Retraining the Potty Training--PLEASE HELP!

Hello dog owners. This is Christine from Blog Sisters reaching out for your help on a training issue. If you follow my personal blog, you may know that I live in a high-rise condominium in Miami, Florida.

With me are my maltese, Ma Cherie, and orange marmalade cat, Jean Pierre. Naturally Jean Pierre is strictly an indoor cat. Ma Cherie, the dog, is well trained when it comes to potty time. She waits as long as she can for me or dog walker to take her outside. If not, she has her wee wee pad. However, in the past three years I notice she no longer does #2 on the pad. She can really hold her bowel movement. If there were a contest for "How Long Can Doggy Hold It?" She would win!

Ma Cherie in 2003 (Three doggie years old)

An inherit prissy dog, a dog after her own mother (me),we don't go outside for potty time when it's raining. Thankfully in my building, we have a covered dog station where unit owners can take their dogs when it's raining (my building only allows small dogs). Since this wonderful station was installed, Ma Cherie no longer does #2 on her pad and waits for someone to take her outside whether it's to the front lawn or to the dog station.

One day, when feeling very exhausted and attacked by the flu, I decided to try something different. I told her to go potty on her pad and closed the door as I used to seven years ago. She wouldn't do anything. This was not a good sign as I will soon explain. Then I went through the ritual of brushing her hair, putting on her leash and readjusting her bow. Then I walked her down the hall but back to the condo and parked her on her pad. Still nothing.

So what's the problem, you're wondering? In less than one month I will be moving to a new condominium where there is no covered dog station. So my question to all of you smart dog owners and successful trainers, how do I retrain an eight-year old dog to go potty on a designated spot, indoor or outdoor? I thought of simulating the covered dog station with soil covered in mulch.

Please, I have less than 30 days to train her. Thankfully my new condo is all tile floor, although I will be buying large area rugs. However I am worried. Is there any potential harm to her when she holds her bowels that long? Until she has an accident?

No matter if you read this posting in the next few days or weeks, I eagerly await your insightful feedback and suggestions!

Desperate Doggy Owner
Christine