2yr old german shep pooping in house?

Question
we have been crate training since tucker was a puppy and have decided to give him a chance to be free during the day and for the first few weeks he was fine and now everyday when i come home from work he has pooped in the house and once he even peed.  I have thought about putting him back in the crate but I feel he is too big to be in a crate now. What do you recommend? Or why do you think this is happening?

Answer
The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Out of the crate, he is free to move around stimulating his body and making it harder to wait to eliminate.  Youmay need to go back to the crate.

How long are you leaving him?  If you must leave him more than 4-5 hours, perhaps a neighbor or professional dog walker could give him a mid day break.  Doggy day care is a great choice if available.