I have a 4 yr. old Rat Terrier who has also become afraid to poop outside. He just recently started pooping in the house and acts like he's afraid to poop. He'll run and drop poop in different places, but no long out in the backyard where he used to go. Any ideas?

Your dog is not afraid of doing his business, he is having trouble with his anal glands most probably. You can have that done At the vet if you want him back to normal.

Unlikely that it's the anal glands just because he started to poo inside instead of outside. Now, if he were scootching on the carpet, or the grass, or anywhere, then I'd think anal glands. But pooing inside suddenly, doesn't point to issues with his anal glands. By all means get them checked, but I don't think that this is the issue that's causing him to poo inside.

Did anything happen outside that would give him a reason to be afraid? Any change in the household? Are his poops healthy looking?

How did you react to him pooping inside? Are you with him out in the yard?
Anal gland issues don't have much to do with pooping around the house.

@sariss. I know anal glands have nothing to do with pooping around the house but the dog must be in some kind of discomfort wth his bowels to deviate from normal routine.

Not necessarily Tickle. There are many things that can cause a formerly trained dog to suddenly start pooing inside. In fact, of all the things I can think of, issues with the bowel is last on the list.

But, the OP should take the dog to the vet to rule out anything in that area. My guess though, and all any of us can do is guess, is that the dog is frightened to go outside. Finding out what frightened him will be next to impossible. It could also be a sudden change in the home, like a new family member, new animal, new work schedule, construction, new food dish, new food, new sleep schedule, and the list goes on and on and on.