Our beloved 12 yoGerman Shepherd Dog has started pooping in the house and we are at our wits end.. She is an indoor dog, very submissive for a GSD, and has her CGC. She is starting to have a bit of trouble getting up and around, but will still jog after a squirrel without too much problem. She has NEVER had an accident in the house - until recently. Now she poops in the house on a regular basis.
More info:
She never pees in the house.
She never poops when we are not home, even after 7 or 8 hours.
She does not hide it, in fact she will do it right in front of us with no warning.
She will do it 2 minutes after coming in from a walk (we are walking her very often now to very little avail).
She will poop outside some too - its probably 50/50 inside outside now.
She will do it in any area of the house.
She gives no warning - she used to come and get us if she needed out.
She does it in the middle of the night and in the middle of day.
The stool seems normal, not diarrea, and she goes regularly, at least once a day, maybe twice
It started shortly after our 14 YO sheltie, her lifelong companion (and alpha dog) died last summer - can't say for sure if its related though.. Vet knows of no physical reason, but cannot be sure and was not much help. . I don't know if she has just lost control physically, or if she is getting senile. Please help! We have a new baby (born well after problem started - she's great with teh baby and our older kids) and its getting to be a real problem.
Thanks in advance for any advice -we are at our wits end.