Well we got the crate and she won't go in. I tried to put a bone from the butcher shop in there and she literally walked around looking at the cage and whining. Then she stood outside the crate and stretched as far as she could go and picked it up and bolted. The same with cheese. I got in and she ran away.

We have coyotes on the property, you can hear them howling at night. I had to lock my girls up in cages (chickens) etc...so I can't let her off of the leash and she won't go to the bathroom on the leash.

I caught her going indoors and I just walked her outside while she was clearly scared. I smiled and said Let's go outside girl. She wouldn't continue with the potty. She went behind the bushes off the chain this morning and I praised her she slinked away and ran inside. All I said was "Good girl Marley!" and went to give her a hug. As I do when I see her after returning from some where.

I'm failing miserably. So I've signed her up with private lessons and they are going to come here!

I really suck at this and I want to cry. I've had her now for a full month and the only thing that has improved is her weight. Why does it look so easy on the videos?

Baby steps... don't get discouraged this early! This is a brand new thing to her and who knows what her experience in the past has been with crates?

Someone posted a while back that they put a great treat in the crate and SHUT the door. The dog went bonkers trying to get in, which slowly makes going INTO the crate a good thing.

Make it a game... toss in a ball if she likes the ball. Don't close the gate - just let her run in and get in and come out.

Do you do marker training?

I know that was mentioned to me before but I have never done it. Is the marker that thing that clicks where food comes out?

I'm still having a hard time with the treats during training. If I don't have the treat she will not obey. She only obeys to get the treat. She is missing this is what she is to do.

She LOVES games I will try shutting something inside the crate tomorrow and give it a new try. she carries the bone while wagging her tail all over the house. She loves the sound of it dropping so she picks it up and drops it and picks it up and drops it...lol She does the same with balls. So the Kong thing...she has no interest in. Only if it thumps and bounces. Which is why I don't understand why the bone is a good thumper but not the Kong.

Oh and she found my potatoes and helped herself not to eat but to play with.

There was a thread during the summer about a rescue dog. This poor guy had to be sooo patient with the dog. It took forever with basic things. Trust takes time, both with people and with dogs.

Michelle I am a beginner but I have to say the best Leerburg DVD I got was The Power of Training with Markers. If you don't have it I would highly recommend it!

I'll look into it. I suppose it is hard on me only because I've never had a dog that has taken so long to do little things like potty training, though not necessary little. She is such a sweet girl and I really do love her!

I'll look into the video thank you.

 Quote: Linda West

There was a thread during the summer about a rescue dog. This poor guy had to be sooo patient with the dog. It took forever with basic things. Trust takes time, both with people and with dogs.

Simon Tai, right?

Michelle, I know it easy to get discouraged, but you have really not had this dog too long. Even IF all you had done was get some healthy weight on her, THAT is a good thing, and you know you have made more progress than that.

Marker training is awesome. There is a bit more to it than clicking and treating - although it DOES boil down to that, but timing, etc... is important. If you can get the video, it will absolutely be the best investment you can make in your efforts to training this dog. You'll be able to use it for housebreaking, crate training, etc...

There is some free info on this site in regard to marker training so that can get you started prior to getting the video. Just try to keep it all FUN and rewarding for the dog.

 Quote: Michelle Bell

Oh and she found my potatoes and helped herself not to eat but to play with.

That would be handler error.