Desperately seeking potty training advice

eeturk · May 9, 2014

Hi all, I am new here and thought other Frenchie owners could possibly help me with my dilemma. I have a 6 month old French bulldog named Hudson. He is a great dog who is easily trainable and pleasant to be around in all but one area -- potty training. I feel as though I have done everything. He is crate trained, but happily pees in his bed and lays in it. If his bed is taken away, he will pee on the plastic crate liner and happily lay in it. If he gets run of the ex-pen, he will pee on the floor.

He is taken out every hour and after he wakes up, before he goes to sleep, and before and after every time he eats or drinks. He pees outside every time he is taken out. Some days he'll go all day without peeing in the house. Most days, however, like today, he pees constantly. Today he went outside, peed, and then came inside, peed on the floor, and then peed on his bed. He holds it all night so I know that he is capable. He pees outside on command ("go potty"). He's been checked out by several vets.

I'm not sure where to go from here. Please help!!

Alice Kable · May 9, 2014

Sounds like physical reasons for him to be peeing so frequently have been eliminated. If he were mine I'd keep him on a leash all day, so whenever he started to pee I could rush outside with him. Usually dogs sniff the ground (or floor) before they pee so watch for that signal. Good luck!

Welcome to you and Hudson. We'd love to have you do an introduction and post some pictures of Hudson!

2bullymama · May 10, 2014

Your story is exactly why my guy, Cheli has the nickname STINKER!! It took almost two full years for him to stop what you have told us. We did everything you did and when we were at home (off from work) all day, we would take him out like every 40-60 mons.... nothing helped, all I can tell you is he eventually just stopped and now at 3 years old it is a none issue

MamaAndi · May 10, 2014

Stella was a total butt to potty train. I think she had it down by 1 1/2 years old. She will still pee on a blanket if given the chance so no blankies in her crate anymore!

It might just be that fickle frenchie attitude....he will get it eventually

davidh · May 11, 2014

Yep, as others have said, it takes time and they are stubborn little buggers. Try the leash thing, that may help speed the process up. Good luck and have patience.

eeturk · May 11, 2014

Thank you all for your advice! It's just so frustrating when he's doing so well and then just totally flips and regresses. I'll hang in there! (Hopefully not for several more years though! Eek!!)

I Love Louie · May 12, 2014

I have regression issues too with Lou but his are behavioral. STRESSED out!!

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KimB3384 · May 12, 2014

This is why I love this board. You're going nuts thinking you're the only one having a particular issue with your pup; then you click on a thread and find out you're not alone. You guys rock!

KimB3384 · Jun 21, 2014

[MENTION=664]eeturk[/MENTION] - just checking in to see how you and Hudson are progressing in the potty training area. We're still having some "fun times" with Bisou, and she's 9.5 months old at this point. Just like you, we take her out every 1-2 hours - and always upon waking, after eating, and after play sessions. Yesterday she was outside and peed, then came inside and peed on our bed (argh!). She will pee in her crate without a second thought, and has no issues at all laying in it. I've made the crate smaller, removed blankets - nothing helps. But last night she slept on the couch with me all night and never had an issue, so I know she can do it. We only crate her at night, but confine her in the kitchen if we can't keep a constant eye on her or if we'll be leaving for any length of time. I would crate her, but it's just easier to clean the pee off of the tile floor than to mess with the crate and a wet dog. I guess I was hoping you had some sort of magic cure...

Julie Stevenson · Jun 21, 2014

One thing I always tell my clients is feed water walk. Does he have constant access to water all day every day? If so, he's drinking and peeing all the time. Try giving water a few times a day not all day. You can offer it maybe every two hours leave it down for a few miins then pick up. Walk him after he drinks. Once you have him potty trained you can leave the water down all the time. But while training it helps not to have access to it all day. Its the same with food. they will get on a routine of feed water walk and poop if you feed at regular times of day. Good luck.

KimB3384 · Jun 21, 2014

Julie Stevenson said:
One thing I always tell my clients is feed water walk. Does he have constant access to water all day every day? If so, he's drinking and peeing all the time. Try giving water a few times a day not all day. You can offer it maybe every two hours leave it down for a few miins then pick up. Walk him after he drinks. Once you have him potty trained you can leave the water down all the time. But while training it helps not to have access to it all day. Its the same with food. they will get on a routine of feed water walk and poop if you feed at regular times of day. Good luck.

That could very well be the issue. Her water is down all the time but I don't notice her drinking an excessive amount. However, I do feed her freeze-dried food that gets mixed with 1/2-3/4 cup of water, and we do that twice a day. Maybe that, on top of what she's drinking randomly throughout the day, is just too much. We'll start putting down the water at specific times and see what happens. Thanks so much, Julie!

eeturk · Jun 21, 2014

KimB3384 said:
[MENTION=664]eeturk[/MENTION] - just checking in to see how you and Hudson are progressing in the potty training area. We're still having some "fun times" with Bisou, and she's 9.5 months old at this point. Just like you, we take her out every 1-2 hours - and always upon waking, after eating, and after play sessions. Yesterday she was outside and peed, then came inside and peed on our bed (argh!). She will pee in her crate without a second thought, and has no issues at all laying in it. I've made the crate smaller, removed blankets - nothing helps. But last night she slept on the couch with me all night and never had an issue, so I know she can do it. We only crate her at night, but confine her in the kitchen if we can't keep a constant eye on her or if we'll be leaving for any length of time. I would crate her, but it's just easier to clean the pee off of the tile floor than to mess with the crate and a wet dog. I guess I was hoping you had some sort of magic cure...

