When It's Not Behavior

Sometimes the rug isn't a habit at all — it's a symptom. A urinary tract infection creates sudden, painful urgency, so the dog grabs the closest soft spot just to cope.

The tell is timing. If a fully housetrained dog suddenly starts hitting the rugs, book a vet visit before any retraining.

A quick urine test and basic bloodwork can rule out medical causes fast. Treat the real problem and the accidents often vanish on their own — no behavior program needed.