After a long car trip, my dog refuses to go in his usual spot outside. What should I do?

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for all the great DVDs and advice. I wrote to you not too long ago praising how our dog had no problems or accidents in the house because we have been following your training DVDs religiously. We have a 5 month old Boxer that has been PERFECT (and I mean PERFECT). He is trained to go to the bathroom (on leash) on command in a specific area in the yard and has done so for the last 3 months without a hitch and will sometimes goes potty on walks, but not often. Yesterday we took a 2 hour drive to visit family (he has ridden in the car many times, the longest trip was 45 min). The dog refused to use the bathroom at anytime even though he was taken out several times and CLEARLY had to go. He eventually peed on the rug (while on leash). When we got home, he pooped by the back door on his way to his crate (ok, mistakes happen, I had been looking the other way) but then again today in the same spot without notice and on leash! Since the trip he will not go to the bathroom at all, not in his usual spot, not outside, not on a walk and seems VERY nervous when sniffing around to go. The only reprimand he got when making inside was a firm no and only when he was caught in the act. Any advice? For a large, outgoing, very social dog he has suddenly become very shy and skiddish. Do puppies go through phases like kids do? Outgoing one day, shy the next? Brats the rest of their lives? I keep comparing the dog to the phases my kids went through but I'm not sure if that is fair. He has since been back in the crate because he cannot be trusted, even though he is never off leash.

Thanks in advance,
Beverly