Dog Potty Problems!

How did you originally go about housetraining him?

We used a trainer. Could this be going back to that?? Maybe he wasnt trained right?

How did the trainer originally go about housetraining? The reason I'm asking is because I have gotten the impression from your original post that the dog has always pottied indoors - if that is the case, he was never housetrained and still isn't. But if I'm mistaken and this is a new/recent change in behavior, please correct me. []

No he was house trained. He has never used the bathroom with us home. The only time is when we leave. He had been on medication (steroids for allergies) and the vet warned us that this may increase his problem. Well its been over almost 6 months not taking medication and he is still doing this only when we leave.   I heard that he could be doing this because of Separation Aniexty. Could this be true?

Generally a dog won't mess where he sleeps but there are exceptions to that.  An example would be dogs from pet stores who have no choice in the matter.

Right, thats what the trainer said. So we put his food in there and it still didnt stop him. I am wondering if it was from him being on the medication for so long if that has something to do with it. When we would leave and he was in the crate we could be gone for an hour and without fail he would potty. Do you think I should contact the Vet to see if this is a blatter problem that he has developed?

More knowledgeable people will be along to help, but it doesn't sound to me like a physical problem.  I am basing this on your comment that he only does this when you are gone.

I think you should probably see the vet and discuss the problem. I don't know anything about the side effects of steroids but if the vet suggested that could cause a bladder infection that may be what happened. It may also be separation anxiety which again your vet may be able to help you with. Neither one would be a housetraining problem per se. It would be great if you could keep us updated on what the vet says. Good luck!

I will have to do so and I will keep an update as to what the Vet says. I appreciate the comments back. Thanks so much.

Have you tred a refresher course in house training recently?  Like, taking a few days off work and keeping the dog tethered to you at all times, take him out frquently for a wee and reward and praise like mad when he goes?

Do you use a cue word when you take him outside? 
How prompt is he when you use the word?  

What sort of reward does he get for going in the right place?   
Try making some liver cake and only ofer it when he goes outside.... its such a high value treat that its a high motivator to get to the right place - which you need because the act of toileting is self rewarding so he has been consistently reinforced for going inside/in his crte for a long time.

Thank you for the tips. Do you think that this is something that I still need to do even though he is fully potty trained. Again, he only does this when my boyfriend or I (doesnt matter who it is) leave the house, even after a 30 min walk?
Could this be something he does out of spite.

NO!  Dogs don't pee or poop "out of spite".  That is a very human take on what's going on - put on your doggy-goggles!
 
There are 2 most likely causes:
 
1.  He is suffering from seperation anxiety.  Anxiety lessens the control he has over his bladder and bowels.
 
2.  He has been poorly house trained in the past and learned that the house is an OK place to go.  If he was scolded for this at the time then he simply waits until you are not there to avoid a scolding.  Puppies learn to eliminate in connection with a substrate.  So they don't just think, "need a wee find grass", they also think "ooo, grass, i need a wee".  Being on a particular substance/in a particular area/situation stimulates the need to eliminate even if they have only "been" recently.  So if he has been poorly housetrained (ie if whoever trained him was not vigilant enough when he was a puppy and got him out at the times he needed to go, allowing accidents to happen) being on carpet/tiles/in the house/in the crate/on his own, is now a stimulus for him to go potty.
 
So yes, I think it would be helpful to do those things even though he seems well potty trained at other times.  Giving him a darned good reason to wait and hang on till you let him out will help enormously. 
 
Is there a particular place he does it indoors?  A particular area or substrate that he seems to prefer? 
What are you using to clean it with? 
Is he neutered? 
 
If he is being left for as long as 6hrs could someone come round and let him out during that time?  Potty issues aside, its a long time for him to be alone.