Moving to a new place presents a lot of exciting opportunities. However, it can also come with stresses—not only for you but also for your furry family members. Dogs, for example, might have more accidents inside once you relocate. To avoid extra carpet cleaning, the guide below looks at potential causes of their house-training regression and what you can do to correct it.

Why It Happens

Moving to a new place is a significant change for your pets, especially if this is the only home they've ever known. Watching familiar items get boxed away can be frightening because they don't understand the context. Often, stress, on its own, is enough to cause an accident. 

Once at the new place, they will also be surrounded by new sights, smells, and textures. If your old house had mostly hardwood floors, your dog may mistake the feeling of carpet for grass and think that it is safe to relieve themselves there. Alternatively, they may not know what door to go to or how to ask to go outside at this location.

Additionally, their feeding and bathroom schedules may become interrupted or changed by the move. 

There is also the possibility that they are sick. Stress may make your dog more susceptible to illnesses like UTIs, which can also cause bathroom problems. Have your dog cleared by a vet before assuming their incontinence is behavioral. 

What You Can Do To Stop It

Once your dog has gone to the bathroom inside, they’re liable to continue doing it. Relieving themselves on the floor will cause the carpet fibers to smell like them, which will encourage them to do it again. Therefore, start tackling the problem by hiring carpet cleaning professionals for carpet stain and pet odor removal. 

You should also work on re-training them to go outside. Walk your dog on a regular, frequent schedule and reward them each time they go to the bathroom outside. Look for signs that they need to relieve themselves—like whining or pacing—so you can take them out. Feeding them at the same time each day will also make their bowel movements more predictable and consistent.

If you need reliable carpet cleaning or pet odor removal, reach out to America’s Best Cleaning & Restoration Services in La Crosse, WI. With five locations in Wisconsin and Montana, they have over 28 years of experience in carpet cleaning, stain removal, and carpet restoration, using state-of-the-art equipment. Learn more about their carpet services online. Call (608) 782-6995 to schedule your cleaning today.