It happens to the best of us. You come home from work, or wake up in the morning and realize, to your horror, that Rover has had an accident in the house. The perfectly housebroken dog suddenly starts having accidents. How did this dog with such good basic leash manners do this?! What happened to your sweet little pup?

It Might Be a Medical Problem

If your dog keeps having accidents, it could be that they have a medical problem. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in dogs and can cause them to have accidents indoors.

Veterinarians also find that hormonal incontinence is often the cause of indoor accidents. Hormones play a large role in how dogs behave and act —including the need for regular bathroom breaks! Dog hormones change throughout their lifetimes, so your dog may start leaking urine when her hormone levels drop during menopause or after giving birth.

To help determine if there's an underlying medical issue causing your dog to keep having accidents, check for other signs of stress, anxiety, depression, or boredom:

• Does your dog seem anxious?
• Is your dog stressed out by guests at your house?
• Do you always feed your dog right before leaving so there’s no opportunity to do this when you're gone?
• Is there something new going on at home (new family member/pet)?

If you determine there isn't any underlying medical reason for why your dog is urinating inside the house instead of outside in her designated potty area (or "bathroom"), then consider these possibilities before calling the vet:

Your Dog is Stressed

Certain things can cause stress in dogs and make them think they need to go potty: separation anxiety (when they're separated from their owner), fear of thunderstorms or fireworks, and even something as simple as having too much water on their food can cause some dogs to have accidents all over the house. A visit to the veterinarian could help determine if your dog is suffering from one of these problems so you can take action before it gets worse!

Your Dog is Trying to Communicate

Your dog's accidents may be a sign of something more serious, like illness or anxiety. If your dog suddenly starts having accidents in places they never did before and you haven't changed anything in their routine or environment, it's worth considering that there might be another reason for this behavior.

If you've recently moved to a new place or brought home a new puppy, it could just be your dog trying to get your attention. It could also mean that they need to go outside more often than usual because they are bored or don't have enough room to run around indoors. Another possibility is that a medical condition affects bladder control: diabetes can cause incontinence in dogs.

Spending Too Much Time Alone

One of the biggest culprits for this sudden behavior change is being left alone for long periods. While dogs can generally handle an hour or two on their own during the day, any longer than that can start to affect their ability to hold themselves until you return. It's a good idea to take an inventory of how much time you spend away from your dog each day and make sure that there isn't too much separation between the two of you.

Here's how to tell if your dog has separation anxiety:

• How long have you been away from home? If it's only been a few hours, then there's probably no reason for concern. However, if you've been gone for longer periods recently (more than seven hours), this could be setting off your pup's fears—and leading him or her to urinate around the house when you're not there to keep an eye on things.
• Does your dog seem anxious when you leave? If so, they may have separation anxiety; some signs of this include panting heavily and pacing back and forth anxiously while waiting for you at doors or windows when returning home from work each day!

If your schedule demands more than just a few hours per day, then consider hiring someone who will come by to let them out once or twice per day to go potty or get some exercise. This could be a dog walker or even a family friend.

Older Dogs Weak Bladders

If your dog is getting up there in years, they might be having accidents more often than they did when younger. Older dogs are less likely to be able to make it outside in time and they're also more likely to have medical problems that make elimination difficult.

An older dog with arthritis may have trouble standing up or moving around. This can cause them problems when trying to get outside on time or even going up the stairs. If your dog seems slower than usual, check out how they are walking, you may see a part of the body that seems stiff or can be painful if you touch it. Your vet can help determine whether your pooch needs medication for arthritis pain management (or other conditions).

What to Do About It?

The first step in correcting your dog's behavior is to try and determine what is causing them to potty in the house. It could be dog anxiety, a change in their environment, or some other issue. Before attempting to retrain them, you should take them to the vet to rule out any health problems first.

Vet Check for Health Problems

If your dog is older and has been potty trained for years, he may have developed a medical problem that makes it difficult for him to control his bladder. Urinary tract infections are one common cause of incontinence in dogs. Other potential problems include kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and spinal cord disease.

If you suspect health problems as the cause of your dog's accidents, take him to see his veterinarian for a checkup as soon as possible.

Increase Trips Outside

If this is the case, then you will want to increase your dog's trips outside. The more they go outside and get used to going outside, the less likely they are to have an accident indoors.

To make it a routine, take them out every 30 minutes when they wake up in the morning before you leave for work or school and every time that you come home for 10-15 minutes on each trip. This will also help with their bowel movements as well as make sure that when they do go out during these times that they don't have any accidents inside while waiting for their next trip outside.

You can also try taking them on walks around neighborhoods where there may be other dogs or people so that there's more excitement and stimulation which often helps prevent accidents from happening!

Be Consistent with Training

Make sure you are consistent with the rules in your house and use positive reinforcement when your dog does something right. For example, if they go potty outside instead of inside, give them lots of praise and treats and a chance for some playtime or cuddle time with you.

Just remember, your dog is not being naughty or trying to get away with something. Chances are they are stressed, anxious, or afraid, and soiling in the house is their way of communicating that to you. Don't punish or scold them for this behavior because it will only create more stress for both of you in the long run. Instead, try some of th tips above and see if they make a difference!

Tools to Help Ease Separation Anxiety

Science has shown that therapeutic grade essential oils like lavender, when used appropriately can help calm an anxious pup. Also, the pet owners scent is a magic weapon in the fight against separation anxiety. There is nothing your pup loves more than the smell of you. When they are alone and missing you, if you can give them an item with your scent, it will dramatically calm their frightened nerves. K9 Comfort Spray is a line of natural scent-infused products that help ease your pet’s anxieties by combining the powers of essential oils with the magic of your unique scent. Try www.k9comfortspray.com for dogs.