Wow, crazy, they must be related!!! He was doing super well until recently. Last night he went outside and peed and then came inside and peed on the couch!!! He pees in his bed too and doesn't care, it actually seems like he likes laying in it. Ugh. He's crated at night and when I'm not home, but he has an expen attached with a potty pad holder and potty pad in it so now he doesn't pee in his bed/crate which has been great. He slept in my bed the other night and had no problem holding it, so I know he can too. It is just so frustrating!

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eeturk · Jun 21, 2014

Julie Stevenson said:
One thing I always tell my clients is feed water walk. Does he have constant access to water all day every day? If so, he's drinking and peeing all the time. Try giving water a few times a day not all day. You can offer it maybe every two hours leave it down for a few miins then pick up. Walk him after he drinks. Once you have him potty trained you can leave the water down all the time. But while training it helps not to have access to it all day. Its the same with food. they will get on a routine of feed water walk and poop if you feed at regular times of day. Good luck.

Hudson only gets water when he is fed and after he plays or walks. He is not free watered or free fed. I can't imagine how bad he would be if he was! He walks after he drinks, every single time. Still peeing all over!

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KimB3384 · Jun 23, 2014

Update: Julie, I don't know if it was a coincidence, if she saw how mad I was about the latest accident, or if it was your advice but yesterday was finally a good day. She peed in her crate a little bit overnight, but with no blankets or stuffed toys to soak up the wetness she actually had to lay in it and was NOT pleased. I'm hoping that it was the straw that broke the camel's back and that we're going to really make some progress. I know she's still young and I won't completely trust her until we're much farther down the road but I'm so optimistic. Yeah, I know - it's only been one day, and not even an entire 24 hours, but it's close! If all else fails, I'm just going to buy a cork and plug her up.

Julie Stevenson · Jun 23, 2014

LOL. Hang in there, Puppyhood only lasts so long. I know I'm going through it too. Batman is peeing all over the place. We rolled up all the rugs except one and thank God for laminate floors.

Easy clean up. Persistence and patience is the key.

eeturk · Jun 23, 2014

We've had a few bad days over here. Fingers crossed that eventually it's just going to click..

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eeturk · Jun 25, 2014

KimB3384 said:
Update: Julie, I don't know if it was a coincidence, if she saw how mad I was about the latest accident, or if it was your advice but yesterday was finally a good day. She peed in her crate a little bit overnight, but with no blankets or stuffed toys to soak up the wetness she actually had to lay in it and was NOT pleased. I'm hoping that it was the straw that broke the camel's back and that we're going to really make some progress. I know she's still young and I won't completely trust her until we're much farther down the road but I'm so optimistic. Yeah, I know - it's only been one day, and not even an entire 24 hours, but it's close! If all else fails, I'm just going to buy a cork and plug her up.

I'm about to sound crazy but...we've had a great 48 hours. And it's all thanks to....potty training bells. I can't believe it. We thought they were a total joke and I begrudgingly ordered them as a last resort. Almost didn't even take them out of the box because I thought they were so ridiculous. Put them up and he caught on within 5 minutes. We haven't had an accident since. Fingers crossed this isn't a fluke..

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KimB3384 · Jun 26, 2014

Fingers crossed for you. Bisou learned how to use her potty bells almost immediately as well. And then she REALLY learned how to use them. Every single time she felt the need to go outside and smell stuff or just change the scenery. Ring, ring, ring.

Now we just have her on a set schedule. Yesterday was a bad day because we were busy. This morning was bad because our schedule was messed up from yesterday. But she's just so sweet that I can't possibly get mad at her.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you guys!

KimB3384 · Jul 8, 2014

@Julie_Stevenson - if you were here right now I would kiss you (and distract you so that I could steal Batman). Your advice has totally worked. We're doing all of our business outside! We're even holding it all night and for up to 5 hours of kitchen confinement! I just can't even tell you how excited I am! The down side is that I'm actually catching myself thinking, 'Hey, this puppy thing is a piece of cake. We should get another one right now!'

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!

Julie Stevenson · Jul 8, 2014

KimB3384 said:
@Julie_Stevenson - if you were here right now I would kiss you (and distract you so that I could steal Batman). Your advice has totally worked. We're doing all of our business outside! We're even holding it all night and for up to 5 hours of kitchen confinement! I just can't even tell you how excited I am! The down side is that I'm actually catching myself thinking, 'Hey, this puppy thing is a piece of cake. We should get another one right now!'

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!

LOL You are to FUNNY!!! I'm so glad I could help! No you can't have batman - but if you want one of his brothers or sisters I can give you the name of his breeder. But I would not take on 2 puppies at a time. That's too much for even me to handle. LOL I'm doing good at trying to catch Batty before he goes on the floor. At 14 weeks he is now holding it through the night (well till 4:30AM when he wakes me up to take him out). Still has accidents in teh house if I don't watch him. But we are getting better everyday. Patience and consistency is the key. Way to go Kim and Bisou!!!