5 yr old lab peeing inside suddenly

Question
My boyfriend has a 5 year old neutered male chocolate lab.
I have been spending a 2 or 3 days a week for the last year.  I bring my 3 year old and 1 year old mixed breed male and female dogs (both neutered).  In the last 6 weeks his dog has urinated downstairs intermittently.  Sometimes it is at night when I am there, once during the day when we leftfor a couple hours, but usually at night when I am not there.  The problem  might have started when his kids brought his ex wives dog over for a weekend but that dog has been there before without this problem.  His lab"guru" friend who gave him the dog said his lab is fed up and has had enough with all the dogs coming over.  "dude"  has peed two or three times in the time I haven't been there and his owner is getting fed up.  Are there medical reasons for random incontinence?  Should we crate?  Should my dogs not go over?  I love his dog and he loves his dog but he is a clean guy and can't deal with urination in the house.  PLEASE HELP!

Answer
I doubt it is a medical problem, but there is no way you train a dog out of one if it is.  So yes, start with the vet check.  And thanks for being responsible people and having spay/neutered all of them.  As you can see, it is no cure all, but usually is a big help.  

I feel the crate is one of the best tools dog owners have.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  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.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.    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.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.

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

Use the crate only when you must  I have a short length of chain fastened to
my computer desk.  With more mats around the chair mat, this gives a place
where the puppy is with me, but about as controlled as in the crate, while
still allowing me to get some work done, or at least answer Allexperts questions.

In addition, the dog needs the right leadership.  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