How to Potty Train an Older Dog: No More Indoor Oopsies

It's hard enough to learn how to train a dog to pee outside when they're a puppy. It's something else entirely when you have a full-grown dog insisting your living room rug is a patch of grass.

Last week, my neighbor Joe came over looking a little, well... frustrated. “I don’t get it,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “We rescued Mitch two weeks ago, and he’s peed on the rug three times today. I thought older dogs were already house trained!”

I had to smile. Learning how to potty train an older dog isn’t easy—especially when we believe they should already know how. There are many reasons older dogs have accidents. Toilet training an older dog takes time, patience, and—most importantly—positive reinforcement.

Why Older Dogs Struggle with Toilet Training

Unlike puppies, older dogs come with history—baggage, if you will. That baggage may have been acquired in your home or a previous one if they're a rescue. But here's the honest truth...if your dog is having accidents, there’s usually a reason. Discovering the cause can help you develop a strategy that works.

Let's look at some common ones:

• They’ve never been trained - Many rescue dogs grew up in outdoor kennels or neglected homes where house training wasn’t a thing.
• They’ve been trained differently - Some dogs were only trained to go on puppy pads, not outside. This may be the case if their previous pet parents could not take them on regular walks for whatever reason.
• They’re adjusting to a new routine (New Home) - Big changes—like moving to a new home—can cause confusion about indoors and out—leading to accidents.
• They’re adjusting to a new routine (Work/ Walk Schedule) - If you've recently changed your work schedule or are working longer hours, they may think you're not coming back to take them out. If they thought you'd be back, they'd hold it a little longer. But with no potty break in sight, they just let it flow.
• They're anxious - Particularly anxious or depressed dogs may struggle to hold it or give up and pee where they want when they want.
• They have medical issues - Older dogs may have bladder infections, kidney issues, diabetes, or arthritis that make bathroom breaks (or holding it in) harder.
• They're developing dog dementia - At an advanced age, house-trained dogs may randomly start peeing on the floor. They don't even know they're doing it.
• They're having rare spaying complications - I am definitely not against getting your dog fixed to prevent unwanted puppies. But some dogs experience urinary incontinence from low estrogen as they age.

So, bottom line: I know it's frustrating. Your dog needs some empathy and patience right now. Punishing them for something they can't control isn't going to solve the dog potty problems.

But positive reinforcement training and patience can fix this.

How to Potty Train an Older Dog: Step-by-Step Guide

In my How to House Train an Adult Dog Guide, I'm going to provide your basic step-by-step that applies across the board. Then, we'll talk more about how you'll adapt these steps to meet your individual dogs' unique needs.

1. Set a Consistent Routine

Dogs thrive on routine. If you want them to stop going inside and start going outside, stick to a predictable schedule:

• First thing in the morning
• After meals
• After naps
• Before bed

Take them to the same spot outside every time. The familiar scent will remind them, Oh yeah, this is where I do my business!

2. Create a Command

When they go where they are supposed to, say a command like "Go Potty," or whatever you like. But use it consistently. Say their name first in a cheery voice, then the command.

So, I told my neighbor Joe to say, "Mitch, Go Potty." And Joe said, "No way!" He thought Mitch was a little too grown up for the command, so he decided to say, "Mitch, Toilet." instead. All that matters is that your dog knows what it means. After they pee, give them a dog treat and lots of praise.

3. Use High-Value Rewards

Every time your dog goes potty outside, make a big deal out of it—praise, excitement, and, most importantly, a delicious dog treat.

If you really want to speed up training, use high-value dog treats—something your dog loves and doesn’t get all the time.

K9 Connoisseur’s beef lung bites are perfect for this because they’re small, natural, and packed with flavor. Plus, they don’t have artificial junk or added sugar that can upset your older dog’s stomach or blood glucose levels.

4. Make Some Distance

Once they're consistently going in the spot, start making distance until you can let them out, stand in the doorway, and say, "Go Potty". They run off to do their business.

Praise them from afar as they go. Give them a treat when they come back to you.

5. Supervise Indoors (And Limit Freedom at First)

If your older dog has full access to the house, accidents are more likely as any threshold can feel like "going outside".

Instead:

• Keep them in a smaller space like the kitchen or a gated-off area where accidents are easier to clean.
• Watch for signs—sniffing, circling, whining—these mean they need to go.
• Take them out before they have a chance to go inside.

Once they’ve gone a few weeks without accidents, you can gradually give them more freedom.

6. Clean Up Accidents the Right Way

Accidents happen, especially in older dogs who may have medical reasons.

But if you don’t clean them up properly, your dog will keep using that spot as their bathroom. If a dog still smells their urine, they’ll think, This is my bathroom!

Use an enzymatic cleaner—not regular household cleaners—to break down the scent.

How to Train a Dog to Pee Outside Instead of Inside (My Cardinal Rules)

• Never punish them – Yelling after an accident won’t help. Dogs don’t connect punishment with past behavior. They just think you're being the "bad dog" when you yell. It's important to speak their language. That's praise + treats!
• Don't train without consistency – Keep a potty journal. Tracking when accidents happen can help spot patterns.
• Yes, interrupt accidents – If you catch them mid-squat, say “Outside!” firmly but not angrily if that makes sense. Immediately take them out.

How Long Does it Take to House Train an Older Dog?

It depends on the dog, but most learn in 2-6 weeks. If accidents are still happening after that, it might be time to adjust your strategy:

• Take them to the vet to rule out medical issues you may need to manage.
• Adjust to a more frequent schedule.
• Determine if a pee pad is a better solution.
• Use crate training technique. I cover that in this post.
• Address anxiety with regular dog bone chew sessions. I talk about why dog bones work here.
• Enhance nutrition to support dog health. You guessed it. I tell you everything you need to know in this one.

And learn more about how dog training works to solve common behavioral troubles like these. Sign up for the 7-Day Dog Training Challenge.

Available On:

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links—at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we trust and believe will benefit you and your K9.