Still in need of help in house-breaking my 6 month old english bulldog puppy? Nothing is working at all, help!

Question

Seriously folks, I have tried everything I can think of, and I'm really at wits end! I tried the water thing and only giving him water to drink 3 scheduled times a day (morning, noon and night) I have tried picking him up and carrying him outdoors to pee, he still squirts pee as I run to the door with him! I've tried putting newspaper in the crate ( I was doing this before I got his crate) He pees 10 minutes after I take him out and then bring him back in! This dog has been to the vet and he checks out fine, he has another appointment for this Saturday. Nothing is physically wrong with him. I just started scolding him for pooping and peeing, the pooping stopped, but the pee flows on!
Really, to be honest, I think he is doing it on purpose! When I had my old place, I let him roam freely (believe it or not, he contolled the peeing better!) then he started chewing up everything (despite his chew toys!) and I got the crate. We moved to a bigger place, he has reverted back to his old ways!

I don't get it, he was seeming like he was getting the hang of it, then once we moved (and to a bigger place!) he stopped using the paper and holding his pee, now he pees all over the place! I am there most of the day to take him out, so it's not like he's holding his pee 12 hours a day. I can take him out and he pees, then within 30 minutes later, he pees again, inside the house! he doesn't bark or do anything to let you know he has to go, he just goes!

Answer 1

You should have been using a crate from day one, and supervising his every free minute. He's already learned that he can pee anywhere he wants - it's a lot easier to PREVENT bad habits than to break them.

Housebreaking an older puppy is much, much harder - they have already learned that it's ok to use the house as a toilet. When they have to go, they are uncomfortable - so they go and they feel better. This is called "self-rewarding" behavior.

First, have the carpets and the spots he pees on professionally cleaned with a solvent that destroys urine odors; otherwise he will be attracted back to the same spots. Have him neutered immediately. Start over as if you were training an 8-week-old pup. Keep the dog in the crate whenever you can't ACTIVELY supervise him. Keep him on a leash tied to your belt, so he can't sneak off and do his business in the house. Take him out the moment you see him start sniffing around and stay out there with him, so you can praise him when he does what you want. After a year or two of that, you MIGHT be able to trust him loose in your house.

Chewing is another story, but half of the solution is the same as for housebreaking. You have to train your dog to leave your stuff alone! They're not born knowing what not to touch.

Keep him in a dog crate anytime you can't supervise him - not because he's bad, but the same way you'd use a playpen with a baby. Keep him on a leash at all times and tie the end to your belt so you can supervise and train him. Keep only two dog toys out at any one time. If a dog has too many toys, he will think that everything loose in the house belongs to him. You need to teach him that everything loose in the house belongs to YOU.

Show him one item that he usually steals or chews up - if he tries to take it, tell him "NO!" and give him a jerk on the leash. Then take him to his dog toy, get him all excited and tell him "GOOD BOY!" when he takes his toy. Practice this every day with items that he is and isn't supposed to have. When he is perfect, you can drop the leash and let him drag it around - but keep him confined to the room that you are in, so you can keep an eye on him and correct him if he makes a mistake.

If the training doesn't work out, there are robot dogs that are very obedient.

Read some great books on training.
(Try not to pick books randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

Answer 2

I have a pug that I went through this with. I would take her out every 4 hours to the same spot to use the bathroom. After a few days she got the hang of it. And every time she would mess in the house I would show it to her, scold her and take her back out to her spot. I don't have any problems with her anymore. I was doing the crate training but I wasn't trying to get her to use it in there. That was a place to keep her when I wasn't there and sleep at nights. She wouldn't use the bathroom in there because that was her bed. And make sure he has a lot of exercise during the day. Dogs are more destructive and don't mind as good if they don't get enough stimulation.(at least mine do). At 6 months he still has a lot of growing to do so don't give up on him just yet. I about gave up on Lola(my pug) but now I'm glad I didn't. She is a great dog and part of the family. She was about a year old before she stop having accidents. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Crate training is the number one choice of most pet owners. You have a stubborn puppy, it is the nature of the breed. A friend is going through the same thing with his year old Bulldog. Timing and consistency are critical key here. Everything, from the last time water is given prior to being crated, to the duration of the potty times. Does the puppy walk on a leash? If he does, take him for a long walk, paying attention to when he thinks he is going to pee. You are the leader, you need to decide when and where the pack stops for a pee break. Give the command for break, and praise him for going after the command. When you put him outside to go at home, give the same command and praise. Good Luck

