Any tips on housebreaking a rescue dog? She lived in a pen in a barn since the age of 6 months, and is now about 14-15 months old. She has no experience in being a house dog. The rescue folks let each of the 40 dogs out in a play yard for about an hour a day, and take them for walks as time permits.
I got her Saturday the 18th. The dog is very good about peeing outside, but just about refuses to poop outside. She went about 36 hours without pooping. She seems to prefer my living room rug for poop, but during a free session in my house the other night, she started to poop on the couch, right where she normally lays to look out the window. I've been keeping her in her crate or on a leash with me all the time she's in the house, with a reward of free time off leash in the house immediately after she does poop in the yard while I'm walking her.
Yesterday, she pooped in the yard in the morning, but not again the entire day. I feed twice a day, and my other dog, Tara, poops about 3-4 times a day, so I know that the new one should be doing about the same volume.
She's a sweet dog, but she just doesn't seem to be grasping the concept of outside potty. When I caught her starting the poop position inside, I hollered NO! and rushed her out the door. When she goes potty outside, I praise and pet her like crazy, and she knows she did good. Any tips or advice to help her see the light? Thanks!