Potty Training Nightmares

[Blake]

My wife and I have two french bulldogs, one that is a year and three months and the newest is 9 months old. We are having some serious house breaking problems with the 9 month old girl. We have had her since she was two months old and she was slow to learn where to go potty, she wasn't crate trained because she would pee in the crate and then lay in it and just doesn't care about keeping her den clean. We tried putting her in an exercise pen while we were gone during the day but she would go to the bathroom in there and eat it before we got home. My wife put her on a strict schedule and used a leash to keep her near by so we could see when she would need to go and take her outside. When would then go potty outside and then come inside and within 10 minutes pee again inside. Now we feed her once in the morning, removing uneaten food, and once in the evening and keep her in a confined place all day taking her out side when she wakes up, after she eats, when we get home, and after she eats and before bed time. She still pees on the floor and her bed, and if not constantly watched she pees other places throughout the house. We are at our wits end and really love her and need any help or suggestions you may have.

[sarah]

I'm not sure of a solution, but part of the problem might be living with another dog or being left alone all day. Sometimes dogs show their unhappiness by going to the potty in places that they shouldn't. Have you had her checked by a vet to make sure that there aren't any physical problems?? To me, it doesn't sound like an accidental thing unless of course there's a physical problem. Are you discinplining her when she goes in the house or in a crate??? It sounds very frustrating.. hang in there and hopefully you can find some help.

[Angela Chance]

Gosh, I hope your girl grows out of that, but she may not. I have a male (neutered) bullmastiff 12 years old, and a female (spayed) English bulldog 6 years old. I have never had any problems with my bullmastiff. My bulldog, has never gotten the whole "potty training" thing down, even now at 6 years old. I have had the exact same problem. Even at 6 years old, she still pee's in her crate, and will lay in it, and not even mind. I have her on a regular feed/water schedule, but if she is not watched closely, she will pee on things in the house. Even if I have taken her outside, for what ever reason, I have to watch her closely, because she will go pee on something. I remember even as a puppy, I would have her on the love seat with me, petting her or just letting her hang out with me, while watching TV, she would get up, and go pee on the loveseat with me sitting right there!! Needless to say, she is not allowed on the furniture. I have to keep her in the crate at night because she cannot be trusted, she will get up and go pee in the house in the middle of the night. I am very frustrated by this, because I just don't understand why she does this. She is never left alone in the house. If I go run an errand, that only takes 15 minutes, she is in her crate, if I am outside mowing the lawn, she goes in her crate, if I take a shower, she goes in her crate. If I am not able to keep my eye on her at all times, she goes in her crate. I thought maybe it was a girl issue, as I have never had any problems with my boy dogs. She is my first girl dog I have ever had. I hope others respond to your question, because I am curious if others have this problem and how they have solved it..

[Missy]

Is the 9 month old spayed? I am having similar issues with a 5 month old girl as well. We take her outside and she pees once or even sometimes twice and then right away on her bed or even our bed if she is sleeping with us. Sometimes she's good for days and then she acts up again. I'm thinking she is marking her territory. We have a cat and another 9 year old male Pug as well.

[CareyS]

I just bought a product called "Potty Training Aid" by Simple Solution from Petsmart. You spray it on the puppy pads (Simple Solution Economy pads), and it is supposed to attract them to pee on it. So far it is working like a charm. He will even pee on the pads twice which he normally would never do. Not sure if that will help with your problem, but it might be worth a try.