Advice/ Help Needed - Puppy Mill Rescue!!

[Suzi Okeson]

Hi there everyone!
So happy to have found this site. I really hope I can get some additional advice from other Frenchie people who might have had the same experiences I'm having.
Scenario:
I rescued my female Frenchie, Rosalie Bean, last Fall. When I picked her up from the rescue group, she was nearly dead from starvation. She was 11 months old and weighed 6 lbs. She also had mobility issues due to 2 fused vertebrae in her back. She had never been outside of a wire cage. I brought her to my vet immediately upon arrival home. She was suffering from starvation, dehydration and giardia. She is permanently stunted due to her lack of nutrition and now, fully grown, weighs a mere 11 lbs. Against the odds, she pulled through and is now a relatively healthy girl. My problem is this: I'm having major "potty" issues with her and am at wits end on how to proceed without causing her trauma. She has never been 100% reliable and, per my vet, it is quite possible that she never will be. I have tried and tried to potty train her - taking multiple days off of work and employing people to come mid-day to let her out - all to no avail. We recently moved in with my fiance and the potty issues have gotten worse. She is going potty all over the house and refuses to do her business outside. I walk her multiple times per day for 20-30 minutes each time and she will not go. I am terrified to lock her in a kennel. The rescue that I got her from told me to NEVER lock her in a kennel due to her traumatic past. Even if I could kennel her, she shows no aversion to sitting/sleeping in her own waste so I'm not sure if it would help! I've bought 3 puppy play pens and she escaped from each one! She literally CLAWS her way up and throws herself over the side to get out. She also climbs over baby gates or repeatedly throws herself against them and I'm terrified she will hurt herself badly. Being a Frenchie, she is S T U B B O R N. My fiance is (understandably) not happy with the situation and I'm questioning my sanity. Rosie is running our lives. I'm terrified to come home to see what mess is waiting for me. Please...anyone out there gone through anything like this? She is like a child to me and I'm distraught over this - I want us all to be happy! At this point I'm wondering if I'm the right dog "parent" for her and that maybe she needs to be with someone who is home all day. My heart is breaking. Thanks for any advice and sorry for the long post!

[FrogDogz]

No problem. I'll do a forum post looking for trainers for Rosie. Your rescue group might be able to suggest one, as well.

[Suzi Okeson]

Thank you THANK YOU for responding to my post! I'm in Blaine, MN. Any trainer recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps he/she could help me acclimate Rosie to a crate without traumatizing her again. I feel better knowing there are people out there that understand this. Again, thank you!

[karin hamlin]

hi suzi,
i am sorry to hear of your trouble. i can sympathize with you. up until my 10 yr. dobie bacame sick, my husband was a bear. everytime i would come home i would worry about the mess that might be waiting and the argument that would follow. it was a great stress for me and put alot of strain on our relationship. the problem is that men are not as nurturing, therefore he just does not have a clue what it means to you to be saving this little girl. if you are able to both get on the same page and he is able to help out, life will be better. i agree about the crate though. if it is your only option for keeping your house sanitary. just make sure you have the smelliest tastiest treats to give when she goes in. spend a weekend just trying to get her in there and not panicked. then you could gradually move on to one of those giant wire crates so she has more room to move around. at almost 2 yrs. i dont ask lola to go longer than 5 hrs in between potty breaks.
you need to have a quiet sit down with your fiance and explain to him how important to you this is and tell him his help will only make it easier.
good luck! ( i would certainly look into a trainer) nanny911fordogs.com is a great lady. her name is victoria rose and she will do phone consultation and modification. if it does not work, you dont pay! try and look her up online!

[FrogDogz]

A crate is NOT a kennel - and any good rescue group should know that. Crates are NOT abusive - at almost fifteen years of age, my oldest Frenchie STILL voluntarily eats in her crate, and goes there when she feels stressed. A crate is a safe haven, if used properly.

The ONLY way to consistently housebreak a dog is via crate training, and hiring a good professional trainer to work with you on this issue is the best place to start.

However, as you said, dogs who had started their life confined to kennels are often VERY challenging to housebreak. As I said above, you NEED the services of a professional trainer. This is too much for you to take on all on your own.

If you let us know where you are (city/state), we'll see if we can find you a good, Frenchie experienced trainer to work with on Rosie's issues. Don't give up yet!