That is quite unusual. Most dogs learn on their own. They naturally do not like soiling inside their house. Was she ever corrected when she was caught (with a "NO" and immediately taken outside)? If so it sounds to me like a health problem.
Well…not exactly. I will tell y’all the background of this dog, trying to keep it short.
My family bought her from a breeder whose dogs lived outside (in S. CA).
She has
always had a sensitive stomach - threw up the second day and had major diarrhea to the point she had to go to the vet.
They brought her home (to the East Coast) and she stayed in a crate in the living room. She would frequently relived herself in the crate - never let us know she might want to go - and we wouldn’t discover it till later.
Eventually in an effort to stop this my sister moves the crate into her room - but she keeps crazy hours and so Annie was not on a schedule.
I moved the crate into my room and did my best to get on a schedule, and we succeeded in developing some sort of routine. I did
not run her outside/tell her no, because she’s so skittish you can’t raise your voice or she’ll cower in the corner.
Eventually she could hold herself through the night and I thought she was trained…except for these accidents every couple months.
The worst thing about this…they bought Annie as a “family dog” without telling me…but then no one wanted to take care of her day to day. So I ended up doing it. I don’t mind, a whole lot, but some days…
Eva wasn’t like this, she was a very easy puppy, and I guess I assumed Annie would be the same way.