Pets behaving badly.....?!

🐶 Breeds that commonly struggle with house‑training

Some breeds are simply notorious for being slower to toilet‑train due to size, temperament, or developmental pace.

Small breeds

Small dogs have:

- Tiny bladders

- Faster metabolisms

- Higher frequency of needing to go

- A tendency to feel cold or anxious outdoors

Common culprits:

- Chihuahuas

- Yorkies

- Dachshunds

- Bichons

- Maltese

- Toy Poodles

- Pomeranians

Independent or stubborn breeds

These breeds often need more consistency and structure:

- Shiba Inu

- Beagles

- Terriers (Jack Russell, Westie, Cairn)

- Basenjis

Working breeds raised without structure

If they’re mentally busy but not given routine:

- Border Collies

- German Shepherds

- Spaniels

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🧠 Why breed matters

Breed influences:

- Bladder capacity

- Motivation

- Sensitivity to weather

- Ease of training

- Anxiety levels

- Desire to please

A Dachshund refusing to go out in the rain is a classic example. A Beagle following a scent instead of toileting is another.

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🏡 Common breed‑related patterns I see clinically

- Small dogs: will “sneak off” to quiet corners because they’re nervous outside or dislike the cold.

- Terriers: get distracted and forget to toilet until they’re back indoors.

- Toy breeds: often trained on pads early, which delays outdoor reliability.

- Rescue breeds: may have never learned proper toileting habits.

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🧩 What actually fixes it

Regardless of breed, the solutions are similar:

1. Tight routine

- Out every 2–3 hours initially

- Always after waking, eating, playing

2. Supervision or confinement

- Baby gates

- Crate training (if appropriate for the dog)

3. Reward timing

- Reward the moment they finish outside

- High‑value treats only for toileting

4. Remove indoor scent completely

Even a tiny trace encourages repeat accidents.

5. Rule out medical issues

Especially if:

- The dog was previously clean

- There’s increased drinking

- There’s urgency or dribbling

Evesham vets

#petsbehaviour

#rescuedogs

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