Why is my old dog refusing to potty outside after new puppy?

Hi there. Adding a new puppy to the household can be stressful for your current dog, so it's common to see housetraining relapses and other issues pop up when this happens. Just to "back to basics" with Poli for now, to remind her where to potty - take her out frequently, praise and reward when she goes to the bathroom outside, and supervise her or keep her crated when you can't watch her in the house. Once she's been accident free for a couple of weeks, you can gradually start relaxing your supervision again and let things get back to normal.

It sounds like Lily is still adjusting! You may want to temporarily add a second water bowl to give her options (and make sure she gets enough to drink) until she gets used to sharing. It may be once she's comfortable she'll go back to using the other bowl as well. As for pottying, taking her out on a leash to the area you'd like her to go and asking her to "go potty" can help show her that it's still OK to go out there. You may also want to bring along a few of her absolute favorite treats and reward her for successes to encourage her to continue going potty there, and make sure to clean up anything left behind by the puppy in case that is making her wary. As for her ball, playing with a different one, or encouraging play by going out there a bit more often/offering treats may help while she adjusts. It's likely that she'll return to normal play behavior in a few weeks once she is more used to the puppy, as well.

Dogs can be situational learners and just because they are housebroken in one situation does not mean they will be housebroken in all situations. I recommend to treat Hazel as if she was a puppy again until she learns that the new apartment is her home. That means take her out frequently and use a crate and leash in the house. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

She may have been trained to potty inside, you can try leaving out potty pads for her to go inside. She may also not be used to having to go potty in a busy, loud, or concrete-filled environment. Give her more time. Keep treats in your pocket and take her out often. Use a command like "go potty" and repeat it when you first get outside. When she does go outside, give her treats and LOTS of praise (people should be thinking you are a wackadoo!). Eventually she will figure out that going outside is a good thing that makes you very happy.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Dolly needs to adjust to the new schedule and new people caring for her. Go back to the basics and retrain her to the new schedule. Also, make it consistent. The same person lets her out every morning and feeds her at the same time everyday (even weekends). Go back to letting her out every couple of hours- it is easier to prevent an accident than to fix it. Lots of praise when she goes outside to potty. I would keep her in a kennel when she's not being watched. She should adjust more quickly this time around. Good luck and kisses to Dolly!

Sassy is bound to be a bit confused at the new routing in your house, but you can help her learn a new way of doing things. Put her on a leash and take her outside to her designated spot. Do not walk around. Just stand there and repeat "go outside" or a similar phrase. As soon as she starts to go, repeat "go outside" and praise "good dog!" as she goes. When she is finished, bring her directly back inside. If she does not go after a reasonable amount of time, bring her in but do not remove the leash. Attach it to your belt loop and keep her with you. Don’t let her out of your sight! When you see her start to circle or sniff, take her right outdoors again and repeat the process. If she does mess in the house, do not scold her unless you actually catch her in the act. In that case, say "NO!" and take her right outside. Tell her to "go outside" and praise as she finishes. Keep her in a crate at night, or for short periods when you are not at home, as you have been doing. For further assistance with this, you can click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

Hi and thank you for your question. I am sorry you are having some behavior issues with Luna. Moving can be stressful for both pets and pet parents! Moving to a new area, new home, and the addition of changing to being an only dog is a lot of new changes all at once. Sometimes it just takes time for dogs to acclimate to their new life and new home. She is likely feeling a little insecure in her new place, but that is not unusual. Keep her busy with exercise. Lots of walks, lots of play time with you and gradually introduce her to new people making the experience positive with rewarding her for good behavior with a treat she really really loves. Lavander oil with an essential oil diffuser in your home can aide in calming the mood. Calming chews with L-Theanine in them can also help as well as a number of Rx medications that can help smooth the transition if you are finding yourself and Luna in a road block with progress. Also, working with a trainer around your area can be a very helpful to keep Luna on track and moving in the right direction. Please consult with Luna's veterinarian regarding all supplements and Rx medications. Best of luck!