Foundation Camp
A 21-day board-and-train that builds solid obedience and manners, the right fit for milder issues.
Dog Behavior Solutions
Finish Potty Training for Good
House accidents wear on everyone. Partners Dogs helps you rule out medical causes and build the routine, supervision, and rewards that get your dog reliably house trained.
Behavior severity
MildWhat you may be seeing
- Peeing or pooping indoors, often when unsupervised
- No clear signal before needing to go out
- Accidents after a move, schedule change, or new home
- Puppy still learning where and when to go
- Reliable dog that has started having accidents
Seek help sooner if a house-trained dog suddenly starts having accidents, or you notice straining, blood, or frequent small pees, which point to a veterinary visit first.
Understanding the behavior
What is potty training and house accidents?
Potty training comes down to three things done consistently: a predictable routine, close supervision, and rewarding your dog for going in the right place. Most house accidents are a sign that one of those has slipped, not that a dog is being stubborn. A crate or confined space, a regular schedule, and thorough cleaning of past accident spots do most of the early work.
Accidents in a dog who was previously reliable are different. A sudden change is worth a veterinary check, because urinary tract issues and other medical causes are common. It also helps to tell apart incomplete house training from marking or from accidents tied to stress and being left alone, because each needs a slightly different plan.
Most dogs become reliable with a consistent routine and clear rewards. We help you build the schedule and supervision that make success the easy path, and troubleshoot the setbacks that come with moves, weather, and new environments.
Partners Dogs has trained Arizona dogs through every kind of potty training and house accidents case since 1997, at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek facilities. Lifetime trainer support is included with every board-and-train program.
The transformation
Before and after training
Drag the slider to see the change our programs make for a dog with potty training and house accidents. Same dog, same home, real outcome.
Watch
How we work on potty training and house accidents
Short walkthroughs from our trainers on the exact techniques we use to resolve potty training and house accidents. See how the work actually looks, then choose the path that fits your dog.
70,000+Dogs Trained
28+Years Experience
4.8★Average Rating
2Arizona Campuses
Recommended path · Mild severity
The right program for potty training and house accidents
Based on how potty training and house accidents typically presents, here is where we would start. Not sure which fits? Take the PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation.
Group Classes
Weekly Pet Parenting classes with our trainers, practice in a structured social environment.
The process
How it works
Assessment and check-in
- We verify vaccination records and complete pre-check-in forms.
- Your dog receives a full behavioral assessment.
- We set goals and build a personalized training plan.
- You meet the primary trainer and tour the facility.
Training and progress reports
- Multiple active training sessions every day.
- Controlled exposure and desensitization to triggers.
- Immersive socialization in a managed environment.
- Regular progress reports with photos and video.
Transition and follow-up
- Private lessons that transfer the training to you.
- Pet Parenting group classes for ongoing support.
- Access to our full Pet Parent Guide.
- Weeks of follow-up so the change lasts at home.
Not sure which program
Get a recommendation in minutes
Take our quick PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation, or talk to a trainer who has seen potty training and house accidents many times before.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Why is my potty-trained dog suddenly having accidents inside?
A previously housetrained dog who starts having accidents needs a medical workup first, behavior assessment second. Common causes:
- UTI or bladder infection. Frequent small accidents, sometimes blood in the urine. Vet visit immediately.
- Other medical issues. Diabetes, kidney issues, cognitive decline in older dogs. Rule these out before assuming behavior.
- Stress or routine change. A move, a new family member, a household conflict, owner schedule change.
- Anxiety or fear-based. Accidents triggered by storms, fireworks, or being left alone (overlaps with separation anxiety).
- Marking, not housetraining failure. Small targeted urinations on vertical surfaces, often in a multi-dog household. See indoor marking.
Do not punish a previously reliable dog who suddenly has accidents. Figure out the cause first.
What program helps with potty training, and what does it cost?
Most potty training cases are handled through Foundation Camp, our 14-day board-and-train ($3,509, discounted with membership), or coached directly in your home with Private Lessons for a lighter-touch option. A $199 PD360 Assessment, credited toward enrollment, helps rule out a medical cause first if this is a regression rather than a puppy still learning.
What's the difference between a potty training accident and marking?
They can look similar on the floor but they are different problems with different fixes, so it is worth telling them apart.
- Potty training accidents are typically a full bladder or bowel emptying, happen because the dog hasn't fully learned the routine yet, and often repeat in the same general area simply because it wasn't cleaned thoroughly.
- Marking is a small, targeted amount of urine, usually on a vertical surface like a table leg, doorframe, or a guest's bag, and it shows up even in dogs who are otherwise completely reliable. It is driven by territory or anxiety, not a training gap.
- The tell: a fully housetrained dog suddenly leaving small amounts on vertical objects, especially after a new pet, guest, or household change, points to marking, not a potty training lapse.
If it's marking, our indoor marking guide walks through the specific protocol for that pattern.
How do I potty train my puppy?
Potty training is mostly a management problem, not a dog problem. A puppy that never has the opportunity to go inside almost never develops a habit of going inside. The protocol:
- Out every 1-2 hours when awake, after every meal, after every nap, after every play session. Set a timer.
- Same spot, on leash. Go to one specific outdoor spot. The associated smell triggers the behavior.
- Reward immediately after they finish. Verbal praise + a treat the moment the last drop hits the ground. Not when they come back inside.
- Supervise constantly indoors. If you cannot watch the puppy, they are tethered to you or in the crate.
- Never punish accidents. Clean with an enzyme cleaner so the smell does not invite a repeat. Punishment teaches the puppy to hide and go behind the couch instead.
Most puppies are reliably housetrained by 4-6 months with consistent work. Adult rescues with bad early-life habits can take longer but the protocol is the same.
How do I potty train an adult rescue dog?
Adult rescue dogs need a full reset on potty training, even ones who came from a home where they were reportedly trained. A brand-new environment, new smells, and new schedule genuinely resets the learning.
- Start as if they know nothing. Out every 1-2 hours for the first week or two, same as a puppy protocol, until you have proof of a reliable pattern.
- Consistent spot and route. The same outdoor location, on leash, every time. It gives the dog a clear, repeatable cue.
- Supervise closely indoors. No unsupervised free-roam access until you have a track record. Tether or crate when you can't watch directly.
- Expect some regression. Stress from the transition, an unfamiliar routine, or an unknown history with a previous owner can all cause hiccups in the first two weeks. That is normal, not a training failure.
Most adult rescues are reliably housetrained within a few weeks of consistent management.
Related behaviors
Dogs with potty training and house accidents often show these patterns too. Explore the behaviors below. We treat them all.
Keep learning
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Ready for the next step
Talk to a trainer now
Every dog and household is different. Get a real conversation with a Partners Dogs trainer who has treated potty training and house accidents for more than 28 years. No pressure, just guidance on your dog's best path forward.