Older golden retriever bad behavior

Question
My female golden is 8yrs old and has recently started peeing in the house and destroying everything in the backyard when we leave her alone.  I am at a loss of what to do?

Answer
Hi, Lynn,

Have you had her checked for a urinary infection?  Once a medical reason is ruled out, you may just need to re-institute basic housebreaking routines again.

Some documents that may help:
http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/Housetraining.pdf
http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/retrain-dog.pdf  

As far as destroying things in the backyard, she's probably lonesome or bored.  Goldens are very much people dogs.  Dogs that are left alone for hours on end in the yard get into trouble by digging, barking, jumping the fence.

This may provide some information:
  http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/Inout-dog.pdf