Im having a little trouble with my 6 month old crossbreed Alfie, he has started peeing inside again, we had a very easy job when he first came home, I think we had 3 miss-pees inside and that was about it (we did take him out just about every hour though) so he picked it up very quickly but now it just seems like he has forgotten it all...the patio door was open just about all day and twice he just stood there and peed in the living room doorway infront of us all, I really just dont understand why he would start again? He lives with our 2 yr old GR, very happily but wondered if it could be marking? but I assumed 'marking' behaviour was short little 'squirts' but these were very long pees. However saying that, he has had a bit of weird behaviour towards going out through the patio doors recently, he will sometimes scratch to go out, so I walk and open the door and he wont go through it...I try and get him out by going out first and calling him but he seems scared to go, I dont want to force him and make it all worse...then he just walks back to the living room with me. I just wonder what would cause the sudden fear of going out?

Perhaps he is seeing his reflection in the patio door and this is concerning him. The first time our GR caught sight of his own reflection in the oven door he did a double take and then tiptoed up to it very cautiously.

I am not an expert on training matters but if it were me I think I would go back to the beginning with his toilet training and treat him as you did when he was a very young pup.

A check over by the vet might be in order as well in case there is a medical problem such as an infection.

Hi Harley, thanks for your reply. It definitely cant be the reflection as he seems scared when the door is open..he sort of stands with his head out, peers around, and then walks back with me. He has just peed again on the floor a few minutes ago! the problem is, I am taking him out (even luring him with food) but he just runs back in or just wont GO! He just seems very reluctant to be out there. I thought at first it could be the dark nights he is scared of now, but he had an accident inside in the middle of the day today. He has had quite a big stretch of diarrhea recently so he has had a very bland rice diet for a while now, do you think the extra moisture in the rice could be making him need to go more? Although I would imagine this fear he seems to have about going out is more to do with it.

You should put him on his lead to take him out and then reward him when he goes. I use the word "busy" when he performs and now he has got to the point where I can ask him to go and do a busy and he will trot out and do his utmost to have a pee.

If he had dire rear he probably got used to going indoors and you will now have to go back to basics with him.

He may have been frightened of something out in the garden so perhaps you could try and make the garden seem like a fun place to be. If he is toy orientated try playing out there for a few minutes at a time. If he is food orientated ( definitely a favourite with mine :D) try scattering a few treats on the ground for him to find.

My dog was quite badly frightened by a firework in the summer and did not like being out in the garden after this so I started giving him his breakfast in the garden to try and get him to associate it with something good and this has worked for him.

Someone more experienced will probably be able to offer you some ideas as well.