By too much freedom, I mean she was out of your sight long enough to pee on your bed. Believe me, I know it's easy to get distracted, and assume she's doing better than she is, because I too am house training an adult shelter dog right now. My guy also doesn't like to go out and potty at night, especially when it's windy. So here's my advice. Start all over again and treat her like she's a baby. Do keep her on a leash or in an ex-pen or crate at all times. Since she has a bit of an issue with the crate, try a different location, and start making a more positive association with it. Always give her a treat when she goes in the crate. Multiple times during the day (like dozens, if you have time, but as often as you can manage) toss a treat into the crate, let her go get it and come out freely. Since you had the bite occur, I would recommend a light "drag line" on her all the time, except when she is in her crate ( not safe) My feeling is that she has been grabbed and punished by her previous owner, and feels unsafe when she is grabbed by her collar/harness. For your safety, what I would do is go to a hardware store and get two light dog leash clips, a small metal o ring and a clothesline. Knot one end to one of the dog clips, and cut it about 7 inches from the end and tie that to the o ring. You want it about 5-6 inches after knotting. This can then be left on her collar all the time, even in the crate. Tie the rest of the clothesline to the second clip and cut it to a reasonable length like 6 or seven feet. You may want to tie a few knots at places along the length, to make it easier to hold on to, so leave it a little longer for that. So now you can clip your drag line to the o ring when she comes out of the crate, so you don't have to grab her collar. Also, if she has the drag line, if you see she is about to squat you don't have to grab her or her collar to hustle her outdoors, but she is still safe in the unfenced yard. You need to up your game in the treat department for night potty, get something really, really good, like chicken, cheese, hot dog, etc. You want to counterbalance the downside of night potty, which is then she goes into the crate right away, so it's kind of like you are punishing her for going potty. If she gets something wonderful only at night, it may be worth it to her to go. Also,as others have said, reward her right there as soon as she is finished. Another strategy I recommend, (we do this with our guy) start taking trips outside about an hour or 45 mins BEFORE you normally go to bed. If she doesn't go, come back in and casually resume what you were doing, watching TV or read, or computer time, whatever. Try again in 10 mins, and again if need be. Prepare your mind for multiple trips so it isn't quite so annoying and you can stay relaxed. When she FINALLY (whew!) does go, party hearty and give the special treat and then go back and resume your previous activity, or brush your teeth or check the locks, whatever, with her accompanying you on leash, for a few more minutes, before you put her in the crate, with extra treats. I would just not fret about accidents in the crate right now, just put a towel or something that is easy to wash in there for now, and don't make a big deal out of it if it happens. It will get better as she begins to understand that she needs to, and will want to, go when you take her out.
I even put an old beat up quilt into her crate so if she pees on that its fine. She gets a treat everytime she goes in the crate. Has been since we got her. We will try moving it into our bedroom tonight if that helps. I'll keep my tshirt in there too and change it out every few days so she can catch my scent. We will try cheese tonight with her. She loves cheese
its what she got so she would take her medicine when she had giardia. She does not like peanut butter...which is insane. What kinda dog doesnt like peanut butter?
So on the subject...what mistakes have I made...since this is exactly what we have been doing. I'm not trying to be a jerk I just kinda would like to know so I can stop* making mistakes. Which the vet DID call back just now. Those receptionists are the worst. She said since it started so acutely it is more than likely an infection. I'm bringing her in to get tested now. She said she probably bit because she was uncomfortable and she probably peed on our bed because it felt safe there. We're gonna rule out infection first. Please god...let it only be an infection
she violated my trust by biting me...but it would be easier to earn it back if she was just sick!
