Dog pooing in new houses

[FloraFox]

Our dog is a Springer spaniel just over 12 y.o. We’ve moved a few times over the years and, in retrospect, I realise he’s pooed in most of the rooms in the new houses as soon as he’s got there. This has generally been a one-off and he’s gone back to being house-trained very quickly. We’ve recently moved again and the house is open plan so he is able to sneak off more than before. This time it isn’t just a one-off and the pooing and peeing inside has gone on for longer than before.

Does anyone have any experience of this or ideas about I can stop him sneaking off to pee or poo in the house? I’ve thought about stair gates but they are not really practical in this house.

I would:

a) vet check to make sure there isn't anything medical going on that has coincided with moving
b) keep him leashed to me with a long light house line and go back to basic housetraining protocal for a little while. Hopefully in an otherwise house trained older dog this should just be for a few days before he 'gets it'

Thanks for that advice. I’ll try. It’s been such a long time I can barely remember the house training protocol but I’ll try that.