A vet check might be in order. I would suspect a possible UTI if my dog started peeing in his crate and usually didn't.
Is he drinking an enormous amount of water or anything before going into his crate for the last time before you return from work? Is the sitter making sure he pees before putting him in his crate the last time? Is it the same sitter both times?
Does the crate have bedding? If so, I would remove it if you ruled out a medical condition and the sitter letting the dog drink too much water or not peeing before going back in the crate for the last time. Bedding soaks up the urine, but a bare floor will make a rather uninviting place to pee. Is his crate too big? Can he pee on one side of the crate and lay down on the other? If he's destroying the plastic crate liner, use an airline style crate. Nothing he can tear up.
I doubt it's separation anxiety if he's fine the two earliest potty breaks and has zero problems.
How much exercise and mental stimulation is he getting? Destructiveness can be a symptom of inadequate exercise....but not always. He's 7 months old, so not terribly unusual.
Being intact or neutered doesn't matter. The only thing neutering does is ensure the dog can't reproduce.
I would also suggest cleaning accidents with a cleaner like Nature's Miracle, which completely eliminates the smell of urine and feces, even to a dog.
Is he drinking an enormous amount of water or anything before going into his crate for the last time before you return from work? Is the sitter making sure he pees before putting him in his crate the last time? Is it the same sitter both times?
Does the crate have bedding? If so, I would remove it if you ruled out a medical condition and the sitter letting the dog drink too much water or not peeing before going back in the crate for the last time. Bedding soaks up the urine, but a bare floor will make a rather uninviting place to pee. Is his crate too big? Can he pee on one side of the crate and lay down on the other? If he's destroying the plastic crate liner, use an airline style crate. Nothing he can tear up.
I doubt it's separation anxiety if he's fine the two earliest potty breaks and has zero problems.
How much exercise and mental stimulation is he getting? Destructiveness can be a symptom of inadequate exercise....but not always. He's 7 months old, so not terribly unusual.
Being intact or neutered doesn't matter. The only thing neutering does is ensure the dog can't reproduce.
I would also suggest cleaning accidents with a cleaner like Nature's Miracle, which completely eliminates the smell of urine and feces, even to a dog.
