bad doggy seperation anxiety

Question
Help!

We adopted a 3 year bluetick/catahoola mix.  He is wonderful and oh so friendly.  When we adopted him we even got the cage he was raised in.  When we leave we try using the tv and crating him - when we do this he pees in his crate.  When we leave him out we do not say goodbye but come back to poop all over the house.  We can leave for a few minutes and come back and it has already been done.  He knows he isnt suppose to do this and gets upset when we find it.  We walk him and play with him before leaving.  We even take him with us as much as we can. Please HELP!

Answer
This is a difficult problem and may take time to solve.  I am a big believer in crates, but hate to see any dog left over 4-5 hours. If you can't make it back to give it a mid day break, see if a neighbor or professional dog walker can. Doggy day care is a great idea too.

You need to build trust with him.  This is meant for younger dogs, but do what you can of it.  

''Elevation for small puppies: Sit on the floor and gently put your hands around your pup's middle, below his front legs, and lift him up. He is facing you. Hold him for 15 seconds. Repeat until he no longer struggles. If he is past 10-12 weeks, lift his front feet off the ground, but don't pick him up.

Cradling for small puppies: Hold your puppy gently on his back, as you would cradle a small baby. If he struggles, hold him firmly until he quiets for 10-15 seconds. With larger pups, you can do this as your sit on the floor, with your pup between your legs.

Quiet lying down: Place your pup on the floor on his side, with all 4 legs pointing away from you. Use your hands on his neck/shoulder area and middle, to hold him in this position. When he is quiet, praise him. Lengthen the time that you keep him quietly in this position. When he accepts this position well, handle his paws and muzzle, while keeping him quiet.''

The quotes mean this isn't my original work. It is copied from my Puppy Raising Manual. I have long used these or minor variations of them, and they are very effective. You may want to give him a belly rub while he is on his back too. Helps bonding. There is a big difference between him rolling over and demanding a belly rub, and you choosing a time to roll him over and rub his belly. The latter cements your place as pack leader.