Change in behavior

I have 2 dogs - Foffy, male, 4 years old and Tiffany, female, 4 years old. Foffy was trainned in order to use only the same newspaper-covered corner as his toilet. Without any apparent reason, Foffy started to use a few other places he choosed, like the furniture feet. Tiffany never uses the newspaper-covered corner if it has already been used by Foffy. These behaviors usually happens at night, when everyoune in the house is sleeping or when there is no one in the house. By the way, we live in an apartment, and the dogs are used to be free around the house but when everyone is away - we close the bedroom & bathroom doors to avoid problems. Does anyone had a similar problem or any suggestion to correct that bad habit??
Raquel Velloso Blanco

• I have similar problems. My 7 1/2 year old is paper trained (for the most part), but when I'm away, she goes off the paper and gets into things that she shouldn't. These things also happen at night. I don't know what to do either, except put her in her crate at night. I think that is what most people will tell you to do. It does make a lot of difference. They won't go where they sleep. Also, limit the food and water intake. That could help quite a bit.

• Thanks for your help; but I have a problem with this solution: My dogs are not used to sleep in crate - they have always slept free, just by my bed. Every time I lock them, they do a lot of noise, and I don't want to bother my neighbours with it. I have tried to stop that behaviour by spraying different chemicals, like Lysoform and ammonia for example, on the places Foffy have "elected"; this solutions seems to work for some time, but after that I think he just get used to the new smell... Any other ideas out there??
  Raquel Velloso Blanco

• I have the same problem, except that I have a 3 months puppy and he is being trained right know. The best solution that I have found is to put him in his crate at night. He did a lot of noise at first, but he was used to in one week. He loves it know. I think this is the best, because you won't be worried about damages around your apartment and the dogs will be safe.

• I don't know if this will help you or not, but I let Lucy sleep on the bed at night. It is too high for her to get down, so even when she was just a tiny pup, she'd kiss me awake and wine when she needed to go out. Now that she's a year old, she usually sleeps all night but still get me up at 5AM with the kisses, ready to be taken out. I never did crate her very much, but really, once they are used to it, they give up the noise. YOu just have to be firm about leaving them in through the whines and barks, the same as with human babies who need to be scheduled to sleep.

  Good luck with this, by the way. My last dog, a male Silky terrier, never did get over the need to use the legs of furniture. I didn't often have folks in for dinner, as the dining room table was his favorite spot!
  Cathy Brown