Thank you and no I usually just snap. She responds well to that. I have never used a clicker before...not that I oppose it I've just never had one.

We don't have a crate we do have a "bed" for her and she has been sent to bed and seemed to understand that she had done bad. She stole the chicken off of my stove top. I looked at her and led her to the bed and said calmly "Bad girl. Go to bed and stay." She did! no rewards needed but I think that was just because she already knew she was in trouble. As soon as she saw me, before I even saw my chicken, she was slinking away. The way she went out the door do you think a crate will hold her?

I agree with Sheila 100%

I take her out about 6-7 times a day. Each time is for potty time and to run. We have five acres for her to run on and she loves it! I've been training her to stay within our property lines and she does pretty good but when another animal goes by she forgets everyhing! So I've also been training her on the leash. For at least two hours she runs and plays chase, fetch and believe it or not hide and seek with my 8 year old. They have been caught rolling on the ground "wrestling" as well. I have seen her go number two but she will NOT go to the potty on the leash. So I walk her out on the leash and walk her for a few minutes and then in her "spot" (she has an area where she likes to go) I let her go and then call her back and after she goes I throw the ball for her and play and then I put her back on the leash and come in.

Ok I will look into a crate tomorrow! Thank you very much everyone! I really want her to be happy and to feel safe.

This is all JMO and I know others will help too.


.... she will not do what she is told unless you have cheese.

How does she know? Is the cheese used as a bribe or lure? You might want to start real marker training, load your marker (a snap is OK, but I'm not that great at it, and would probably choose a verbal marker. I use "yes!", and I also use a clicker for teaching some things. But I would start with just one and get it loaded and very familiar. Do you have a bait bag?

So even if I try to get her to say stop jumping my husbands buddies I have to have cheese in hand or she completely ignores me.

What behavior have you trained her to do when you want that behavior to stop? Have you taught sit, or place?

The second thing she is doing is she will pee outside but we are in the middle of a room addition and with that addition is small bathroom which is not completed. She poops in there. ... why does she insist on pooping in there and peeing outside?

Probably, as pointed out, someone has punished her for a natural body function (pooping) when she had no option but to go inside. Now she has a perception that she must hide to poop.

Thank you and no I usually just snap. She responds well to that. I have never used a clicker before...not that I oppose it I've just never had one.

Do you know marker training? That is, did you load the snap? Do you always reward after snapping? You say "usually." What do you do other times?

We don't have a crate we do have a "bed" for her and she has been sent to bed and seemed to understand that she had done bad. She stole the chicken off of my stove top.

I looked at her and led her to the bed and said calmly "Bad girl. Go to bed and stay." She did!

I would not use her safe bed, her den, as a place of punishment.

I take her out about 6-7 times a day. Each time is for potty time and to run. We have five acres for her to run on and she loves it! I've been training her to stay within our property lines and she does pretty good but when another animal goes by she forgets everyhing!

She's not ready for that freedom, IMO. Do you have a long line?

So I've also been training her on the leash. For at least two hours she runs and plays chase, fetch and believe it or not hide and seek with my 8 year old. They have been caught rolling on the ground "wrestling" as well.

I would not allow this kind of rough play on the ground with a child after you have known the dog only a month.

I have seen her go number two but she will NOT go to the potty on the leash.

I would start a little log (a simple journal) of her poop schedule and make that the time for a good long walk (even if it's just in your yard), remembering that activity will stimulate peristalsis. I would be completely casual, however, since apparently she has been punished around pooping, and I would reward lavishly for each good event. Poop outside = party.

I've always been told that if you don't get on them as soon as it happens then don't know why they are being scolded? Is this incorrect?

I don't correct for inappropriate potty, period. It's a handler error. Sheila's post is right on. I'd tether the dog to myself and not allow any accidents to have a chance. That will also teach you her body language around pottying.

About the S/A, I would begin very casual 5-second leave-takings and returnings, then 10 seconds (and silent outside the door as if you had really gone) and so on. I would make both coming and going absolutely calm and no-big-deal. Then I'd do the same with both of you leaving, etc., etc.

After only a month, it's not a big surprise that she is anxious when she's left. I think that a combo of the proof that you always come back, along with increased familiarity and security are going to have big effects.

