Puppy Pees in Crate or on Bedding

Question
We have an almost 5 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback who has been peeing in her crate since we first got her, despite what all the text books say about dogs not soiling their den.  She can go all night with no problems (she sleeps on a dog bed in the bedroom) but when she is left in her combo x-pen/crate, she will pee even if only left for two hours (sometimes less), and after having been walked right before being put in.  She will usually pee in the crate (where there is a towel) but sometimes on a dog bed in the pen area, and much less frequently on the concrete flooring.  Last night she peed on her dog bed in the kitchen, and the day before walked into her crate in the kitchen (with towel) and peed.  She doesn't "ask" to go out (no crying, barking, going to door).  We have an 11 year old Rhodesian who was crate/house trained in no time, but this little one has been a challenge.  She's been to the vet often enough, so it's not a UTI.  She had also been having long crying periods when put in the pen/crate, but this has subsided.  In her pen area she has a dog bed, water bowl (which oddly she doesn't use much, waits till she gets out and goes upstairs to drink), kong toy, buster cube, etc.  It's obviously frustrating, and we're running out of ideas.  Many thanks.

Answer
How old was she when you got her?  Likely the problems stem from poor care by the breeder.  I see countless questions from totally clueless people planing on breeding dogs.  I highly doubt those that don't even know when a female will come in season, know about giving the mother room to keep the puppies clean and exposing them to new things.  Most of the people that write books also carefully select their puppies and never see the problems others have.  Since I get well cared for puppies, I haven't seen the problem either.

OK, I have speculated on why.  That is easier than explaining how to stop it.  Dogs are much slower to adjust to new things after they are 12 weeks old.  Just being left alone is an unnatural, new thing.  The stress leads to urination or bowel movements.  Try leaving her a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Freezing it makes it last longer.  You can also try a grid in the crate.  They are available with the crates, but expensive and hard to find. A piece of closely spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. I am now using a plastic vegetable bin with plenty of holes drilled in the bottom.

I don't know if it would work for you, but with a new puppy, I lay down in front of the crate like I was going to sleep there until the puppy falls asleep.  

Stronger leadership might help too.  The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm