Behavior changes

Question
I have a 5 year old poodle/shih tzu mix.  I have had him for 3 years.

I'll ask about old habits first.  I was told he has always done this even before I got him.  When I leave the house, he tears up my curtains.  Most of the time he doesn't do it in the mornings when I leave for work, but he does everytime I leave, come home and then leave again.  I know he is upset that I have left without him, but I don't know how to teach him to not tear them up.  I've tried going back into the house and scolding him.  I've tried going back in the house and putting him outside.  Nothing works.  I hate leaving him outside when it is very hot or very cold.  Is there anything I can do beyond keeping him caged all day long?

The new thing:  Within the past couple weeks he has begun urinating and pooping in the house.  He has begun waking me up MANY times in the night.  I get up to let him outside, but he won't go outside.  I go back to bed and he immediately wakes me up again.  I check to make sure he has water or food that might be needed and go back to bed again.  The past few nights he has woke me up 5-6 times back to back and not once will he go outside.  I wake up the next morning and he has pooped in the house.  Last night I slept in my recliner just to get some sleep because he wouldn't stop waking me up in bed.  When I did that, he jumped up on my lap and slept all night long with me... never waking me up again.  I can't continue to sleep in the recliner in order to get a nights sleep.  Any idea of what may have caused this and  how to break him of it?

Answer
You need to crate train your dog. He needs to be crated when you aren't home and whole you're sleeping. Go to http://www.examiner.com/x-7644-Detroit-Pet-Training-Examiner~y2009m7d29-Pet-Trai... for information on how to do this without upsetting him. Don't feel guilty about it. Your dog is taking control of your life and that's not good for either of you.