The "They Know Better" Myth

When a housetrained dog has an accident, the most common response is "they know better." That assumes the dog has full understanding and made a deliberate choice, which overestimates how a dog thinks.

A dog may know that eliminating outside earns rewards. But knowing where rewards happen is different from having the impulse control and physical ability to always get there in time. A full bladder, a closed door, illness, or anxiety can override training.