Sarge didn't catch on to the "Don't poop in Bed Idea" until he was about 6 months, but in his defense his "bed" was my tiny apartment kitchen that I baby-gate him into when I leave. I don't even keep his pads in there anymore because he refuses to use them. I've heard a trick that If you keep their food in the crate as well it may help, It would probably take you being long time away from the house to make her OK with pooping in her food and water. I understand that free-feeding is sometimes the only option. Sergeant eats like a bird too, picks up like 2 bites and eats them, then he's on to other things. Poor dear would starve if I didn't leave food down, so I started picking the food up when he was done then putting it down about and hour or two later, etc etc... and I hope to increase the gap of time to teach him he has to eat when its there. He's litterally gone all day without eating more than 5 bites because I felt like I was supposed to pick it up when he was done. Hope this helps. I'm also a student, I know its a little work to try and compromise with other people in the house.
