You need to clean your carpets and spot clean them, NOT with a carpet cleaner, but with a special cleaner made to neutralize the urine smell in the carpets. You can get these at a pet store. If what you are using will not neutralize the odor, then your dog can smell his own urine in the carpet and think that's a good place to go. You should be using something like Nature's Miracle or Simply Solution. When you get your carpets professionally cleaned, you need to ask them if they have anything to neutralize urine odors. That is the only thing that is going to work in getting rid of the urine smell. You may not be able to smell it, but your dog can.
When rewarding him, don't reward him after he comes in. You are only rewarding him for coming in the house. You must reward him as soon as he does his business. He needs to understand the reward is for going potty outside and that can only be accomplished immediately upon accomplishing the job!
I know he is an older dog, but what you are doing is essentially trying to housebreak him, so I would be taking him out more than your schedule now. The purpose is to take him out so frequently, that it becomes a habit to go outside. You have to re-train him.
Also, you can put him on a leash and have him be with you, by your side, to allow him access to other parts of your home. By keep him on the leash, you will be able to "catch him in the act" and stop him from going on the carpet and immediately take him outside and let him finish his busines. When he does give him a treat. You may have to keep him on a leash for several months until he stops using your carpet. But I think you and he can benefit greatly from this method. |