The problem with the supervision bit is I just can’t watch her very second of every day.
Nobody expects you to watch her every minute of every day. That's impossible! But, when she is allowed to free roam, you need to keep an eye on her and actively be making sure she is exhibiting correct behaviors. This isn't forever, just until she can be trusted to make the right decisions by herself. You'd do need to find some way to manage her, though, whether that's using a crate, a tether, an ex-pen, or baby gates to keep her from destroying your apartment even more thoroughly.
I suggest looking up "Crate Games", which is a positive way to teach dogs about the crate. And yes, the crate can mean that you're leaving, but so does picking up your keys, putting on your coat, and, you know...walking out the door. Unless your dog is struggling with separation anxiety, leaving
in itself should not be an issue. Millions of dogs all over the world have learned to accept that their owners do have to leave sometimes, but their crate is a positive place, so they don't mind going in! It doesn't hurt to at least try and see what happens, and if you don't like it then you can choose something else. It's really saves one's sanity when you're dealing with a pup!
I’ve contemplated an e-collar as a means to get her attention, focus on the command Im giving her and then reward her for listening.
Oh, I absolutely would not recommend that. Not with a puppy. Not with a puppy you suspected has been abused. In order for an e-collar to be effective, they first have to know exactly what is expected of them. A puppy that you have been training for two months DOES NOT fit that bill. And yes, some collars can emit a beep or a vibration, but please remember this: Y
ou do not decide what the dog considers aversive....the dog does. A beep or a vibration, although harmless from our perspective, can be absolutely terrifying to a dog.
If you do decide you want to move forward with an e-collar against our advice, please at least make sure to consult with a professional. And not a "zap the dog for everything" professional, but someone who can objectively evaluate your dog and teach you how to and how not to use the tool.
Please note, what you're experiencing is pretty normal for a 7 month old dog. It may seem that the dog is being purposefully spiteful and wants to make your life hell, but that's not true. It has a lot to do with their mental capacity for not being crazy. Impulse control is poor, their brains appear to fall out, and they can't seem to pay attention for more than 2 seconds, nor remember anything for 2 seconds. They really are like teenagers. It's not called the teenage phase for nothing!
