Housebroken 3 yr old German Sheperd/Husky mix pooping and peeing in house

Question
Hi, my Mom has two German shepherd/husky mix dogs at home and she's having problems with the female. The two of them are brother and sister and have been together since birth. The male is having no problems but the female is having accidents all over the house for about two months now. It used to be random occurrences but now she's doing it almost everyday. She's also starting to chew walls and shoes. Since she was a puppy, she has always been a nervous dog. She doesn't like dark colors, is afraid of the vacuum even when its not on , and constantly barks at 'nothing'. My Mom and step-father are getting really frustrated with her and are ready to send her to the Humane Society, but if one goes, both would have to go since they've been together for so long. I was wondering if there could be any medical reasons why she's doing or if its stress or anything like that. Also, there has been no new changes in the house. Sorry, for the long question but I wanted to make sure that I got all the information in there that I had.

Answer
Never apologize for clearly defining the problem.  One more detail would have helped.  She is mature now and may be challenging them for leadership.  Spaying her would help if not already.  Neuter him too.  Then obedience train them.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

I would also explain the problem to the vet and have him examine her.  Stress does lead to accidents.  I hate to see resorting to medication too quickly.  

You could work at building her confidence.  Being praised for learning her obedience commands is a good first step in that.  Play tug of war with the dog and lose.  However at the end of the game, take the rope or toy and put it up, less the dog becomes confused about who is top dog.  Ropes from the pets' store quickly turn to hazardous shreds.   Ones I made  lasted much better.   Go to a hardware or home center that sells rope by the foot.  Buy 2' of 3/4" poly rope. Melt the ends, and tie  knots in it.   Get them as tight as possible, put it in a vise and pound it with a hammer.  Watch carefully, and be ready to discard when it comes apart.

Finally, make sure it has a den to live in.  If you are not using a crate, buy one.  The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.

Even if the above solves the problem, it will take a while.  When you are around you need to keep a close eye on the dog.  Use closed doors or gates to keep it in the same room as you are, and perhaps as I do, a short chain fastened to the computer desk.  If you catch it in the act, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out.  When you can't watch it, crate it.