The accidents will end some day, right?

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

Barley will be 4 months tomorrow. Potty training has not been all that easy with him - but he does "get it" but we have not yet gone a full week without an accident. The accidents usually happen when he has been out recently - but then is in and gets excited and sort of pees while he is walking almost. It seems sort of unconscious. I will, of course, immediately take him out again - but is this normal at this age? I just feel like the accidents should be over at this point.

[Tanya]

They end eventually. Generally accidents are human error not puppy error though. At any age. I am nto saying it's easy, I had a rough go with my adopted dog even though I had gone thru the whole thing over and over again with all fosters. It took me longer to "get with it" and synch with her potty shedule.

When he just comes it, has he had a full pee outside recently? Or did he do a short pee then come in? Did he do a long pee when he first went out but spent 20 minutes playing and is not just coming back in?

Until they are much older keeping accidents at bay are about setting them up for success. Learning their shedule. learning their habits and predicting things so you can be a step ahead. Limiting access to areas in the house, etc.

[Archie]

What you're describing doesn't sound like an "accident" so much as what some people call "excited peeing." It's different because even though the dog knows the rules, they don't even realize they are peeing and "leak" while excited about something.

There are different strategies for dealing with this, but it can just take time. Archie is 16 months old and we struggled with excited peeing. He rarely does it now, but still will in extenuating circumstances (going over to someone's house who has a dog, etc.). It used to be every time someone came over, every time he got excited playing... it's not that bad now.

[Tanya]

I was wondering if it was exitement peeing as well.

[doubledip1]

Definitely sounds like excitement pee.

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

OK. I think it is excitement peeing because it is as though he has no knowledge of doing it. What are the strategies for dealing with it? I worry about taking him to other people's houses.

[doubledip1]

They usually grow out of it by the time they are 1. Keeping greetings calm helps, so totally ignore when you get home. Don't look at, talk to, smile, clap your hands, have an excited greeting etc. Try to have fun playtime outside as much as possible.

[Archie]

I tried all the strategies listed above, and they helped. But, he still would pee fairly reliably upon greeting someone new. So, I had to carry paper towel and nature's miracle with me, and warn people.

I also tried to keep greetings outdoors, and make sure he's had a good long pee just before any excitement.

[MontananDakota]

Dakota went thru this & she just outgrew it I'd say by about 11 months or a year...just be patient. 4 months-still just a baby. Mine weren't even close to potty trained by then anyway.

[Tanya]

You attack the issue a bit different depending if it's just an exitement peeing problem or a house training issue. I am not clear on which is it just based on the original post