poodles urinating and decafitating in house

Question
we had 2 poodles and have just got a third (daughter brought him home) so we now have 2 males and 1 female. All 3 continue to go to urinate in the living room and in the kitchen. No matter what we have tried and with lots of praise they continue to do this - usually at night. Is there a way to stop this and how do you get rid of the smell

Answer
This is a tough problem and will require several things.  Spay/neuter the lot of them if not already.  It is no cure all, but a good first step for many behavior problems.  Dogs with behavior problems should never be bred.

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

You need to watch them carefully, closing doors or using gates to keep them in the same room as you.  Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents. I am slower to suggest that. Dogs will return to the same spot if they can find it. When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.  It is possible they have so many spots, you might do well with a complete steam cleaning with the enzyme additive and start fresh.  

When you can't watch them, crate them.  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 you see any sign it is going to urinate.  Use a sharp ''Ut, ut, ut!'' and take it out.  It is a waste of time or worse to try to correct a dog for anything except when you catch it in the act.  


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 All experts questions.