Retraining?

Question
My 11 month old yorkie was trained in that he would bark to be let outside to urinate and defecate. We would treat him after he would do so. All of a sudden he will disappear under my bed or behind my sofa to defecate but he will still urinate outside because I started to take him out frequently again. I have stayed out with him as long as 45 minutes waiting to see if he would have a BM but he will not. The minute I turn my back, he disappear and go. He has started going under my bed during the night. I don't know if it is medical or what I am doing wrong. I love him soooo much but I am at my wits end. Can you help me? I don't want to get rid of him. It is breaking my heart!

Answer
Close the bedroom door, and don't give him access to under the sofa. He's found what seems like him to a couple of nice, private places to go, and there's no way he'd know there's a problem with that. If you punish him after the fact, that's more reason to "hide" it from you. You have to thoroughly clean those areas with a good enzymatic product, and then not allow him access to them. A dog who is pooping on the floor shouldn't have free access to the house while you sleep. I'd crate him, or put him in an area where he doesn't have the option to anything to go "under."
I'd supervise very carefully to the point of using baby gates or xpens to keep him from his favorite potty areas. You might consider tethering him to you so you will be very aware of when he starts sniffing and circling and can get him outside. Feed him regular meals (instead of leaving a food dish down). Free feeding makes it very difficult to schedule trips outside, and keep a "journal" of when he typically needs to poop. Take him out on that schedule, stay with him five minutes and if he doesn't go, pop him in a crate (or safe area) for five minutes and then try again, until he goes (then reward). This will teach him that he's not just going out to play. I know it sounds like a lot of work. But you have one heck of a bad habit to break, and that won't come without work. Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com