Hi!
I brought home my beloved rescue dog last Thursday, not knowing whether or not she's potty trained. You all know how it is with rescues, it's kinda a surprise when you get home. She is the sweetest dog and so far her and my 10 year old rescue dog (I have had her for 1 year now) are doing fine together but I don't want to leave them home alone together yet. They are both Chihuahua/Doxie type mixes.

I have been working on the crate training and it's getting better. She will actually go in it now as opposed to before where she wouldn't step foot in it. I have left her in it for 20 minutes so far (longest time) - she digs up the bedding like she is trying to get out but seems to be okay for the most part. One question - when I put her in the crate, can I leave it out where the other dog is or should I be putting in our bedroom with the door shut? She seems fine with the crate in the living room, my other dog ignores her anyways... maybe she feels more secure being around my other dog?

I got her through the FOCUS program, she was at a pet store in a giant crate all day and all night by herself. I am assuming it's a rough memory for her, that's why it's difficult for me to teach her???

As far as the potty training goes, she pees and poops outside majority of the time when I take her out but she has peed in the house once and pooped 3 times now. I take her out on the leash A LOT during the day and praise her when she goes potty, not when she doesn't, I just say nothing. I say "go potty" like 20 times during the outside venture and I praise her with physical attention and treats when she goes. 2 out of the 3 times she has pooped in the house has been right after I come in from outside potty time??? All times it's been on the carpet in our room. Should I just shut the door to our room until she is potty trained for good? The rest of the house is tile. The only problem is, if I am on the computer in my room with the door shut she scratches on the door. She was very attached to me from day one, just like my other rescue.

Does she not like to poop outside and/or in the rain or am I not waiting long enough? I wait for like 5 minutes. It's raining today so I figured that had something to do with it too. She just stands there like she doesn't have to go, then goes inside and poops a few minutes later. I don't get mad at her at all. When I discover the poop, which is usually right after she's done it, I pick her up and take her out to the potty spot and say "go potty". Of course she's already gone so she doesn't have to now.

When I take her for walks, she only pees - no poop. She is such a good girl on the leash! She doesn't sniff anything or want to wander off the path, she stays right next to me. I figured I could just walk her everyday and that would help with the potty training too.

My other dog, 10 year old, is potty trained. When we got her a year ago, she only had accidents on the bathroom mat - no where else. It was usually at night or if she was home for 6 hours or so without a walk (of course I took her potty before I left). Now, if I have to go to school, I take her for a walk - she pees and poops - then I put a puppy pad down on the bathroom rug in case she needs to go. It's worked out well so far. The vet said she has a bit of incontinence so this system works just fine. That way she doesn't have to hold it and be uncomfortable in her old age. :-) All we do is throw away the pad and that's that. However, I am sure this is going to affect our new dog eventually. Not sure what to do about that.

We live on 4 acres of land with no fenced yard. Plus, I have seen 4 coyotes in the past 3 days so putting them outside without supervision is out of the question. The land is cleared a distance of 20 feet surrounding the house. There isn't anywhere to walk them around here so I drive them to the nearest neighborhood with sidewalks and we walk.

I want to do this right and I definately have her best interest at heart. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks so much!!! I am so glad there's other animal lovers to talk to out there!!!

Sometimes dogs will not use the bathroom if you are next to them. It is possible she has gotten in trouble or has a really bad memory of pooping near someone (like having an accident) and then was punished badly. Definitely go out with her, but try a longer leash or a tie-out so she isn't too close where she feels uncomfortable.
I have 2 rescues as well and one of them doesn't potty when she is on the leash and I have had many fosters who do not potty (expecially poop) if someone is too near to them. in my experience it is more common in females.
The potty pad shouldn't mess her up too much, but there is the possibility that she may end up using it as well when you are gone. Make sure before you introduce her to the potty pad, that she is fairly reliable with pottying outside or it may confuse her.
Another possibility for the time being is closing the door to the bedroom, but only when you are not in there...if you are there, you can watch her and make sure. If she looks like she is about to go, then scoop her up and rush her outside and praise her like crazy!!
Good luck! Sounds like it is working out great between your dogs! I'm so glad!! :)