Potty Training

Question
My dog is 14 weeks old, and I have tried almost everything to get her trained to go outside. She started to for a while and started going in her cage. We shortened the cage so she wouldn't, but she still does and steps in it all the time! Now she has a habit of eating her food, I read that it is being she is not digesting her food properly or she is not getting proper nutrients. I feed her pedigree puppy twice a day, about a cup each time. I don't know what to do, this is my first puppy, and I am at a dead end with her.

Answer
Well she should be in the habit of eating her food, that is what it is for. You didn't tell me your method of potty training her to start with but I can tell you the most time tested methods.

First of all your feeding schedule is fine, but it is preferable to feed three times a day if you are home. Secondly, the food you are feeding her is garbage so she isn't going to get the complete nutrition she needs and two cups a day is too much for a puppy. I have no idea what kind of puppy she is either as you didn't mention this.  You need to get her on an optimal diet that will save you money in the long run, produce smaller stools due to it's high digestibility and will last longer because you will feed less plus it costs less per feeding (because of that) than the so-called cheaper grocery store brands.

You need to get her on Science Diet puppy growth. If she is a large breed dog then get the large breed puppy. If she is a little dog then get the small bites, but no matter what, get the Science Diet puppy Growth. You can get this at a feed store, a pet store or a vet that sells it.

Feed according to the bag's recommended amount for her size but measure the food in an 8 oz measuring cup- the kind you cook with. You can buy another one just for her bag of food at the second hand store for a quarter.
Feed her three times a day the total amount divided by three- so if it's a cup and a half for the whole day then feed her that amount divided into three equal feedings. If you work and cannot feed her like that, feed her the same amount divided in half or feed one third when you get home and one before bed. That is not the best way however.

AS SOON as you feed her, day or night, take her outside one a LEASH with a small piece of food in your hand and let her go to the bathroom. Stay out there until she does and then reward her with the piece of food. Use her own food, not treats. Or use baby carrots. Dogs love carrots and they make great treats for them for life.

Take her inside and then reward her again or praise her and then go about your business. Just before bed take her out again on the leash and repeat the reward. DO NOT REWARD her if she doesn't potty.

IF you are consistent with this, and do this everyday like clockwork, she will be trained. I never had a problem training my dog and I had not had a puppy in 21 yrs when I got her 11 yrs ago.

Now, she will have accidents from time to time. DO NOT make a big deal over them, do NOT clean them up in front of her and DO NOT scold her for them.
She will eat her stool to prevent you from cleaning it up and yelling at her.
You have to think like a dog. Don't expect her to go all night every night without an accident now and then. She will be able to hold it more and more as she gets bigger and learns that pottying outside means a treat.

This isn't going to be remedied overnight so have some patience with her. Dogs are more than willing to be potty trained, it's usually the owner that needs the most training however!
So give this a try and give it some time. Then you look back and think, wow that was easy.
Check back with me in a month and let me know how it's going. I look forward to hearing about it.