My dog has accidents every time I leave the house for more than an hour. What's wrong?

If you don't notice that your dog needs to be let out frequently when you're home, and he or she only has accidents when you are not there, your dog may be feeling separation anxiety. Dogs that are not used to being left alone can become destructive, may bark, or may urinate or defecate when they are perfectly trained not to. To help your dog feel good about being left alone, try this tactic:

		Leave the house quickly. Avoid your typical routine of good-byes, putting on shoes, gathering your bags, or locking doors.
		Return after 1 minute. Then leave again and extend the time in 1 minute increments. Whenever your dog shows anxious behavior, such as urinating, cut the time in half and build up again.

Spending more one-on-one time with your dog and going to obedience training may also help build up your dog's confidence.

If you notice that your dog needs to urinate often when you are home, he or she may have a urinary infection or other condition. See your veterinarian right away.