Caught In The Act

This is the one moment correction actually works. If you catch your dog mid-accident, interrupt gently — a neutral "oops" is plenty — and calmly scoop them outside. If they finish out there, reward like it's a big win. Don't yell or startle them.

Missed it? Clean the spot silently and move on — no scolding, no big reaction. Then treat the accident as a clue, not a crime. Note where it happened and what the day looked like: a skipped potty break, a door left shut, a long stretch with no supervision.