Q: I'm the proud owner of a 2 1/2 year old female Pug. The problem is that every once in a while she will urinate on my bed, or if we're visiting at my dad's, sometimes she'll have a "BM" accident somewhere in their house. It's not a case in which she doesn't go outside while we're there, because she does, but for some unknown reason, sometimes she saves her little "gift" for somewhere in the house. Can you please give me some ideas on why she does this every once in a while? Thank you.

A: When a dog is housetrained at home, that doesn't mean the dog is housetrained in other homes. To prevent the accidents at your dad's house, don't let her go anywhere in the house without you in the same room, watching her. With this supervision and frequent visits to that house, she might eventually be housetrained there. But right now, she's not.

For urinating on your bed at home, the solution is similar--supervision. Also, there could be a medical cause. A dog with a urinary tract infection will sometimes do this, because it's painful to urinate, and the bed is comforting. A dog may also do it from anxiety when home alone, or from lack of control.

Lack of control can be because she needs to be taken outside more often (dogs do not all fit the same potty schedule, some need to go out more than others) or because she needs medication to help with bladder control. Your veterinarian can examine a urine specimen and perhaps blood testing to see if there is a physical reason.

Another thing that could be happening is that the scent of past accidents is not fully removed. Her instincts will then draw her back to use the same spots again because of the scent.

For past accidents that have dried before treatment, you need a product containing a bacterial enzyme odor eliminator. Nature's Miracle is the best-known of these products. If you treat an accident while it's still wet (or immediately on picking up a bowel movement), white vinegar will work. Either product must soak deeply into the carpet and pad, and be given time to work--not quickly dried.

Chances are she's either confused, or having a physical problem. Supervision--and help from the veterinarian, if needed--will likely improve things. Some dogs need a long time before ever being given the full run of the house when you're not watching them. And some dogs need a certain amount of supervision lifelong. Hopefully you'll find the clues you need somewhere in this answer, and can reduce the indoor clean-up to a minimum!