Lots of Shedding/Potty training

Question
Hi there, Winkers is a Golden mix and is shedding so much that it comes out in clumps.  She doesn't have bald spots, just short hair but boy oh boy is it coming out by the hand fulls.  I have been brushing her when she allows it.  Winkers is a 1.5yr old girl/spayed and is mostly outside.  Though if we could potty train her she would be inside.  She is crate trained but does seem to go on our rugs :(  Any advice on both issues would be so wonderful.

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi nicole;
If she is 15 years old, that could account for the excess shedding, and the going on the rugs.
If she has been an outdoor dog all these years, and was never housebroken, it would be harder to do, not that she is so old, and has probably lost some of her control over her bowles and other organs.
It is summer, and she is losing her winter coat, now that it is hotter.
If you had a colder than usual winter, she could have grown a thicker coat,and if it is warmer than usual there, now, she has a lot more coat to lost to thin out for the hot weather, and is shedding faster.
A checkup, and tests to see how well she is aging should be done.
Charlotte