Housetraining 2 puppies

Question
Hi
I have a problem with my 2 puppies
They both males, and one is 27weeks, one is 19weeks, they're both maltese-shitzu
They're actually doing good with their peepad train, but only when I am around
I have to leave my apartment everyday, 6 hours TOP
By this age, my vet told me they should be able to hold their bladders for 8 to 9 hours
But whenever I am home, they have already eliminated them selves, i can't tell which one of them, but I am pretty sure it's both of them
Not only when I am not home, whenever I am home but can't watch them, for example when I am in the bathroom or in the kitchen, they always sneak around to eliminate them selves whenever they have the oppurtinity and know that I am not watching them
Is it because I sometimes punish them, like yell at them so they know I am upset and I usually force them to smell the floor where they had the accident, so they behave like this?
But not punishing them is clearly not working either, so what should I do?
If i want to start to crate training them, should I buy 2 small crates, one for each of them, or is it better with 1 Large crate and put them together?
and one more thing, one of my pup ALWAYS barks whenever I leave the apartment, and he is pretty loud too, how do I stop that?
Thank You

Answer
Hello Jeanny, First and foremost you must confine your puppies and not give them run of the house.  Preferably a laundry room with a baby gate up works well.  Also put the  wee wee pads in the room with them.  You can crate train them and really it should not matter if they are together or apart, they probably would prefer being together.  As far as when you are home with them, taking them out every 2 hours and using code words such as "do your business" or "go potty" will let them know why they are outside.  Puppy training is a full time job and really for the most part if you take them out often, to eliminate a chance accident, and confining them either in crates or a room while you are out and at night really works best.  As for the barking, leave a radio on and choose a room not in view of the door, so the puppy does not seeing you leaving.  Hopefully as the puppy ages the separation anxiety will get better.  Good Luck and Thanks for asking, Cindy Lou :)