Puppy Mill Rescue - Older Puppy - Housetrainging - Eating Fecec

Question
We adopted a rescue goldendoodle three weeks ago from a puppy mill.  The Vet believes she is approximately six months old.  My problem, and it's a big one, is house training and eating feces - UGH!  She's a smart girl but I think she's learned too many bad habits while living at the mill, one of which might have been she didn't get food on a regular basis so eats her own feces - UGH again!  As she was undernourished I leave her food and water out so she'll eat whenever she's hungry, but she doesn't always eat it.  How much food and water should she have?  Can I put it down for her for a fixed amount of time and then lift it up?  For how long?  While I'm trying to house train her how do I regulate her bm's when I don't know when she's eaten?  We have her crated when we're not home, and confined to one section of the house (Kitchen/familyroom).  If I leave that section of the house I crate her (she cries) as I worry that she'll bm on the floor; which she's done already.  We have a large back yard but I don't let her run free as much of the yard is wooded - she bm's there - I don't know it - and when she comes back she's eaten it.  Please help me, it's the dog or my marriage.

Thanks so much.

My question is,  

Answer
The usual limit on putting food down is 15 minutes.  It is a very workable system.  Most dogs will quickly adjust to eating all they need in that time.  She may not be as badly undernourished as you think.  It is much better for a dog to be on the lean side.  More so with puppies that need time to develop sturdy joints.  She should also be on an adult chow now to slow growth.  She will reach her genetically determined size, just later, and with better joint structure.  Here is a link to a great, illustrated guide to judging her body condition, http://www.puppychow.com/products/popup_body_condition.aspx

Go ahead and leave water available.  Most dogs will drink what they need.   

If regular feeding doesn't lead to regular bowl movements allowing you to clean up the feces, you could try food additives.  A couple of home remedies are a little canned pumpkin or pineapple juice, or the commercial products from the pet store, Deter and Forbid.  I have never used them; but people I trust, claim they work.  It is best not to let her see you cleaning them up.  

I have struggled with the feces eating with my last several puppies.  I am very relieved my 7 month old Nita, isn't doing it.  I have mostly relied on cleaning them up before they had a chance.