New Rescue Dog Peeing in the House: Cleanup and the First Weeks

This guide is for an adopted adult or shelter dog that pees indoors in its first weeks at home: why, how to restart house training, and how to clean each spot so the smell does not draw the dog back. It uses what the American Kennel Club (AKC), the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals and the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) say.

Why a new dog has accidents

The AKC article "Urine Marking vs. Peeing" says potty accidents usually happen with "puppies, newly adopted dogs who don't yet understand their new routine and rules", among others. Its article on adult dogs adjusting to a new home says:

"your new dog has no idea that an unknown family, strange household, and different expectations are about to become his new reality."

The same article adds: "Just because he was housetrained somewhere else doesn't mean he understands how that works at your house." The AKC's "How to Housetrain an Adult Dog" lists "Some reasons why an older dog might not be house trained:"

"No one ever bothered to train him."
"They may never have lived indoors."
"They may have spent a long time in a place where they could only go on concrete, paper in a pen, bedding in a crate, etc."

Sources: AKC, Urine Marking vs. Peeing; AKC, How to Help an Adult Dog Adjust to a New Home; AKC, How to Housetrain an Adult Dog.

Start over, as you would with a puppy

The AKC's "Housetraining a Rescue Dog" asks what to do if "you rescue an adult dog who has frequent accidents in the house? In these cases, you should go back to the beginning and start over with housetraining and crate training." Its adjustment article says: "Be patient with housetraining, and treat the dog the way you would a puppy".

Sources: AKC, Housetraining a Rescue Dog; AKC, How to Help an Adult Dog Adjust to a New Home.

A schedule of trips outside

The AKC's rescue dog article says:

"Beginning with taking your dog outside the first thing in the morning, schedule trips outside about every two hours including after every meal. Then, make a final trip outside at night before you go to bed."

Humane World for Animals' puppy house training advice adds naps and play: "Take your puppy outside frequently [at least every two hours] and especially after they wake up, after play sessions, and after eating or drinking."

The AKC also says: "Reward generously with treats and praise when successful." For the puppy version of these basics, see Pet Cleanup Kit's Potty Training Basics page.

Sources: AKC, How to Housetrain an Adult Dog; AKC, Housetraining a Rescue Dog; Humane World for Animals, How to Potty Train a Puppy.

Supervise, and confine when you cannot

The AKC's adult dog article says:

"Any time you cannot supervise your dog, he should be in a crate or pen, or in a smaller room behind a baby gate. You can also keep him near you with a leash."

It adds: "Gradually, over a few weeks, you can allow a little freedom, 10 or 15 minutes after he eliminated outside."

If the crate gets wet, the AKC says: "Clean the crate and any bedding so it is free of any scent from urine or feces." See How to Clean Dog Pee in a Crate or Kennel.

Sources: AKC, How to Housetrain an Adult Dog; AKC, Housetraining a Rescue Dog.

What not to do

The AKC says: "There may be an accident, but don't punish the dog. If you frighten or punish him, he might become afraid to potty in front of you and will sneak off to do it somewhere else." The ASPCA says: "But a dog will not learn anything by being scolded for a past accident, even one a few minutes old. Just clean it up and soldier on." Humane World for Animals' puppy advice says: "Never punish your puppy for accidents. Scolding or rubbing their nose in it will only make them fearful and slow progress."

Sources: AKC, How to Housetrain an Adult Dog; ASPCA, House Training Your Dog or Puppy; Humane World for Animals, How to Potty Train a Puppy.

Clean every spot so the smell does not draw the dog back

The AKC's urine cleanup guide says: "Lingering scent can draw your dog back to the same area, reinforcing accidents."

For a fresh spot on carpet, Humane World for Animals says: "Place a thick layer of paper towels on the wet spot and cover that with a thick layer of newspaper." Then: "Rinse the "accident zone" thoroughly with clean, cool water and blot dry."

The CRI says "Blot; don't scrub." and "you should still pretest any cleaner on a scrap of carpet or in an out-of-the-way area of your carpet." Humane World for Animals warns:

"Avoid cleaning chemicals such as ammonia or vinegar. Strong chemical odors may encourage your pet to reinforce the urine scent mark in that area."

Step by step for a puppy or new dog: Puppy Accidents: Cleanup Steps That Stop Repeat Spots. For a rug, see How to Get Dog Pee Out of an Area Rug. More on why spots draw dogs back: Why Do Dogs and Cats Keep Peeing in the Same Spot? If the smell returns, see Pet Urine Smell Came Back After Cleaning.

Sources: AKC, How to Get Rid of Dog Pee Stains and Smells; Humane World for Animals, How to Remove Pet Stains and Odors; CRI, Cleaning and Maintenance.

Marking, or an accident?

Among reasons dogs mark in the house, the AKC lists: "Bringing a sense of odor familiarity to an environment that is new to the dog". It also says: "Marking also usually involves small amounts of urine in multiple locations, while a dog emptying their bladder will leave more pee in a single spot." If that sounds like your dog, see Dog Marking Indoors: Cleanup That Discourages Repeat Marking.

Source: AKC, Urine Marking vs. Peeing.

Peeing when greeted or scolded

Humane World for Animals says: "Submissive urination can be more common in young puppies who are gaining confidence but can also occur in adult dogs." See Submissive and Excitement Peeing in Dogs: Cleanup and What Helps.

Source: Humane World for Animals, How to stop your dog from peeing in the house.

How long it may take

On settling in generally, the AKC says: "The dog will need at least a few months to develop trust, feel comfortable, and learn his role." It quotes animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell:

"For the first three days, dogs are often in a bit of shock, and don't show you too much about who they are until they've been there a few days. After three weeks, many dogs have settled and behave as though they feel like they are home now, but they really don't fit into your routine until about three months have gone by."

The AKC's puppy article adds: "If you've completed every aspect of potty training and only gave your puppy the freedom they were ready for, but they're still having accidents, then it's time for a trip to the veterinarian."

Sources: AKC, How to Help an Adult Dog Adjust to a New Home; AKC, Why Does My Puppy Pee in the House?.

Using P-Cleaner

P-Cleaner is the Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Foaming Liquid from Pet Cleanup Kit. The product listing says: "Our rinse-free, water-based formula tackles the toughest stains and odors from urine, feces, vomit, and other organic messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, and hard surfaces." It also says: "Works on carpets, upholstery, tile, and more.", "No scrubbing necessary" and "Odor-Free & Residue-Free". Test it on a hidden spot first, as the CRI advises above. Follow the directions on the product label.

Buy P-Cleaner on petcleanupkit.com

Quoted from the petcleanupkit.com product listing.