1 Year Old Male Toy Poodle - Marking and Destructive Habits

Question
I have a male and female 1 year old Toy Poodle.  The female was difficult to train and we had to hire a behaviorist to come in and help us show her who's boss but once trained she's been a wonderful little pup.  The male was trained almost immediately and was so obedient and so calm that he was like a much older dog.  The female is still doing great but the male has starting marking become very destructive.  It started when my mother became ill in December and had to spend more time at her home.  He peed on the living room chair that I usually sit on.  So I took both dogs with me to my mother's house.  She passed away on Feb 21. I work during the day but my brother was home all day and was letting them out. Once my mom passed my brother will come during the day to let them out.  The male however will refuse to pee no matter how long he's out.  Then he'll come in and pee on the floor or the sofa.  So I confined them to the kitchen which is a good size. Now he pees on that floor and then he completely ripped apart his bed - to shreds!  This is a 6 lb dog!  I came home and couldn't believe what he did.  The female was clean of all fluff but the male was covered in it and I found it in his poop as well so I know it was him.  So rather than buy another bed I left them with the 1 bed.  He peed on it to keep the female off.  So I gave her a pillow to sleep on during the day and he peed on that too. Plus I think he's terrorizing the female because she was always independent, more like a cat but now she's so clingy.  I've caught him going for her a few times and when I go to reprimand him he rolls over on his back and looks innocent.  I know all the changes at such a young age has something to do with this but how to I correct it? They're both fixed and as an FYI we do keep a wee wee pad in the kitchen now to keep him from ruining the floor. HELP!!

Answer
Starting with what I am surest of.  Take him out on leash.  Walk, walk, walk.  They can only walk and hold it so long.  When he finally has to go, lavish praise on him.  

When you are around you need to keep a close eye on the dog. Use closed doors or gates to keep it in the same room as you are, and perhaps as I do, a short chain fastened to the computer desk. If you catch it in the act, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out. When you can't watch it, crate it.

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.

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.

Crating does mean the dog must be given a break at least every 4-5 hours during the day.  If you can't make it back, see if a neighbor or professional dog walker can.  

He also sounds like he has matured and now considers himself in charge.  You need to apply the same techniques to him as worked with the female.  

Yes I can believe the mess he made.  Years ago, my daughter had a small terrier mix puppy.  I visited them and we locked him in the bathroom while we went out to eat.  The bathroom was shambles when we got back.