Years ago I once yelled at my dog for peeing on the carpet.
She looked mortified.
My girlfriend at the time walked in the room and pointed out that she'd just spilled a glass of water and my pup was completely innocent.
My turn to look mortified.
Good thing dogs are forgiving souls.
Regardless the fact my pup was innocent, I shouldn't have yelled at her anyway.
Bad owner! Bad! It's simply not the right approach to housebreaking a dog.
But it may also be that you're taking your frustration out on a dog that simply can't help what's happening.
Remember that urine and the act of urinating both play a completely different role in your dog's life than they do in yours.
For a human, urination is simply an inconvenient byproduct of eating, drinking and living.
We pee because we have to.
Dogs urinate for any number of reasons.
Yes, they must eliminate waste as we do, but they also urinate to express dominance or submission, mark their territory, reinforce social structure and for any number of other reasons we're only barely beginning to understand.
Sudden changes in your dog's life such as the addition of another pet or infant, prolonged owner absence, fear and new and exciting environments and circumstances may all lead to what you think of as accidents.
But that's not the only reason your dog may be watering your carpet.
Far more serious are legitimate accidents caused by illness.
Any number of illnesses, diseases and conditions may be to blame.
Cushing's syndrome or urinary tract infections, for example, may leave your dog unable to control what's happening.
Sometimes it's just your fault.
The next time you head out to the office, empty your bladder before you walk out the door.
Then spend the entire day until you return home denying yourself the opportunity to visit the restroom.
I think one or two days of this will be enough to illustrate how truly amazing your dog is for holding her water as long as she does.
A wise mentor once explained to me that doggie accidents are never the dog's fault.
They may be conditional responses, illness related or the fault of an irresponsible owner.
It was that speech that changed me from a loving owner into a loving and responsible dog owner.
Learn from it and remember that your dog is not a malicious creature.
It is a loving and loyal companion deserving of the benefit of the doubt.
If it is having accidents, it's your responsibility to figure out why.
Never yell.