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My Dog Is 6 Months Old And Not Potty Trained!

A new puppy can add a great deal of excitement to a home. There’s never a dull moment when you adopt a pup.

Puppies are energetic, rambunctious, inquisitive, joyous and so much more. If your new pup isn’t potty trained, that will be your first order of business after bringing him home. You certainly don’t want to be cleaning up potty messes for long.

Six months later, however, your pup is still having potty accidents in the home! You may wonder if there’s something wrong with your pup or maybe you just went about training him wrong.

Although the fact that “my dog is 6 months old and not potty trained!” can be exasperating, it’s not cause for alarm. At times like these, it’s important to reflect on the progress your pup has made since you first brought him home.

Keep in mind that 6 month-old dogs are still puppies at heart and your pooch may simply need more time to catch on to housetraining. Dogs differ in how they learn and grow, with some learning faster than others.

If, for the most part, your pup is peeing and pooing outdoors with only a few accidents in the home, then his potty training probably isn’t as bad as you may think. With extra time and attention, your pup will eventually master this skill.

Can You Still Potty Train a 6-Month-Old Dog?

Absolutely! Potty training your 6 month old pup may take more time, effort and patience, but it can be done! If your pup developed bad habits over the time he wasn’t housebroken, these habits will need to be broken before he can move on.

By closely observing your pup during the training process, you’ll be able to see the areas he needs to work on. Close supervision will also prevent accidents in the home and help your pet achieve his potty training goals.

The first order of business in training your older pup is gaining his trust. A pup that loves and trusts you is more apt to cooperate with your housetraining efforts.

Whether you’re continuing training or starting from scratch, keep in mind the key components of successfully housebreaking a dog, i.e. keeping a regular potty schedule, confining your pup to his crate or one area of the home, using the same commands for going potty and rewarding your pup each time he does his business outdoors.

Patience and a positive attitude are key to house training your 6-month-old dog. Be consistent, patient and diligent in maintaining your pup’s routine to make it easier for him to learn.

Your pup will have good days and days with setbacks – the important thing is that he’s making steady progress.

Praise and rewards are powerful tools for reinforcing good behavior in your dog. So be sure to give your pup plenty of both when he gets it right in doing his business outdoors.

At What Age Is It Too Late to Potty Train a Dog?

It’s never too late to housebreak a dog. Adult dogs (with the exception of senior pets) are apt to have better bladder control than puppies, which could facilitate their training with fewer accidents in the home.

If you’re still in the process of potty training an older dog, don’t give up. Establish a routine that works well with your dog and stick to it until you get positive results.

Make sure your pup has a regular feeding schedule as this will help regulate his system to facilitate potty training. If your pup is going pee indoors shortly after not going outdoors, consider staying out longer to give him a chance to explore his surroundings, sniff around and then relieve himself.

Make sure you take your pup out frequently enough to do his business outdoors – when he first gets up in the morning, after every meal, before bed and several more times during the day.

The idea is to give your pup AMPLE opportunity to pee and poop outside so that he does it more frequently and it becomes the norm. In time, your pup will learn that the great outdoors is the place to go and will be letting you know when nature calls.

If your dog doesn’t go when you take him out, put him in his crate or restrict him to one area for 10 minutes or so and then try again.

Until your pup is completely potty trained, don’t turn him loose indoors if he hasn’t gone potty outside as he’ll probably pee the first chance he gets in the house.

How Do I Stop My 6-Month-Old Puppy from Peeing in The House?

Indoor pee accidents are par for the course for young puppies that are initially getting housebroken.

By the time your pup is 6 months old, however, you shouldn’t have to accept random pee puddles on the floor (or anywhere else in your home!) It may be time to re-evaluate your relationship and the role you each play in the potty training process.

If your pup doesn’t view or respect you as the “alpha,” he may not listen to you or take his housebreaking training seriously, which may be why he’s having so many accidents in the home.

An older healthy pup that’s constantly peeing indoors needs a firmer hand and appropriate action to help break him of this habit.

Every time he has an accident, take your pup to the pee spot and reprimand him, using a somber tone of voice to show your displeasure.

Don’t yell, spank or swat your pup, as these actions will not help and may even have negative repercussions in frightening your pup or provoking aggressive behavior.

After reprimanding your pup, walk him outdoors to an area where he can pee and, in a pleasing tone of voice, explain this is where he should go.

Repeat this sequence as often as necessary, rewarding your pup every time he goes outdoors. Studies show that dogs have an uncanny ability to comprehend the intonation and body language of people around them.

In time, he’ll discern what’s acceptable behavior and what’s not, by listening to the tone of your voice. Rewards are also a great incentive for potty training, so be sure to reward your pup generously with love, affection, extra playtime or treats when he goes outdoors.

Why Is My 6 Month Old Dog Not Getting Potty Trained?

There are numerous reasons why a dog, after going through a potty training course, isn’t housebroken by the time he’s 6 months old. Your pup may simply need more time or incentive to learn the concept of going outdoors.

Some dogs are incapable of holding their pee for long periods of time and require more trips outside to avoid pee accidents indoors.

Health issues that affect your pup’s ability to control his bladder could be another reason why your pup is having so many pee accidents indoors.

A urinary tract infection could be making it hard for your pup to hold his pee until he can get outside. Major changes in your pup’s routine, household or environment can also impact housetraining, especially if a change has caused fear, stress or anxiety in your pup.

If your pup is easily excitable, he may have a hard time holding his pee until he gets outdoors.

Lastly, the problem with potty training may not lie with your dog at all. You may be inadvertently sabotaging your pup’s potty training efforts with your busy schedule, making it difficult for your pup to get out on time or maintain his potty routine.

Lack of supervision can also make it hard for your pup to succeed in potty training, as you won’t catch the signs that your pup needs to go to prevent accidents indoors. By making potty training a priority, you’ll have greater success in housetraining your dog.

Conclusion

Housetraining a puppy isn’t a walk in the park. It takes time, patience and commitment on your part. You and your pup are a team in this effort. By working together and plodding along, you can change your tune from “my dog is 6 months old and not potty trained!” to my dog is fully potty trained and loving the newfound freedom he has in the home!