House-Trained Dog in New Home

Question
My wife and I have a four year old Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix that we rescued when she was just a puppy.  Until recently, I can only remember her urinating inside one time, and that was as a puppy when we were potty-training her (yes, I know how lucky we were).  BUT, we just bought a new house and I don't know if it is because the previous owners had dogs, or what the reason is, but our once house-trained dog is now urinating and defecating in the house.  We just put up a 10' x 10' x 6' kennel that she can use, but she chooses to go right in front of us on the carpet, which she has never done.  She has urinated 3 times and defecated twice, and we cannot figure why she suddenly behaves this way.  Thanks in advance.

Answer
It's not at ALL uncommon for a dog to lose its house training skills during a move.  The move itself is extremely stressful for any dog and habituating to an entirely new environment can be very difficult for a dog.  You and your family are also under a great deal of stress (moving household is considered one of the major stressors in a lifetime) and, whether you are aware or not, your body language is communicating this stress to the dog.  She has no idea she's doing "wrong".  Start over as if she were a puppy: take her out every two hours or so and offer food reward every time she urinates/defecates.  Do NOT leave her out there locked up in a pen: this will NOT WORK.  Most dogs (and this one seems especially so) will keep their immediate environment clean; in fact, one way to determine if a shelter dog is house trained is to examine its kennel: a house trained go will not soil the kennel but will wait to be allowed outdoors in the kennel's attached outdoor space.  IF you WANT her to use the kennel for elimination, TAKE her there, encourage her ('go pee') and reward her every time but do NOT use the kennel for any other purpose (leave her out there for hours alone).  If she defecates in the house, bring it outdoors, put it down where you want her to defecate, praise her ("go here, good dog").  Meanwhile in the house, do not allow her free run of the home; confine her with soft bed and water in the kitchen when you are not at home and when you ARE at home observe her very closely; keep a house tab on her (leash with handle cut off) so you don't have to attach a leash in a hurry.  If she begins to urinate or circles to defecate, clap your hands, whistle, do something to interrupt (without frightening her) then happily pick up the house tab and bring her outdoors to finish her business.  Once a few weeks have gone by, she should return to her reliability.