Older Great Dane Starting to Poop in House

Question
Our Dane is 10 years olds.  She is in good health except recently she started to have poop accidents in the house.  They are normal (not diarrhea).  She's been tested for parasites and all is okay.  She can go outside and be let back in and poop right in front of us, almost like she doesn't realize she's doing it and gives no indication she needs to go back outside.  We tried not giving her any food after 5pm, but nothing has made a difference.  Any ideas?

Answer
To me this isn't a problem with the breed of your dog but rather a training/behavior problem. If she has been seen by a vet and he has not deemed it a medical problem due to her age then it is a behavior problem which can be solved with training. I would first suggest that you take her to the vet or speak to your vet about it to make sure it is not something to do with her age. 10 years old is very old for a great dane,it is actually uncommon for them to live into the double digits so you are very lucky and are to be commended for taking such good care of her to give her such a long life. If the vet tells you it has nothing to do with her age or health then you need to start over with her housebreaking. Put her on a feeding schedule,feed once in the morning and once at night or just once a day. Treat her as if she is a puppy again, you take her outside first thing in the morning, 15 min after eating or drinking, give her 5 min to do her business-all of it and then bring her inside. If she went both pee and poo then she gets freetime inside playing with you, if she only pees then you bring her inside and keep her kenneled(if you have one)or on a leash to try and prevent accidents. She will be less likely to soil her sleeping area if you put her in a kennel and if you don't have one you keep her on a leash so you can quickly interrupt her and take her outside to finish if she starts to 'go'inside. Reward her when she goes outside,give her treats and praise but if she doesn't go both she doesn't get her freedom inside. Don't scold her.rub her nose in it or hit her if she has an accident, simply holler her name once loud enough to startle her to try and interrupt her to get her outside to finish. She should only be rewarded for going outside, the goal is to teach her that she only earns rewards and freedom by going outside and if she doesn't do her business when you put her out she doesn't get her freedom. Also make sure she does not see you cleaning up her messes and to clean them with an odor neutralizing cleaner. Don't let her out of yoru sight until she is 90% accident free, keep her confined to one room until she stops having accidents there and gradually increase her freedom one room at a time taking away that freedom should she start having accidents again. Let me know if you have more questions.I can give you a complete housebreaking treatment plan if you need it.
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