My wife and I have a 5 month old Boston Terrier/Beagle mix. We got her when she was about 10 weeks old. She was doing very well with her potty training, with only an occasional accident. About 6 weeks ago, she discovered she could go down the stairs. Now she thinks the basement is her potty area!

We have been doing crate training from the beginning and she is in there while we're at work, and off and on in the evening when we can't watch her. As soon as we take her out of the crate, we take her outside. She still knows to go to the door when she needs to go, she just doesn't do it all the time. Our "family room" is downstairs; computer, TV, couches, etc, so we spend a fair amount of time down there and would like for her to be able to be with us. At first I thought it was just because she didn't know where the door was from down there, so she would just go. But then she started running down there from upstairs, just to go potty. And there have been a few times when she goes from the basement to the door upstairs. And she usually doesn't pee down there, just poop. I don't know how to cure her of this problem! Its getting out of control! We have a puppy gate, but our stairs have an open railing on the one side, so its not very sturdy. I don't want her jumping on the gate and falling down the stairs when it gives way. And like I said, we'd like her to be down there with us, so we don't want to just cut her off from the basement if at all possible.

Just this morning she ran down there, and I knew was she was about to do, so I followed her. Sure enough she assumed the position. As soon as she did I got her to stop and started saying "outside" firmly, well then she started running around the basement and would get away from me and then try to go again, I had to keep close so she would stop. But I couldn't catch her. By the time I finally caught her, she had let out a couple pieces, but she finished outside. I was mad and in a hurry to get outside, so I forgot to grab a treat for her, but I praised her and pet her when she finished.

I'm at my wits end with this problem! She hasn't pooped in the house upstairs for months, but loves the basement. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Start by figuring out how to secure the gate to keep he out of the basement when you aren't' down there. Close doors and use other gates to keep her in the same room as you. Watch her carefully and respond quickly to going to the door or other signs she needs out.

The time is about right to spay her. Her hormones are flowing and she could be doing it to test you. Obedience train her. 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 For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

Let her spend as much time in the basement with you as you can. If it becomes her living space, she should be less inclined to foul it. Watch her carefully and if she starts sniffing around near a previous offense, be quick to take her out. If you see her assuming the position, give her a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah! And carry her out. Then walk her around until she goes.