Puppy Potty Training

Question
Our puppy is almost 4 months old and we have had her since she was 6 weeks. She is a Queensland Heeler mix. She was doing great on potty training with a few accidents here and there and recently seems to be back tracking. The biggest problem is that she knows that she does not go pee and as soon as she does she gives u the "i did something bad look" and hides so that she does not go in her kennel or outside. I will see her and right before she goes pee, I tell her no firmly, and she will pee right then and there! She will also run, sqat, and pee whenever she has to, no second thought. She is very energetic so I dont know if that has anything to do with it. She used to walk by our sliding door and sniff it before she went pee to let us know, now she goes in the same exact spot every time, but in a spot that I never told her it was ok to go. I am at a loss!

Answer
That seems to be a little young to be challenging your leadership, but it could be.  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 can also disarm her by taking her out and making her walk around.  They can only walk and hold it so long.  When nature has its way, lavish praise on her.