What is the definition of incontinence?

[Fools Motto]

I have a 12.5 year old whippet x lab. She is/has been the best well behaved and polite little dog all her life.
I used to struggle many years ago as she wouldn't toilet when on the lead - she was just too proud to go so close to me. She would always make noise if ever she had an upset tummy during the night. (not often, but has happened.)
When the spaniel joined the ranks, she would look horrified when said spaniel was being house trained. I'm sure she hated that whole process!!
We moved house in May last year, and both dogs very quickly settled in. Our garden is smaller, but as usual she would rather not use it and wait for the daily walks. (spaniel is happy to use the garden if and when needed!)
About 2 months ago, things changed. She has been caught raiding the bin. She would never have given it a second thought until then. (I've had to move it out of her way now).
Years ago, I remember thinking, if ever in her old age she becomes incontinent, she would hate it so much, I'd have to think about her feelings.. which brings me on to now..
The new house is about 5 mins 'pavement walk' from the field. Despite the fact she is in the garden while I get wellies and coat on, and that she looks uncomfortable, she won't go. Until we're half way to the field, on the pavement and on lead. She barely stops to crouch, tries to keep walking. Once in the field she goes again, but rarely 'has time to go to the side'. She is still active and loves her walks. Loves her food more than ever before, but is a good fit weight. Evening walks she usually makes it to the fields and is 'normal'.
Is this the beginning of incontinence? Can I do anything?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Lots of dogs don't go while on the lead, it's nothing to do with pride, it's to do with them having enough room/enough of a leg stretch to loosen themselves up a bit, being comfortable in their surroundings etc. Lots of dogs won't go on certain surfaces.
It's a new house, a new garden, a new routine, a big change and as you point out, maybe a bit of stress from the toilet training of the younger dog or maybe when you caught her raiding the bin (is it near the door or the garden) you told her off and she has made a negative connection. There is maybe something about the garden or the surroundings or something in your behaviour or the other dog that is putting her off.
If you are worried, take her to the vet and maybe get a urine sample for a UTI query...that would be what I would do if my own dog looked 'uncomfortable'.

 

[{97702}]

What your older dog is doing sounds perfectly normal to me - although I am astonished she hasn't bin-raided before if she is that combination of breeds

She simply doesn't feel comfortable going in the garden at the moment - that's quite normal for a dog, my rescues will generally only go on concrete when I get them as they have always been in kennels before, I am sure she'll get used to the new place in time.

Incidentally incontinence is absolutely nothing like the behaviour you describe - your poor dog would be totally unable to control when and where they were going if it was incontinent

 

[satinbaze]

Urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine and it maybe as little as a few drops to a full wee. In a dog you usually notice damp patches when the dog gets up from resting