factors at play.  Here are a few examples of enquiries:

• Hi, I have a 4 month female Toy Poodle.   She attended a 5 week Puppy School which we were able to take away some basic skills but I really need help with her training.  She is all over the place with her toilet training.
• We have 2 x Cavoodle dogs. One female just turning 1yo, and a male who is now 5 months old. We need assistance with toilet training as they are still have “accidents “ inside, and general behaviour, as my wife works from home and the dogs are causing her a deal of stress and anxiety.
• We have an 8 month old Jack Russell puppy that we are keen to have some in home dog training for. This mainly relates to nipping and reactive behaviours and also toilet training.

Often these toilet training issues are accompanied by other behavioural problems which can give some indication that general training and socialisation is lacking – but not always.  In other examples good toileting has regressed for one reason or another.  

Questions to Ask Before Calling a Dog Trainer

When an enquiry comes in that’s focused solely on toilet training, my first step is to ask a series of questions and provide some initial guidance. This type of issue isn’t something that can usually be solved in a single training session — especially if the dog doesn’t happen to need the toilet during that time. Successful toilet training requires round-the-clock consistency until a routine is firmly in place, unless another underlying problem is present. Here are some of the key questions I start with:

• Have you tried structured toilet training routines?
• Does your dog have a designated toileting area?
• Was your puppy ever crate trained?
• Have pee pads or indoor toileting been used as a stopgap?
• Does your dog always have access to the toileting area?
• Has the problem been consistent, or is it a recent regression?
• Are there environmental factors (stress, changes at home) that affect toileting?

These questions help us understand both the consistency of your dog’s training and any environmental factors that may be influencing the problem. If the responses suggest that toilet training hasn’t been applied consistently, we usually recommend a focused two-week reset. During this time, owners commit to a structured toilet training plan.

A Structured Two-Week Toilet Training Reset

If inconsistent training is the issue, we recommend revisiting the basics for two weeks:

• Confining or restricting the dog’s movements at night.
• Taking the dog to the designated toileting area first thing in the morning, commanding the toileting with whatever word suits you, and rewarding the dog when they ‘toilet’ with pats and praise.
• Restricting the dog’s movements indoors to allow for complete supervision at all times.
• Routinely taking the dog to the toileting area during the day if the dog has been inside. If the dog toilets during this process give praise and pats.
• Interrupting any attempt to toilet inside and taking them directly to the designated toileting area.

As you can see, the process often comes back to reinforcing the basics of puppy training while also working to break an established habit. Consistency is key — setting aside dedicated time for at least a week is essential. If training is applied only sporadically, progress will be slow and frustrating.

If after two weeks there’s little or no improvement, it’s a good idea to have a professional dog trainer assess your dog in the home environment to identify any contributing factors.

When toilet training problems occur alongside other behaviour issues, it may be a sign that the dog isn’t used to learning from their owners or doesn’t fully understand what’s being asked. This is why puppy training fundamentals are so important: they don’t just teach specific skills, they help your dog develop the ability to learn how to learn.

When Toilet Training Isn’t Just Training

Sometimes owners have put in solid effort with consistent training across multiple areas, yet toilet habits remain unreliable or even regress after initial progress. In these cases, it’s important to look beyond training alone and consider other possible factors. For example:

• Medical issues such as incontinence
• Fear or excitement urination
• Negative association with the toileting area (e.g. fear of the yard)
• Changes in routine such as moving house or new family members
• Multi-dog households leading to copying or marking behaviours
• Trauma (storms, fireworks, or frightening experiences outside)

There are many potential factors, too numerous to cover in one list, but by discussing the situation in detail with the owner we can usually uncover what might be contributing. At this stage, it’s often best to bring in a professional dog trainer who can help identify the underlying issues and guide you back on track.

Preventing Toilet Training Problems

With the exception of medical issues, most of these challenges come back to how a puppy is raised. Laying strong foundations early helps your dog learn how to learn, develop social and environmental confidence, build resilience, and establish reliable toileting habits. Being prepared from day one makes a huge difference. That’s why we created The Puppy Pathway training program — a complete resource to guide you through those crucial early stages and set your puppy up for long-term success.