Have a 1.5yr. Tea cup maltease/ till last month perfectly potty trained now poops in living room - only occasionally on potty pad where she was originally trained- 1 out of 3 in the proper place

Dogs are funny creatures. There could be many reasons she is doing it but it could have started her needing to go and not getting let out and going in the livingroom and now she knows she can physically go in the livingroom (not specifically that she is allowed) so she is just going in there. I don't really believe in puppy pads but she is tiny so it more then likely works well for her. But remember pads teach her that it is OK to go in the house as long as it is on something (carpet is something). If she continues to do this you either need to watch like a hawk for the tell-tale signs, which are circling, sniffing, scratching, etc. and take her to her pad immediately and wait until she goes or, use an umbilical leash and attach one end to her and one end to your belt loop so she can't sneak off and go. Then again when you see the signs take her to her pad. This should help retrain her and keep her from going somewhere you don't want her to. Good luck!