Mistakes and Accidents During Training
Accidents happen — it’s a normal part of raising and training a dog. The important thing is how you respond.
If you ever find an accident in the house, simply clean it up and move on. Do not punish your dog. All this really means is that your pup was given too much unsupervised freedom too soon. Until your dog has earned your trust, avoid letting them roam the house without supervision.
If mistakes occur, go back and reinforce the training you’ve already been working on. We’ll also help you learn to better predict when your dog needs to eliminate and whether they need more time to develop bladder and bowel control.
Reward the Right Behaviors
The single most important aspect of dog training is rewarding and praising your pup every time they get it right. For example:
Praise when your dog chooses their toy instead of your furniture.
Reward when they go potty outside instead of in the house.
The more time you spend with your dog reinforcing good choices, the quicker and easier training will be.
Establish a Routine
House training works best when you create a consistent schedule. A routine increases the chances your dog will eliminate in the right place — while you’re there to reward them — and reduces the chances of accidents in the wrong place.
Plan Ahead When You’re Away
If your dog isn’t fully house-trained yet, don’t allow free run of the house when you’re gone. Otherwise, your pup will form bad habits of leaving puddles and piles anywhere. Instead, confine them to a small, easy-to-clean area such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. Dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep, which makes confinement a useful training tool.
Finally, choose one specific area outdoors for potty breaks and stick with it. Consistency is key — the clearer you are, the faster your dog will learn.
👉 Accidents aren’t setbacks — they’re learning opportunities. Stay calm, stay consistent, and keep rewarding the good choices, and your dog will get there.