Hi I have just got a 12month old dog that I think was mistreated with its other user and I am trying to train him now.
I have one problem only - I have at times to leave him in his cage for a period say for 3hours and when I come home he has pooed in his cage and sometimes I find that this is over him. I have tried many things - taking him for walks before hand, I have my father in law coming in and taking him out for a walk in between the time but this doesn't seem to work, giving him treats when he is doing this outside and changing my tone when he has done this in the cage.

It seems to be that even going to the shop for my weekly shopping we come home to this to - can anyone give me advise or help in how to fix this other than the options in which I have done??

Thanks Guys

If you are in the house while he spends time in his crate, does he defecate then?

If he is left out of the crate, confined to a safe area, does he have any problems?

If he was mistreated before you got him, he may be having some anxiety issues.

Try to shop right after he has gone and you have heaped lavish praise and hugs on him (rather than treats).
Maybe a crate is what he fears, if he was left for much of his year in one.
How about the kitchen or a floor easily cleanable, with a gate, when you go out, a bed and toys? At least he won't have to be given a bath.
Patience is usually required with a rescued dog.

What about leaving the TV or radio on while you're gone? Perhaps the sound of human voices will help, especially if the TV was on while you were home, and suddenly, when you're gone, there's total silence. One woman I know plays a tape of her own voice (reading Goldilocks and The Three Bears with an animated voice). Our cats like certain kinds of music and seem to nap better (and not walk around restlessly) when "their" music is playing.

Hi Guys thank you for your answers -

I have tried the radio on and still seems to not work and I have put a water bottle with a clock where is is laying so it seems like a heart beat etc for him, I have tried a pen were he can walk about in and its rather large but he seems to always get out of it and he has managed to get out of it and rip my blinds on the window :( when we first got the crate he was able to get out of this (in some way even though it is one with a top and doors on this which are locked)

Normally when we are in the house he would tend not to go near the crate at all he has only went in it twice when we are there and that only lasted 10 minutes the max - at night time he barks in it if he goes in.

Has anyone ever had someone come out to their house to try anything?