Daycare & Potty Training

[Josh Adams]

Hi all,

Our four-month-year-old puppy has done great with potty training and had been accident-free for several weeks. He recently started daycare 1-2 days per week for socialization, etc. This daycare has a separate indoor area for potty. They allow them to pee on the floor and the crew cleans up the mess. It's a rubber-like surface. We're told it does not interfere with potty training at home. This past week, he's had two accidents inside our home. I will admit we may have gotten too comfortable with his recent success, but does anyone think the daycare potty area is affecting our training at home? I heard it's not uncommon for daycares to let dogs pee inside as it would be impossible to take all the dogs out when they need to go. But it may start thinking ... 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've never heard of any daycare facility that allows or encourages indoor peeing or pooping, and to be very honest with you, I wouldn;t use such a facility if they paid me to do so. This sounds absolutely insane to me and I am certain it is the reason for your pup's regression with his potty training. 

When it comes to housebreakinf a dog, either potty indoors is allowed, or it isn't. Period. it can't be okay at daycare but not okay at home, any more than it would be okay at your friend's house but not at your house.

I'd find another daycare ASAP. 

[Josh Adams]

Thanks, Karen. We live in a major city, and I've checked with other daycares and we're running into the same issue. I thought it was odd myself but we needed to put him in a daycare. We'll continue to look around.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm in the suburbs of a major city, but I know that there are places in the heart of downtown Chicago that do have outdoor areas; hopefully you'll be able to find one that does. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It seems to me that being allowed to potty indoors would be confusing to a mature totally trained dog, much less a puppy. Just my opinion.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Doodles have been going to Daycare since they were puppies.  They are never "allowed" to pee or poop inside.  If the dog has an accident they are redirected outside.  There are regular potty times where the dogs are taken outside to play and to do "their business".  They hose down and treat the outside potty area every night to prevent potential spread of parasites.  I would not be comfortable sending my guys to this type of Daycare....I absolutely think it is confusing and probably unhealthy as well.