Sudden change in bathroom habits

Question
Hi Cathy,
We adopted our dog from the Humane Society over 3 years ago.  She was 1 1/2 to 2 years old at the time.  We always placed her a little older because she is so calm and well trained. She is a Collie mix (likely part Golden) sweet, loving, obedient, well trained.  

When we first got her, we tried her in a crate because we didn't know if she was housebroken.  After a few days, she had full reign of the house, and proved that she was indeed housebroken. Besides that, after a few days she was "onto us" about the crate, and would no longer cooperate and go inside.  She walked very well on a leash, did her business both on walks, and in our yard if we simply let her out the back door.  This has been our practice ever since.  We let her outside in the morning, and when we get home from work, and before bed.  We typically walk her most days of the week (though not everyday), and she still would use the yard as needed.  We tease that she has a bladder of steel, as she typically won't need to urinate more than once a day. We'll put her out, and she'll stay by the door if she doesn't need to go.

The year before last, she had a terrible stomach bug that caused her to mess in the house.  She would use one room (an unused office space) as her potty spot.  She obviously could not hold it until we got home, and made due with the carpet.  She appeared ashamed of her actions, and slunk around when we got home without us needing to admonish her.  

Since that event, from time to time, she will use that room as her personal bathroom when she doesn't want to go out on the grass when it is wet.  We live in the NW... the winter is always wet.  It is a rare event, but it does happen.  She knows she has done wrong, and will avoid us when we get home in anticipation of admonishment. This is how we know to check the office for a surprise.  To help avoid this, we make a point to take her on walks, as she enjoys them, they are good for us, and she does her business dutifully.  During all this time, she would still use the yard as needed, when walks aren't possible, or in the morning.

In just the past few weeks, when we put her out, she will not go out into the yard at all. She won't leave the back door (outside). No matter how long we put her out (I have tried up to 1.5 hours), or if we ignore her, she will not leave that back door and go in the yard.  To avoid further staining of the carpet, my husband and I have been walking her twice a day.

I am concerned for a number of reasons. The change in behavior was rather sudden. She knows she is not supposed to go in the house, yet she does.  She will no longer go in the yard under any circumstances. She will only go on walks- otherwise she holds it for days before finally going in the house (2+ days of pee and poo from a large dog leaves quite a mess), though we let her out repeatedly.

Before you say, "just walk her", I must add that short walks do not work... she takes forever to find a preferential spot, often 40 minutes plus (almost two miles into the walk), making it difficult for us to accommodate her twice a day.

I know that this is partially weather related, as this began with the onset of the extremely wet weather. Oddly enough, on walks, she chooses the wettest of spots to go (high grass, soft mushy ground).  Go figure.  Her newly developed behavior limits what we can and can't do with her, and there have been no other discernible changes other than the rain. I have even tried walking her on a leash in the yard to link a walk and using the bathroom with the backyard in one way or another.

My questions are:  Have you seen this sort of thing before? How can we get her to use the yard again? Or, if we must walk her, are there any methods to get her to go more quickly and have her be less fussy?

Thanks for your help!
Miss Prissy Paw's Mommy  

Answer
Hi Jessica,

I don't know why dogs do this, but - yes, I have seen it before!  

Several things you can try.   Is she only going in that one room?  If so, you might try gating it off from her.  She most likely smells it in the carpet, even though you have cleaned it thoroughly.  You can try using a neutralizer that will completely get rid of the smell -- such as natures miracle or something similar that can be purchased at any local petco or petsmart.   That would be my first try.  Second would be gating off the room.  You can always replace the carpet if that is within the budget.  

As far as getting her to go again in the back yard -- you might try taking some of her feces and putting it out there and walking her there on a leash so she smells it.  That should stimulate her to go.   Also, when you walk her - if you can stand in one spot and with the leash force her to walk back and forth in a pacing movement -- that should get her to go without the LONG walks.  I know it sounds silly, but it really does work.

If the above fails, and as a last resort, I would start from scratch at crate training.  She will be miserable, but will be forced to go outside.  It shouldn't take more than a few weeks to get her back in the habit.

If you notice that her accidents are more frequent (the hours between potty accidents), you might have her checked out for a possible medical problem.   A bloodwork profile and urinalysis would let you know if there were any problems.    

Catgy