pug wont stop pooping in the house

Question
QUESTION: my pug is about ten to eleven months old and when i got her she was not house trained, i worked very hard with her and had her broke of going to the bathroom in the house. we moved about 4 weeks ago and for the first few days i knew she would need to adjust so i wasnt to hard on her, now she is constantly pooping in the house, i let her outside for as long as she wants until she scratches at the door before i leave the house, but then while im gone she poops somewhere usually in my daughters new room. i scold her and rub her nose in it then spank her and put her outside, for a few days i thought she was better but now she finds places that she doesnt think i will notice and poops. i love her very much and do not want to get rid of her but i cant handle her pooping in the house anymore. please help me.

ANSWER: Victoria, does this happen when you're home or just when you're away?  Does she have a way to tell you that she has to go out when you're home?  She might be experiencing stress from the move which can cause her stomach to be upset and have more frequent bowel movements.  If she's having them more often than she did in the old house, than this is probably what's happening. Dogs get stressed just like people during a move.  Help her get back on track, teach her what's expected and where she's expected to do it.

Go back to Housetraining 101.  Close doors and block off rooms as necessary so she doesn't have the opportunity to roam about the house and find new places to go when you're not home.  When you put her outside for pottying, go with her.  Praise her and give her a small treat when she does all her business.  If she doesn't go, confine her to a crate or pen or small room (like a laundry room) blocked off with a baby gate.  Don't allow her freedom to move around the house.  The key here is that you must go outside with her.  Don't assume because she's scratching at the door that she's done pottying.  

Scolding and rubbing nose in a pile of poop doesn't work (as you've found out).  Dogs simply don't have the mental capability to realize they are being punished for something they've done hours ago.  In fact, punishing her when you get home will only add to her stress level - something you don't need right now.

If you're free feeding (leaving food out all day), stop.  This adds to the randomness of having to poo.  Put her food bowl down for 10 minutes in the morning and in the evening.  Pick up what she hasn't eaten after that time.  Be sure the food she's on is a high quality food with no corn in the ingredients.  A better food will make less waste to clean up.  Good dog foods have no corn and no by-products on the label.  If you do change foods, do so gradually so as not to upset her system.

So, key points for you:
1.  Management - control where she's allowed to roam and monitor her while you're home.
2.  Go outside with her every time and reward when she goes.
3.  Use confinement as necessary if she doesn't eliminate when you take her out.
4.  Be sure you're feeding schedule isn't contributing to the problem.

Let me know if you need clarification on anything I've suggested.  Good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Shes only doing it when we are away and at night, usually she sits and stares at me to let me know she needs to go. At night I leave my bedroom door and my daughters door open because she is only two and having her own room is new also. If scolding and rubbing of the nose doesn't work then what is an effective way to let her know that pooping in the house is not OK?

Answer
You'll have to find a way to keep her confined, then, and out of your daughter's room.  Can you use baby gates?  

The key to housetraining is managment and controlling where the dog is allowed to go until they learn that they always need to go outside.  If you CATCH the dog in the act of pooping in the house, by all means, interrupt, tell her "no" and take her outside.  There is no way to teach her after she's already made the mistake.  

I'm wondering why your dog is awake at night and needing to have a bowel movement.  Adult dogs normally sleep through the night and don't need to eliminate.  I might suggest that once you've taken all my suggestions - especially about feeding and dog food - that if you're still having these problems, make an appointment with your vet and be sure there's not a medical issue.