Nancy, a couple thoughts. I second the person who said there might be a medical issue. I don't know how large a dog she is but 11 or 12 is pretty old for say a lab size dog. She's quite elderly and dogs are subject to many of the same conditions elderly people are including dementia. But the darnedest little things sometimes cause big problems. My parents dog developed glaucoma and when the pressure would get high she had in effect headaches that would cause he to be hopelessly restless moving around bumping into things etc. Treating her eye with drops brought the pressure down and controlled the problem. Eventually the worst one was removed as her vision had gotten so bad it was felt she could no longer even see shapes. You could walk in front of her and she wouldn't notice--so why keep a problem eye. She's also deaf now. And being deaf she wants to know where people are--she's insecure. If your dog is having sight/hearing or well, I'm sure for dogs smelling problems it probably makes her more insecure. Perhaps a pen outside so she can see you drive off. If she's lived outside in a dog house all her life perhaps she'd rather do that now than in the garage--you can get a heating pad made for dog houses. And practice leaving her for short periods of time if she requires getting used to it. Perhaps a large crate inside the house that you feed her in could become a home when your gone. And if considering having her inside make sure there is a routine for bathroom breaks so she knows when she goes out what she's out for.
This will all take a bit of figuring out but she's your dog--the dog you signed on to take care of. Like an elderly parent or young child it isn't always fun and easy but it's part of the relationship. I know you can't be there 24/7 by her side but work with her and don't forget to consider hearing/vision problems. If she's a 35 lb dog it would seems 11 or 12 is a bit young for these problems but it's still possible.
Bathroom breaks are interesting. My parents dog and them have come to the mutual decision that as soon as dinner is finished they are to take her out to pee. She walks out, pees and comes right back to get a treat. My dog who's only 6 was having some problems leaking pee. I was very concerned, a young male dog shouldn't have these problems (females are more likely to have these issues and urinary tract infections too). Conclusion, he's so focused on checking the back yard for invading pests when he goes out he doesn't think to pee. So when I noticed him licking because he was leaking a bit I'd take him out on leash to a mulched area where he likes to go and tell him to "do his business". He needed to so bad he did. Now before bed he goes out off leash with my supervision and I remind him to "do his business and he empties his bladder then I'll say "Ok, good dog go run" and give him a couple minutes to secure the back yard before calling him "time for bed." I haven't had a problem since. Point is make sure she knows she's out for that purpose so she'll go before leaving her for work or her going to bed at night.
I'm not saying this is you as you obviously care enough to ask but many people get puppies because they are so cute and fun. The are like animated teddy bears. When they get to be lanky rough playing 8 month olds many are given up others chained or kenneled outside. Eventually they are fed but otherwise forgotten. When they are old they are gotten rid of. Frankly I find the elderly dogs the best dogs of all. They are usually calm, gentle, trusting and just want to be with you. They sleep a lot and when secure in a familiar environment sleep or nap from 7am to 6pm easily--my last lab/retriever mix I checked on with a web cam during the day--he laid on his mat beside my bed ALL day and even as he became too deaf to hear me come in a short whistle and I would hear him get up and slowly walk down the hall to greet me. He passed 3/13/10--4 years ago and I'm tearing up now thinking of him.
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Today's Featured Article - Third Brush Generators - by Chris Pratt. While I love straightening sheet metal, cleaning, and painting old tractors, I use every excuse to avoid working on the on the electrics. I find the whole process sheer mystery. I have picked up and attempted to read every auto and farm electrics book with no improvement in the situation. They all seem to start with a chapter entitled "Theory of Electricity". After a few paragraphs I usually close the book and go back to banging out dents. A good friend and I were recently discussing our tractor electrical systems when he stated "I figure it all comes back to applying Ohms Law". At this point
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