My 4 year old cocker has started pottying in my unfinished laundry room. We used to go outside often when I smoked and he had a dog door to go out. I don't go out as often as I used to (I quit smoking) but he still has a door to use. He won't use it now, he did before. He is extremely shy, afraid, and stays close by me. How can I get him to use his door to go out without me and quit going in my house?

Have you been doing renovations recently to the laundry room, as in using power tools or using paints or chemicals he's not familiar with?

If so it could be that this change around the house has confused/frightened him which is why he's sticking to you like glue. You are his leader so he's looking to you to keep him safe.

For now I would go back to basic potty training. Take him out every hour or so and praise like crazy when he urinates outside.
Have you noticed him having any trouble getting through the doggy door lately or he just stopped using it suddenly?

If you're in the northern hemisphere, summer is just winding down. Could a wasp or snake have made him afraid of the door?

Did he use the dog door without you going outside when you were smoking?

Is the laundry room a new addition or has it always been an unfinished room where the laundry is located? Are you spending more time in there? Are you spending less time with him? If you leave the house without him how does he act?

I agree with Shaz about starting from the very beginning and retraining him to be outside when you aren't. However, have him go through the dog door to go outside. Praise him for using it.

Does he have any toys that he likes playing with outside? A treat filled bone given to him after he potties might help encourage him to stay outside without you and show him that it is safe even if you aren't there.

My 4 year old cocker has started pottying in my unfinished laundry room. We used to go outside often when I smoked and he had a dog door to go out. I don't go out as often as I used to (I quit smoking) but he still has a door to use. He won't use it now, he did before. He is extremely shy, afraid, and stays close by me. How can I get him to use his door to go out without me and quit going in my house?

That's puzzling. The only thing I can figger is that there might be something out there that frightens him.

Does he give no indications when he needs to go? Mine whines at the door.

One thing different is the dog door leads to a small kennel which I now have to shut because one of my 2 other dogs escapes the fence. He goes in and out the door just fine as do the other 2.

He is fine if I leave him outside of the kennel, but will still come in and potty in the laundry room. He has stuck to me like glue since I got him 4 years ago.