With a little patience, understanding and consistent training, you can help get your pup on the right track and make sure that your area rug or carpet stay clean and dry. You’ll need to pay close attention to your pet’s behavior, considering factors such as age, diet and any health issues that may be causing your pup to go to the bathroom on your rugs.
As a dog owner, it’s also important to be consistent with your training and be on the lookout for any changes in your pup’s behavior. By implementing the tips and techniques outlined below, you’ll have a better-behaved puppy in no time.
1. Establish a Potty Training Routine
Establishing a potty training routine is one of the best ways to stop your dog from peeing on your rugs.
Some dogs may be difficult to train (certain breeds or older dog), but with patience, consistency, and some tips, you can get your pup to stop this bad habit.
Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Start by familiarizing your pup with the area you want them to use for their potty breaks. Take them to the same place, at the same time, each day and make sure to praise them when they go in the correct spot.
- Be sure to take them to the spot immediately after a meal, after waking up, and after playing.
- Praise them when they go in the correct spot.
2. Learn Your Dogs Potty Times
One of the most important things to do is to learn your dog’s potty times. Different dogs have different routines and schedules when it comes to peeing, so it’s important to pay attention to when your pup needs to go.
Generally speaking, a dog needs to go out to pee first thing in the morning, after meals, after playtime, and before bedtime. Keep an eye out for any cues or signs that your dog needs to go, such as sniffing around, scratching at the door, or circling around.
Once you know when your dog needs to go, create a routine and stick to it.
3. Set Up Boundaries and Stick to Them
Setting up boundaries and sticking to them is key when it comes to teaching your dog proper potty etiquette.
Start by restricting your pup’s access to the areas in your home where the accidents are occurring. If, for example, you have a rug in your living room, then use baby gates or pet gates to keep your dog out of that area. That way, you’ll be able to monitor your pup’s behavior and prevent accidents.
When you can, try to keep your pup in one room when you are not home. This will help to keep them from exploring and finding their way to places where you don’t want accidents to happen.
4. Use Puppy Pads as a Training Tool
One of the best ways to stop your dog from peeing on your rugs is to use a puppy pad/ pee pad). These special training tools are a great way to keep your pup from staining your rugs with their accident, especially young pups. Plus, the training process is actually quite simple.
Start by setting up the puppy pad in the same area where your pup typically has an accident. Make sure it is securely in place so they won’t be able to move it. Whenever they look like they need to go, lead them over to the puppy pad and encourage them to go on it.
Puppy pads are an excellent tool for potty training your pup. They provide a designated place for your pup to go when they need to use the restroom, and they make cleanup a breeze.
5. Take Your Dog Out Frequently
You should be taking your dog out for regular potty breaks on a schedule, so make sure you’re taking them out a few times a day. If they seem like they need to go out more often than that, it’s a good idea to take them out.
Dogs can’t hold it in as long as humans, so if you want to prevent them from peeing on your rugs, you need to give them plenty of opportunities to go outside.
Even if they don’t need to go to the bathroom, the fresh air and sense of security from being close to you will keep them from feeling the urge to pee indoors. If you’re out of the house for extended periods of time, consider setting up a doggy playpen or hiring a dog walker to take them out during the day.
6. Reward Good Behavior with Positive Reinforcement
One of the best training tactics to stop your dog from peeing on your rug or carpet is to reward good behavior with positive reinforcement.
This means rewarding them with treats and attention every time they pee in an appropriate place. Eventually, they’ll begin to associate that particular area with the positive reward and will turn away from the rug.
You’ll also want to be consistent in your actions and make sure to reward them every single time they pee in the right place.
7. Seek Help From a Certified Trainer or Behaviorist if Needed
If your pup is having trouble controlling their bladder and leaving puddles on your rugs, and none of the tactics above have worked, you may need to seek help from a certified trainer or behaviorist.
This is especially true if your pup is exhibiting other behavioral issues, as the two can be related.
A professional trainer or behaviorist is the best person to assess the problem and come up with a plan to help your pup stop peeing on your rugs.
When you take your pup to the trainer or behaviorist, be sure to answer any questions they have as accurately and honestly as possible. This will help them to create a plan tailored to your pup’s individual needs.
What to Do When Accidents Happen?
It happens to the best of us; you turn your back for one second and your pup has an accident on the carpet.
It’s not the end of the world, though. There are steps you can take to clean up and deodorize the urine so that your carpet looks as good as new.
Blot up as much of the urine as possible
The first step when dealing with a dog accident on the carpet is to take out a towel or a paper towel and begin blotting up as much of the urine as possible.
Be sure to press down firmly with the towel and avoid rubbing or scrubbing the area as this can cause the urine stain to spread.
Saturate the area with baking soda
One of the best ways to get rid of any unwanted mess on your carpet is to saturate the area with baking soda.
The baking soda will help to draw the moisture in, and will help to neutralize any odors that may linger. Make sure to let the baking soda sit for at least 1hr and up to 24 hrs before vacuuming it up.
Before this step, you can also consider applying a vinegar solution as an odor eliminator. The acetic acid in the vinegar helps neutralize the smell of pet urine, and can even help to break down the uric acid crystals that make up the urine.
Vacuum up the area once it has dried
Simply vacuum the area you had applied the baking soda.
Consider odor removers (enzymatic cleaner)
Once the area is dry and previous solutions have been vacuumed up, use a pet-safe or enzymatic cleaner to remove any odors.
This type of carpet cleaner breaks down the proteins from pet urine that cause the odor, rather than just masking them, which makes them much more effective.
The product below is a well rated odor remover to consider if you still are experiencing lingering urine odor.
