My 16 year old border collie mix recently started to poop in the house... usually its right after he has been outside... He appears to want to go outside more often. I am home so that is possible. Is this old age syndrome.. or dementia? He can't hear well, and has cataracts, but otherwise is lively. And understands sign language. I did't punish him for the accidents because he is such a good dog and behaves well... until now.

I'm a cat person here, and know that dog experts will come around to answer your questions and give you some good advice.

I do know this though: Do NOT punish an animal for making a mistake. He won't understand -- not that he's stupid, but he lives in the Now and doesn't understand being hit or having his nose pushed into his poop. He loves you and wants to please you, but his body has aged and has different ideas. He has been your loving companion for years. Now it's your turn to give HIM lots of unconditional love.

By the way.. I did NOT discipline him, I think you may of misread my first post. Dogs do live in the now, and he has always been well behaved. We trained him well. Just lately he seems to forget why he is outside... sometimes I point to a tree... and then the smell gets to him and he will urinate.
I hate the idea of putting him down, because of dementia, because he can still move with ease, and at times is like a puppy when playing. He is 16 and I duly remember the neighbors dog doing similar things in the end stage.

Unfortunately it's something that happens as dogs get older.
Good cleaning products are a must when having an elderly dog.

Have you considered doggy diapers or belly bands?
They are designed for both intact male dogs who mark their territory and for elderly dogs.
Belly bands enable to dog to still defecate but if they happen to leak urine or just forget where they are supposed to go it doesn't make a mess on the carpet.
The band goes around their waist and there is a pad that sits underneath them. Some dogs don't like wearing them but others have no problem... it's an option to consider anyway.

btw..I did NOT discipline him, I think you may of misread my first post. Dogs do live in the now, and he has always been well behaved.
I didn't misread and I know you haven't punished him, but the way you said it had a "we haven't punished him YET" flavor to it.

This sort of thing happens to people too, not just to dogs and cats and other animals. As a living thing gets older, it's body begins to fail here and there. It's happening to my mother at 85, to me at 64, even to my sons in their 30s. Getting old and feeble is a fact of life. How you deal with your aging dog--and failing parents when that happens--will say a lot about you as a person.

Okay. I'm off my soapbox now.

At 16 years of age you dog is really old. It's not unusual for older dogs to forget their training or just be too disoriented to know right from wrong.

My 14 year old lab is also pooing and peeing in the house. He also goes outside often, but seems to want to poo indoors.

This is part of having an older animal, it happens to people too.

As long as he's healthy, happy, not in pain, then this is just something you'll have to live with. It's part of owning a pet, sadly they do age quicker then we do.

Good luck.

I didn't misread and I know you haven't punished him, but the way you said it had a "we haven't punished him YET" flavor to it.

This sort of thing happens to people too, not just to dogs and cats and other animals. As a living thing gets older, it's body begins to fail here and there. It's happening to my mother at 85, to me at 64, even to my sons in their 30s. Getting old and feeble is a fact of life. How you deal with your aging dog--and failing parents when that happens--will say a lot about you as a person.

Okay. I'm off my soapbox now.
WOW your very assuming... I cared for my dying mother and loved her to the end. I find your comments rude and judgemental...

WOW your very assuming........I cared for my dying mother and loved her to the end. I find your comments rude and judgemental...
What part is rude and judgmental? We don't all get old and feeble and need help eventually? It's not a good thing to be kind to those who are?