dog behavior questions

Question
QUESTION: hello, my 4 year old schnoodle, dixie, has been pooping and peeing on the carpet and getting into the trashcans and its driving my parents crazy. She has been trained and potty trained. Why do you think she has been doing this, and what should we do to stop this? thank you for your answeres and time, ~cameron=]~

ANSWER: Hi Cameron

I'm afraid I can't answer this with that info as there are so many reasons why she would toilet on the carpet.  Has anything changed in her routine?  Has she never done this before?  Has her diet changed?

With regards raiding the bins, this is absolutely normal dog behaviour.  They are scavengers and opportunists; once they discover a food source (often by accident) they will always remember it and go back there.  The best way to stop her doing this is to prevent access to the bins, either physically or by ensuring the lids are fixed down.  Each time she does it she is getting rewarded so will repeat it.

Feel free to give me more info on the problem and I will try to help.

Regards,

Lucy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you for your help. no her rutine has not changed. we have been using the dog wishpers ways(Cesir Milian) for about 3 years, his motto is exercise, disiplin, and affection. we have recently figured out that we have been skipping the affection part latly. we will try to give her more affection. she has also bitten my sisters fiancee twice. thank you so much it really helped!

Answer
Hi Cameron

Cesar Millan uses (in my opinion) quite harsh methods which are not suited to all dogs.  The type of cross breed you have will be quite sensitive and reactive and will probably learn best through play and encouragement.  Toileting can be a sign of anxiety or even fear so maybe this is a possibility.  Well done for coming to the conclusion yourself regarding skipping the affection part - it can be hard when your dog makes you feel cross all the time!

Enjoy her, she sounds sweet.

Lucy