Some people will tell you that toy dogs simply can't be housetrained. That's silly. These people just haven't taken the time and care to get the job done. Dogs cooperate best when rules are clear and enforced; ineffective supervision that allows accidents to go undiscovered confuses the dog about what's right and what's wrong. So, be fanatically dedicated to supervising your dog, and you shouldn't experience any housetraining setbacks.

Training an Adult Dog

The main difference in housetraining an adult rather than a puppy is that the adult will not have to go as often, making your task easier. However, already developed bad habits could make your job harder and lead to setbacks in training. To learn what your adult dog knows, keep him tethered to you and watch carefully for any signs that the dog needs to go. If he looks at you and whines, or tries to take you to the door or potty area, you may have a dog that already has some housetraining experience. All that's left for you to do is be sure the dog understands how to access the potty area and generally keep an eye on things.

If the dog hasn't been previously housetrained, or if in the past he was simply left to potty where he lived (as is the case for dogs housed full-time in wire cages), treat him as you would a puppy. Supervise carefully, and reward correct behavior enthusiastically.

Sudden Problems

If your housetraining has been going well and all of a sudden you start seeing more mistakes, you've probably become overconfident and let up too much on your supervision. If you rededicate yourself to supervising, you should get right back on track in no time.

If you thought you had the training finished, and your dog has been reliable for months, then suddenly starts having accidents, look for a reason. Schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. A bladder infection can make urination more urgent, and maybe the dog just couldn't get outside in time. Changes in circumstances, such as a family member leaving the household, can upset the dog and cause housetraining lapses. To remedy the situation, go back to supervising and pay more attention to the dog.