Bathroom Accident

Question
Hi,
I have a half shitzu half Bichion Frise 2 year old dog. I have had him for about a year and half. He is a great dog, very sweet and he is pretty smart ( sometimes to much for his own good). Anyways I live in Alaska and outdoor trained him to go to the bathroom. He barks at us or gets in our face untill we let him outside. He has done really well no problems for at least a year. Well just recently he started pooping in the garage in stead of going outside, this is really weird for him because he has been using the doggie door for a long time and does fine. We have it set up so that he is tied up inside to a strong wooden stand with a rope that is very long allowing him to go in and out through a doggie door in our garage wall. This way he can come in and stay warm in the garage but also be able to go out side when he wants. He is tied up when we all are gone and it has never been a problem until reciently. The last three days we have found poop in the garage, I have told him no and rubbed his nose in it but just this morning when i went to check on him he did it again. Do you know what could cause this? I know he doesnt like it much in the garage because when i get ready to tie him up, he knows and runs to the other door( which has a running line outside) but i dont usually tie him up out there because i want him to be able to come inside when he is cold. Could he be mad at me or is something else wrong. I know we will not be able to keep him if he starts doing it in the house, because it is my moms house. Do you know what could cause this?  

Answer
Just why dogs do some things is hard to say.  If the bowel movements are softer than normal, he needs to see a vet.  Something dumb may have happened like the rope snagging in the door or tangling on something outside.  He may have been stuck some where, had to have his bowel movement right there, and then had to freeze next to it until he managed to escape.  If that is the case, try having him go in and out of it when you are around.  Perhaps use it when he wants out when you are around and go out with him and praise him for eliminating outside on the rope.

He may have decided that since the family doesn't live in the garage, and it is big enough, it is OK for him to use the one end of it.   

It is possible at 2 years old, he has decided he is a big boy now, and doesn't like being tied in the garage and is doing it to let you know who is 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/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm  Another important step is to neuter him if not.  It is no cure all, but very effective in these status conflicts.  

Quit rubbing his nose in it.  It isn't working and never does.