What do you do if your Lab suddenly starts having accidents in the house after months of being reliable? The first step is to take him to the veterinarian. Many health problems, such as bladder infections, cause housetraining lapses. A physical exam and possibly a urinalysis or fecal exam can rule out any health problems.

If your Lab gets a clean bill of health, study the circumstances surrounding the accidents. Has your routine changed? Is there a new pet or baby in the home? Insecurity can cause housetraining problems. Make any reasonable changes you can to help your Lab feel more comfortable, such as providing extra playtime or giving additional attention. You may need to go back to a strict routine of going out at specific times and confining him as needed until he's back on track.

Housetraining takes time. If your Lab is having lots of accidents, review your schedule to see where you might be going wrong. Take him out more often, and don't forget to crate him or put him in his safe room when you can't watch him. Patience and a positive attitude will get you successfully over the housetraining hurdle.