Important Disclaimer
The information provided here is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
- Species & breed
- Dog · Australian Shepherd
- Age
- 7 months old
- Sex
- Female
- Color
- Mixed/Other
It sounds like Skye is keeping you on your toes! This is actually a really common challenge with puppies, and the good news is that at 7 months old, she's absolutely still at an age where consistent training can make a big difference. Australian Shepherds are smart dogs, so once she clicks with the routine, she tends to stick with it.
What's likely going on
Puppies — even older ones like Skye — often don't fully empty their bladder in one go, especially when they're distracted by sights, smells, and excitement outside. She may genuinely feel "done" after that first pee, then realize a few minutes later she still had more to go. It's not defiance; her bladder control is still maturing.
Some things that often help:
- Stay outside longer after the first pee. Give her a full 5–10 minutes to sniff around and potentially go again before heading back in. Movement (a short walk around the yard) can help stimulate a second elimination.
- Pick a consistent "potty spot." Taking her to the same area each time helps her associate that location with going to the bathroom. The smell cues from previous visits can prompt her to go.
- Use a cue word. Say a word like "go potty" calmly while she's in the act. Over time she'll start to connect the phrase with the behavior.
- Reward immediately. The moment she finishes outside, give her calm praise or a small treat right then — not once you're back inside. Timing matters a lot.
- Limit freedom indoors until she's more reliable. Keeping her in the same room as you (or using a leash indoors) means you can catch signs she needs to go — circling, sniffing the floor, squatting — and quickly redirect her outside.
- Stick to a schedule. Take her out first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, after play, and before bed. Puppies do much better with predictability.
- Don't punish accidents. It tends to make puppies sneaky about where they go rather than teaching them to go outside. Just clean it up thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner (one designed to break down pet odors) so she's not drawn back to that spot.
If she's had a full vet checkup recently, that's great — but if she seems to need to go very frequently, has accidents even right after being outside, or you notice any straining or discomfort, it's worth a call to your vet to rule out a urinary tract issue.
When to see your vet:
Schedule a visit if Skye is urinating very frequently in small amounts, seems to strain or cry when going, has blood in her urine, or if accidents are increasing rather than improving after a few weeks of consistent training. A urinary tract infection (a bladder infection) is common in young female dogs and can make house training much harder — your vet can check for that quickly.
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