I have a wonderful six-month old maltese/yorkshire terrier mix female puppy. We brought her home around 9 weeks of age, and we immediately started training her. She learned quickly and progressed very well.

About a month ago, however, she started backsliding considerably in the housebreaking department. In the past month, she has had at least 4-5 accidents per week in the house (usually peeing), and I can't figure out what is going on or how to fix it. My only theory is that once the weather started to get warm, we began to allow her to spend a good bit of the day in our fenced backyard with our two outside-only dogs. Before that, she spent most of her days in the kitchen (with baby gate) while we were at work. We still bring her inside in the evenings. Is it possible that she is getting confused? My other theory is that she is somehow feeling neglected, but I feel like we're still spending a good amount of time and attention on her.

Any ideas? Help!

Perhaps she has a bladder infection, or something else wrong? I would ask my vet to check her out first before I considered something else is the problem.

As stated above, I think that the first step in this situation would be to rule out a medical condition. Once that is ruled out, there could be many reasons for this. One could just be that she may have had YOU trained, rather than being trained herself. :) Perhaps, with summer weather and everyone out enjoying it, her 'people' just aren't aware of her signals? Have routines changed? Did you use to take her out on a leash to walk and now with the nicer weather she is just out in the backyard so walks have stopped?

As to how to fix it... all I can say is use her crate! A dog cannot have accidents in the home is they are crated except for when they are out for a pee, walk or playtime where they are under constant supervision. So, see the vet to rule out medical causes and get her back into a crate immediately.

Good luck! Please let us know how it goes. Remember, at six months, she is still a puppy. It sometimes can take 2 years before they have total control.

Hugs, Didi

Thank you - these are both really great suggestions. I will keep you posted and let you know how things go!

I am a little confused. The ''accidents'' are happening in the evening when you are at home with her? She is spending most of the day outside with the other dogs? While it is always good to start with a vet check, I suspect it is a behavior problem. While you are talking to the vet, ask about spaying if not already.

It is possible that since she can go anywhere, anytime outside, she thinks she can inside too. More likely, she has decided she is a big girl now is is letting everybody know the house is hers. Spaying her will make a big difference in this case. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete

Here are some more things to do with her.

''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.

You need to keep a close eye on her when she is loose in the house. Use closed doors or the gate to keep her where you can see her. If you catch her in the act, give her a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take her out. It is useless and abusive to punish her if you don't catch her in the act.

When you can't watcher her, crate her. It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first. What the puppy
Wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the
Household, and any other pets. In our modern society, even if we are home,
Other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The
Only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around. The dog may be
Happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its
Den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
Its self. Dogs that have been crated all along do very well. Many of them
Will rest in their crates even when the door is open. I think the plastic
Ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling. Metal ones can be put
In a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew. Select
A crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys. Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter. Don't leave
Anything in the crate the dog might chew up. It will do fine without even any
Bedding. You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at
Feeding time for more than one dog.

Thank you. Yes, she is having accidents at night. Your suggestion of a behavior problem is what I think it probably is, but I just didn't know how to fix it. I'll try your suggestions. And, yes, she is spayed, but only last week. I take her to the vet tomorrow to get her stiches removed, so I'm going to discuss problem w/ him tomorrow.