Training to defacate in certain area.

Question
We have a two year old Golden Retriever. She is a wonderful dog and very well trained. One thing though, she seems to always defacate in the grassy area around our patio.  We have a fairly large yard and I was hoping we could train her to start defacating in the back area of the yard if possible. Is there some training method or some sort of product we could put down in the patio area that would make her go to another part of the yard to defacate?  Thanks.

Answer
Many dogs do so naturally.  At 2 years old, you might start with some of the products meant to keep dogs out of flower beds.  Not sure of the names, but I think they are sold in the lawn and garden area.  

You could also try some of what I do in housebreaking.  

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
the less chance of serious disease.   If it is a female, choosing a
non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it
to the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep
repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything,
praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it,
and maybe a treat.  Note, being out there not only means you can praise it,
but it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it
inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to
go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine.
Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back
inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the
house until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older.

Try to identify when she will be having a bowel movement soon, and walk her around in the area you want her to use.  A game of fetch may be more fun.  suddenly she will have to go.  Rave about what a good dog she is.