Our eight month old beagle suddenly started pooping in his crate a few weeks ago. He makes a huge mess, gets it all over himself and has to be bathed and the crate scrubbed. Even when he was very young he never did this. I thought it was his way of not wanting to be crated anymore but I tried going out for a couple of hours and when I came back he had pooped by the back door. We try to get him out all he wants. I am at wits end

So are you leaving him the crate while you guys are away? How long does he stay in the crate for? What are his excersise routines like? Is he walked often or tied?
Are you leaving food for him in his crate? Does he get fed just before he is crated?

We didn't usually feed him in the crate or before leaving him in it, at least not without letting him relieve himself. Four nights ago my daughter let him stay in her room and left open his crate door which was in her room. At 2:30 am she awoke because it smelled bad and he had pooped in her bed, and in the crate and was laying in it. No whining to get out or anything.

So, I took a drastic measure which I feel really bad about but so far, no poop. I have a large screened porch and I took his bigger crate and put in a flannel sheet wrapped around his bedding. I also took an old blanket and incased the outside of his crate with it. I leave the door to the crate open and started making him sleep outside in it. So far, he actually doesn't seem to mind and no poop anywhere. He can let himself in and out of the door to the outside so maybe he gets up and goes to relieve himself. I feel bad about it but no one is hating him now.

So what are the temperatures like there? I am not a fan of dogs kept out side. The key to house breaking is consistency and patience.

I understand what you mean about "hating" him though. Been there, done that.
How ever every one has their own methods, and I guess if this works for you...

How ever something's to remember, if your dog doesn't KNOW that he is supposed to alert you when he has to elliminate, he's not going to. They aren't born the with the knowledge to whine or cry when they need out. Your job is to teach him that, and THEN his job it to tell you when he needs out.

Where did you get your pup from? Breeder, pet store? Clasifieds?

Also make sure to not feed rightbefore bed time, excersise before bed, a short walk will do, butmake sure you stay out for as long as it takes for him to eliminate.
Also is your yard fenced? I am only asking because you said he can get out of his crate and go out side to relieve himself. Are you in an area where preditors would be of concern?