[Ladylavender]

Ok, this is what I think:

1. He either does not like his crate and he gets anxious to be in it, because he knows you are leaving, etc. and therefore he goes potty in it. It is involuntary for him and he cannot help it. Or..
2. He has learned a bad habit of going in the crate and unfortunately, when this behaviour becomes learned or reversed from their natural instinct (because it is more natural for them NOT to do it where they sleep), then you are going to have a real hard time correcting the behavior.

If he is doing it because he is anxious, then getting a dog hormone diffuser plug in near the crate may help calm him and help with the problem.

If he is doing it because of reason #2, then I think you are going to have to "re-think" the use of the crate. (I do understand why you are using it) So you may have to go to some other method of containment, like an x-pen.

I think you may have to commit to "re-training" him on the potty issue. The first thing I would do is get rid of the crate and get an x-pen. Make the x-pen, real homey. Put a bed in it and his toys. (No food or water while you are gone) I would paper the floor inside the x-pen with newpaper. When or if he goes inside, he will go on the paper. He may even start to go in a specific area, hopefully away from the bed and toys. When you can see that he is picking a particular place in the x-pen to go, you can start removing the paper where is does not go, little by little until there is only one area of paper left and hopefully he will only go in that area. If he goes on the open floor, you will need to replace the paper in that area and start again with the removal, but more slowly.

In the meantime, when you are home, you are going to have to keep him tethered to you. Since he likes being with you anyway, this should not be too much of a problem. When he is tethered to you, you can keep a good eye on him and prevent him from going in the house. When it starts to look like he is sniffing around take him outside immediately. If you catch him while he is going, make a sharp noise to get his attention (so he will stop) and pick him up and take him outside to go potty. You will need to keep this up until he no longer has mistakes. Any time he whines take him outside to potty. He may get the hint that whining gets him outside. Never punish him when you find a mistake. It's too late by that time. Ignor it and clean it with a neutralizer. But either keep him by your side or in the x-pen. After a while, you can put the paper on the outside of the crate to see if he will hold his potty until you let him out. He may have to go and start to whine in the x-pen staring at his paper. If that happens take out immediately.

Always, always, always, treat his good behavior. Always, ignor the bad.

Take him for a long walk, about 1.5 miles a day. Yes even in the cold weather. He will be a much better puppy for you if you do. It will get rid of some of stress for the day and he can urinate all he wants too.

I hope that helps.