Dog pooping in the bathroom

Question
Hi,

I am having a problem with my dog. He is a min-pin, about 2 years old or so. He almost never went potty in the house until he broke his leg. Then he was laid up in the house and I just cleaned up after him since he couldn't go out ( Now I wish I had used potty pads, but I didn't ) Anyway, he used to sleep in our bed with us, but since he broke his leg and broke the habit of sleeping with us he sleeps in the bathroom at night. His leg has been healed now for 8 months or so, he is outside for most of the day then comes in at night. He is fed in the morning. He still poops probably at least 3 nights a week in the bathroom. There really doesn't seem to be any pattern, if I leave him out until right before bed he still does sometimes, if I let him in and play with him then put him up he still does sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if he is upset? Or is it just that he has forgotten that that is bad? I am ready to find him a new home because of this!

Any advise is greatly appreciated!

thanks,

Savannah

Answer
One thing would be to give him plenty of exercise outside before bed time.  The exercise would stimulate his body leading to a bowel movement.  Then praise him for doing it outside.  A little more play to disconnect the bowel movement from the end of the play time, and then to bed.  

If that doesn't work, you may have to crate him.  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.