Inside urination

Question
Hi,

We adopted a 7 year old, healthy and well-trained Brittany Spaniel from the original owner about 6 weeks ago.  She is fitting in great with our family and we just love her.  She was brought up with another older Brittany, although the owner said he didn't think they interacted much.  She was also outside 80% of the time at the previous owners' home in a dog run or yard, but had dog door access 24/7 to the garage.  According to the owner, they were alone a lot.  She has lots of energy, especially for a 7 year old.  We walk her at least two times each day--for at least 30 minutes in the morning and then one or two other walks later in the day.  

At first we tried leaving her in our dog run along just a for a few hours when we went out.  She would wimper and wail and even though we are in an extremely dog-friendly community, some neighbor called the police, I think b/c she sounded so distressed.  She did this for hours.  Then we decided to leave her inside and we could leave her for about 3 hours and there would be an accident after that, but right by the back door.  We ordered an automatic dog door and she is using it successfully.  So, the plan is to leave her inside with constant access to outside.  

This weekend, I was away and my husband took the kids on a little day trip, so Kayla was alone for 8 or so hours.  He came home and she had urinated all over the family room (no where near the dog door).  Today I came home after her being alone for just 3 hours and she had urinated on our bed a lot, which is far from the dog door.

She sleeps in our room all night and can hold it no problem for a solid 7 or 8 hours.

It seems to me she has some separation anxiety and is really uncomfortable being alone.  I don't know what to do b/c we absolutely want to keep her.  One idea is using a crate when we're away.  I know she was originally crate-trained as a puppy, but not for a while.

Whatever you can suggest would be greatly appreciate.  Please let me know if you need any further info.

Answer
Somebody here once asked me ''What does a puppy need?''.  Since then, I have given the list to hundreds of people, maybe a dozen times today.  It starts with:

A crate.  It is only natural that a puppy resists its crate at first.  What the puppy wants more than anything else is to be others, you, anyone else in the
household, and any other pets.  In our modern society, even if we are home,
other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have.   The
only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren't around.  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.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  Skip the
bedding.  At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
hazards.  A wire rack in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but a piece of closely
spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper.  I think the plastic ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.  At bed time, with a new puppy, I have found lying down in front of the crate like you were going to sleep and speaking softly to it, or singing, until it settles down and goes to sleep works very well.  Follow the pattern, a period of active play, outside to eliminate, and then into the crate.

For older dogs I add:

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, may take some work.
Start out just putting its toys and treats in the crate.  Praise it for going
in.  Feed it in the crate.  This is also an easy way to maintain order at
feeding time for more than one dog.

I hate to see a dog left in a crate more than 4-5 hours.  If you can't give it a mid day break, could a neighbor or a professional dog walker?  The ultimate is doggie daycare.