Behavior and crating

Question
Hi
I have been crate training since I got him 2 months ago. He is 6 months now. Breeder was already training him to go outside and be in his play pen when she couldn't watch him. He has been going to daycare where he gets walked often and stays in crate at night.  For the last two weeks he has to stay home bcs of kennel cough and although he gets walked at least twice while I am at work I feel bad about him being in his crate for so long... Nor at one time though. Max is maybe 4 hours in between walks.
Anyway so I am wondering if it's a good idea to start letting him roam around my apartment instead of the crate. I've tried it a couple of times, leaving him for ab hour, then two. He was good. Then today he was 'free' for 3 hours and when I came home I found the wee wee pad I had left for him destroyed. It also seemed that ge did pee in it. He also pee'd in it the time I left him free for 2 hours. Does this mean he isn't ready to be on it's own unattended? I was happy to see the only damage was the wee wee pad. No chewing or poop anywhere. And if he pee'd on the pad it wasn't much bcs I could barely tell when I had to pick it up.... So is he ready or should I keep crate training him?

On another subject I have problems getting him to walk outside my building. When I go to put hos leash on he goes into his crate which is a good thing right, means he likes it, that it is his 'safe place.' but makes it hard for me to take him for his relief walks. Once I get him to lobby leaving the building itself it's another fight. I've tried treats and it's not working. Walling slowly but he just stops and holds his ground. He is an English bulldog. Adorable in every other sense than when I try to take him for walks. Any thoughts?

Answer
I never suggest using pee pads as it allows the dog to go in side and can lead to the dog not wanting to go out. The dog is acting normally since he has been trained to go inside and not outside.

You need to do the potty training outside from scratch (no pun intended) Am, every two hours, PM, and remove the pad. You can follow any of the usual potty training books. Praise and reward for going. Many owners will use a bell the dog can ring to go out if the dog does notmake a recognizable signal it needs to go out. You can also clicker train the process.

Regards,

Henry Ruhwiedel
Westwind Kennels LLC
www.dogkennel.org