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1) Feeding schedule.
If the dog is now fed between your return in the afternoon and your departure in the evening change this to feeding first thing in the morning and after your return in the evening. With two meals the dog will be less hungry, and so less anxious, and will have less need to relieve itself while you are away in the evening. The dog should be given a high quality food, such as Precise or Natural Life to cut down on stool volume.
2) Clean up procedures.
Don't use products containing ammonia or bleach when cleaning up soiled spots. Instead use a solution of a laundry product in water, such as Oxydol or Ultra Tide with "Bleach", which removes protein stains such as grass or blood. Finish the cleaning with a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and water.
3) Quiet leaving and return.
Turn on a radio to a quiet station about half an hour before you leave. Leave in a quiet way and when you return be very matter of fact with the dog. You will have to take the dog out immediately to relieve itself but do not immediately feed, play with or train the dog. Quietly look around and if a carpet has been soiled go and catch the dog, don't call it, and take it to the mess. Hold the dog by the collar and using a low voice scold the dog while tapping the carpet beside the mess. The dog should be looking at the mess. If it turns its head away, tap the end of the nose and then the carpet. Do this for a very short time then isolate the dog in another room for 5 or 10 minutes. Release without paying any attention to the dog.
4) Possible exclusion from soiled areas during evening visits.
Until the habit is broken you might consider limiting the dog's access to carpets when you are away in the evenings. The dog should be in a non-carpeted area such as the kitchen with a soft bed in a den (a large cardboard box on its side) for security.
5) Habituation to evening departures.
Take the various elements of departure and slowly build up the dog's tolerance to them. At first put on coat, handbag, keys and go out the usual door for a few minutes with a low key return. Slowly lengthen the time, maybe having a short visit with a neighbour. When the dog tolerates this then drive out with the car, at first perhaps only to the street before returning and then round the block. Gradually lengthen the time away.
6) Increasing the dog's confidence.
Take 5 or 10 minutes every day to review all the commands the dog already knows and also to work on some command that the dog is learning. This leads to a close bonding between you and also with each command given and obeyed the dog acknowledges you as its leader. A dog looks to its leader for direction and protection and is much more prepared to accept your decision in all things; including whether or not the dog is to be allowed to accompany you when you leave the house.
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