[cockerspanielove]

I have a 5 year old cocker spaniel and he is a well behaved trained house dog he suddenly has been peeing and pooping all over the house, I take him out and as soon as we let him back in and off the leesh he will run around and look for a place to let go, I don't know what to do anymore I scold him and tell him "bad dog" and put his face in it I even lost my cool and hit him now he is mad at me dogs never forget once you hit them but the sad part is, is that he knows he's doing wrong cause he gives a sad look once done doing it. What can I do!

[shazamataz]

Rubbing a dog nose in it or showing them the 'evidence' does not work.
All it does is make your dog afraid of you.

Hitting is the same. I admit I have lost my cool a few times, it's frustrating sure, but once again, a dog does not understand this type of punishment.

Have you had him checked out by a vet?
When a problem like this crops up after the dog has been fine for years it can often be a medical problem.

Another option is behavioral.
Has anything changed in your family recently (new pets, changed working hours etc?)

[cockerspanielove]

Hi shazamataz, well we got him in October from a family of 2 who were going through tough times and separation and couldn't bring him with her to her newapartment so we took him in, I don't know if he's just sad because he misses his previous home bt he's been fine up until this point I think I have to just try to retrain him and give him praise and love when he does it outside by saying "good boy" and then we get in give him iether a treat or a new bone or toy :) thanks for the advice and ill try to take him out as much as possible maybe start bringing him for walks and suck its just I'm 19 and have such a busy schedule my work schedule isn't a set schedule it varies from week to week and the hous and I've been focusing on the gym a lot too I don't know maybe he's not used to my new look after losing 30 lbs lol we will see I guess

[Aurora_Bell]

Also with any new dog there is always the "honey moon" phase. And it's exactly that. Sometimes it can ake 6 months for a dog to show it's "true colours". Things seems great, no messes, no, chewing, no bad habbits, and then BLAMO! You come home to your house being ran sacked.
So you may in fact need to re- train him. Positive reinforcement is key.

The rubbing the nose in it bit, doesn't work, and like Shaz said, he will only fear you. He knows that the mess in the house is wrong, but doesn't know that the act of doing it is wrong. So the ONLY time you can punish a dog for things like that is when you catch them red pawed.

I know what it's like losing your cool. Just the other day I came home and my dog and DISTROYED my house, after 2 months of being SO good. It's back to her crate while I am away I am afraid. But in cases like that, it really is the safest place for dog.

[shazamataz]

The change of house could definitely be a factor.
Like Aurora said, there's a honeymoon phase. In generally takes a dog about 2 months to fully settle into a new home, some take longer, other not so much.
I have a puppy here at the moment who I got nearly 3 weeks ago and he is just starting to come out of his shell (and chew everything in sight) When he first arrived we thought 'wow, what a little angel' because he was just so well behaved... well, now the honeymoon's over!
It takes longer the older the dog is to settle in. You dog has been doing the same routine for 5 years, now all of a sudden everything has changed.

The only advice I can give is just to be patient with him, he's been through a lot.
Just potty train the same way you would a puppy. Take him outside after every meal and every time he has a nap and wakes up again.
Give him tons of praise when he goes potty outside, and when he goes inside I just give mine a "AGH NO!" and pick them up and rush them outside to show them where they are supposed to go.

Oh and last thing. Never lock him outside as punishment... you want outside to be associated with happy, fun things so that he actually wants to go out there to do his business ;)

[cockerspanielove]

Thanks guys he hasn't done it again so maybe he was just sick but then again I don't know my mom has been visiting and taking him out for walks ill be sure to do this more often when she leave, thanks again