Congratulations on your new girl! I'll bet she's a terrific dog.

ok...I just lost my post, so before I type it all again, a few questions.

Was the door incident the only time in the past month she was destructive when you left her alone, assuming you have left her before? Could she be pooping in the bathroom when you are not home?

I am just trying to understand the level of seperation anxiety, if it is that. A crate is vital, but if she has never been in one, and does have seperation anxiety, desensitizing will be needed.

I would not be letting her off leash at this point.

Good morning. Sorry I left in the middle of this last night. To answer the question. yes this was the only time she was destructive. Only on Fridays am I gone for a long period. I teach art on Fridays. But my husband comes home half way through the day on Fridays and takes her out to walk. So she is not alone in the house for anymore than a couple of hours during the day at any time. I know she is afraid I won't come back...she had her frist grooming experience two days ago. Surprisingly she did much better than I thought she would. I had someone come to the house, thinking it would be easier on her. She looked so heartbroken getting her bath but once it was done and she saw me and I told her what a good and pretty girl she is she was happy again. I really think she thought I was getting rid of her.

The possiblity that she is using the bathroom, lol, when I'm gone is a good possibility very good possibility! But I'm home 75% of the time. I home school and I work from home. When running to pick a few things up from home depot or lowes or to go to the pet store she comes with. When we go places like that she does the entire body wag. She loves the car. She will get in my car, when I'm cleaning it out etc... and she will not come out until I take her for a drive around the block. I mean the dog runs from one end of the car to the next and no matter how many times you tell her to get out she will sit herself down and look around but not at you. lol It makes me laugh so I'm sure that doesn't help with that.

I understand about her bed and I won't do that again. As for the clicker...I'm assuming that when you click food comes out? When I give her the cheese it is when I'm training her. Right now when on the leash she has stopped pulling and will walk to my left side even when I turn in a circle....I reward her after she has done it perfectly. She will sit on command, most of the time, but after she realizes there are no treats to go with it she resumes whatever she was doing. When she "attacks" my husbands buddies, one in particular she does not like, I tell her to sit or to come to me and she won't. If I take her by the collar she just turns to me and starts licking me. But the one person in particular she wants to bite. I think it is because he has five cats and she clearly hates cats. She put me on my rear one day chasing a cat through my yard that is when I learned I was holding the leash wrong.

My son taught her hide and seek...he looks at her and says Marley hide and seek. She perks up and wags the tale and sits for a minute and after he hides I come out and say "Find the boy" and she runs to him while doing the body wag. But I understand the wrestling part which is why I said they have been busted. I have told my 8 year old not to do it with her so that is more a training issue with the stubborn child. But it is coming to an end he last lost his legos for a three days and that is worse than anything in the world you can do to him.


I have done the casual leaving, to go feed the chickens, or to take garbage to the curb, check the mail, all which take a few seconds away from her. I can hear her crying inside but as soon as I get back the party is on.

Hope this helps. thank you eveyrone. You all are awesome.

 Quote: Michelle Bell

No only because we only find the evidence but no one has actually caught her doing it. I've always been told that if you don't get on them as soon as it happens then don't know why they are being scolded? Is this incorrect?

That information is CORRECT.

don't correct a dog for something unless you catch them doing it.
I, personally, wouldn't correct the dog for this even if i did catch them in the act. It's a handler mistake. If your dog is having accidents like that in the house you should have her with you all the time to PREVENT this from happening and teaching her what is right.
I would tether this dog to me, and if this is happening while you are away...the dog should be crated.

With housebreaking issues, it's better to try and startle the dog out of what it's doing, and get it outside right away.
but if you have her tethered to you, there's no chance for her to get to the bathroom. I would also up the number of times you take her outside. take her out every half hour if you have to, and when she does eventually go outside praise praise praise, party it up.

The tethering will also help with the jumping on people and her ignoring your commands.

Not sure what tethering is? Does that have to do with the clicker? And can I buy one from a local pet store?

I really appreicate everyones help...I have to take her out now...she is asking She asks but a whimper and then she bumps my hand with her nose. When I get up she runs to the door. That is a good thing!