Urinating in the house

Question
I have a toy poodle who I have had for a year and is a year old, he is great but in the past 6 months he has been going to the bathroom every where in the house!  I have a lab that is an out door dog so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.  I love my silver toy and he is a great friend that I don't want to get rid of but my house is beginning to smell!  Any advice?

Answer
I think the problem is that he thinks he is top dog and is marking the house to support his status.  The first step is to neuter him if not already.  It is no cure all, but a big step forward.  It will greatly ease taking over as top dog.  

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/

You also must either be constantly watching him, or have him confined, best in a crate.  Tethering him to you is an option too.  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.

Catching him in the act of marking calls for stronger corrections than the
otherwise effective "Bad dog!".  When it misbehaves, throw it on its back, and
growl "Bad dog!" right in its face.  Hold it down until it lifts one back leg
to show submission.   You can pick him up with your hands behind his front
shoulders and hold him up with his back to you.  Keeping him far enough away
to keep his head from smashing into your face, hold him until he stops
struggling and relaxes.   Others like the squirt bottle.  Fill it with water
and a little vinegar or lemon juice.  Give it a squirt in the face as soon as
it misbehaves.  Dogs hate that.