1 yr old poops in house.

Question
My one year old Redbone Coonhound started pooping in the house around Christmas.  We moved into this new house in Oct. and when we let him explore downstairs, he decided it was his personal bathroom.  So, we decided to re-crate train him to help w/ housebreaking.  However, whenever I try to give him a little more time outside the crate, he inevitably poops in the house. (not just downstairs)Today for instance, he got a bath and lots of attention.  Then he was in his crate while we were having dinner, I fed him, let him out and then let him back in to stay w/ me in the office.  He was whiny so out he went again and I watched him go poop.  Then he went into his cage to dry off and when I let him out again to be with me in the office, he pooped right behind me without a sound!  Absolutely no indication of needing to go outside.  So, he is now in his cage.  I don't let him out unless he is supervised, and he is in there whenever we are gone or asleep.  However, when I try to reward him by letting him out of his cage for a little while, when I can supervise him, sometimes he poops in the same room that I am in!  I am at a loss as to what to do.  He gets to spend time outside...he even has a fenced area to be in unsupervised (he tends to eat my garden).  I am baffled and would love some direction if you can help!

Answer
This could be more of a leadership issue than housebreaking.  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

As long as you are still having problems with him, I would crate him when you can't watch him.  Use closed doors or gates to keep him in the same room as you.  I have a chain fastened to my one computer desk.