There are a lot of parts of pet parenthood that I wish I could just skip over. Vet visits can be so stressful, and then there's cleaning up after the occasional accident in the house... oh, and we can't forget about bath time, which my dog hates (and when she's unhappy, we're all unhappy). But the number one hardest part so far has been potty training. Sure, it was six years ago, but I will never forget what a challenge it was — I was convinced that my pup was going to be peeing all over my house forever until one day, it finally just clicked.
I know I'm not alone in that thought, but what I didn't know is that apparently, some dog breeds are harder to potty train than others. And if that's going to be a major stress point in your dog parent journey, you might want to give the veterinarian in this video your attention for a moment.
This week, veterinarian Dr. Adam Christman shared his thoughts on what the top five hardest dog breeds to potty train are based on his experience and knowledge of the breeds, and some of the ones that made the list might surprise you (though some will definitely not).
The list includes mostly smaller breeds, like the Bichon Frise , along with the Jack Russell Terrier , since, in his words, they have "the attention span of a toddler."
Then there's the Dachshund, who he says can take up to a year to be fully potty trained... yikes! And finally, rounding out the list is the Pomeranian and finally, the Shih-Tzu.
While experiences can definitely vary — as we can see from the comments on the post — many dog parents said his list was spot on, particularly when it comes to Dachshund. One Dachshund mom wrote, "My 15 year old Dachshund is still not completely potty trained. If she sees a suitcase she goes into my bed and pees in my spot."
Are Smaller Breeds Truly Harder to Potty Train Than Others?
People have mixed opinions on this topic, but if you're struggling to potty train a small breed dog , you're not alone in that; many others have had a similar experience!
According to one dog training website, smaller breeds tend to have smaller bladders and less bowel control, so not only will they need to go out more often, but they will also have a harder time holding it until they make it to the proper spot outdoors.
The site also points out that smaller breeds can run away or hide more easily, which can allow them to slip off and secretly have an accident somewhere in a way that bigger dogs can't get away with!
Potty training can be challenging for all kinds of reasons, regardless of your breed. Just stick with it and be consistent — you'll get there!
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