Answer 4

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

i had the same problem. u have to b consistent and on scheldule. bring him outside early in the morning and keep him out there until he pees/poops. maybe tie him to an area where he can go. do not play w/ him outside. if he does go praise him like u just won the lottery. then take him inside. also, try crate training-this is when u keep ur dog in the crate for at all times (even eating) except for excercise and pee/pooping. when he finally goes outside, bring him in to play-not in the crate good luck and be consistent and patiant!!!( this took my pup 1 1/2 weeks to finally go.) good luck!

oh yea ur dog may be shy so make sure there is nothing in the backyard that he can eat then leave him

Answer 5

Hi there. I have two female english bulldogs: one is a year and four months and the others is eight weeks(she is potty trained already with the exception of a few accidents!). With Sophie(our older one), we had a terrible time with potty training (even at 6 months); the crate training did not work-just stressed her out and we had accidents all over. The ONLY thing that worked was "Potty for a cookie." Everytime she either woke-up, ate, or was resting for a while, we'd say, "Potty for a cookie, Sophie." and grab her leash. As we walked to the door we kept saying that. We also said it over and over again as we walked in circles around her pee area(I would pull her in circles saying it over and over and over again). After she went, we'd high-tale it back in side saying, "Good girl, potty for a cookie...Sophie went potty for a cookie.." Then we'd give her a cookie straight away. We use frozen grapes as real dog cookies are too fattening to use that much. Or, even, a tiny piece of banana or a tiny piece of dog food. We did this over and over again and it FINALLY caught on. E. bulldogs will do ANYTHING FOR FOOD including holding their pee unless there something wrong with their bladder/kidneys. Did they do an ultrasound? Also, for chewing, we used the hollowed out real bones(no meat) for something to chew on(they are white) and we put stuff in them like dripped honey or peanutbutter or whatever. You can also get them from your butcher(boil the meat off). They will keep them going for hours because they can't get it all out. How long are you guys gone during the day? We come home on our lunchbreak to take the dogs out but some people can't do that. I'm thinking that the crate MIGHT cause your bulldog stress. It just didn't work for us at all! E. bulldogs are way more stubborn than other dogs and their behaviors are totally different as you know I'm sure. We DO keep ONE pee pad in the downstairs bathroom at all times in case she can't hold it because we are gone too long and she uses it! Also, never restrict an English Bulldogs water supply. Keep it there at ALL times. They need it.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Sophie was a STUBBORN GIRL, believe me! Also, have you watched the dog whisperer on the National Geographic Channel? It is the best for training.
Have a great day!
Tracy, Winter Park, FL

Answer 6

Welcome to housebreaking for a head strong breed of dog.
You need to get into some training classes for him.He is going to need it and you are going to need the help.
Bulldogs are hared headed and very strong willed. Housebreaking is only one thing just wait for comming things.
At six months he should have more control over his bladder but some take more time.
Taking him out evey 30 minutes could be right for him. At six months it should be longer than that.
The next time you catch him peeing get after him hard like you really mean it. If you scolded him and the pooping stopped the peeing should also. Maybe he just needs to learn that the peing will not be tolerated by you. Make it clear that if he pees he is going to be introuble and you are mad.
Other than that hang in there for some dogs house breaking is just tough.
Good luck.

Answer 7

You have to be really committed to this. This is how we taught our dog, it's how they told us to do it at the Humane Society...

First: Crate train. They won't go potty in there. When you can't keep your eyes on your puppy, put him in the crate. This will keep him from being able to go potty in the house.

Second: Take him outside often. Always go to the same place in the yard and go out the same door. If he doesn't go while he is outside, put him directly back into the crate. Wait 30 mins. Take him back outside. If he doesn't go potty, put him back in the crate, wait 30 mins. Continue this until he goes potty outside. When he does... praise the heck out of him. Give him treats while he is still in his potty spot.

Third: If he does have an accident, here is what you do. It is going to sound crazy, but it works. Go get the dog, put him on the leash, get treats and the supplies to clean up the mess. Take him to where he went potty in the house. Don't yell at the dog, yell at the poop or pee. Say in a big mean voice, "BAD POOP!! or BAD PEE!! or BAD POTTY" Whatever works for you. Then clean up the mess, take it outside to the doggie's designated potty spot, put the poop or paper towels or whatever you yelled at in the potty spot. Now say, "GOOD POTTY or GOOD POOP!!" Praise the dog, give him a treat and take him back inside.

I know it sounds crazy but it works really well. You have to do all this stuff every time all the time. Consistency is the key to house training your puppy.

Answer 8

The best I can tell you is that you need to keep him in his crate until he's ready to pee. I have a Yorkie that had the same problem, and my vet advised me that the only way to potty train is to keep them in the crate. Once they learn that they need to hold it and let you know they need to go out, they will need the crate less. There are many training books available, and they all say the same thing. Crate training is the most effective. It's tough because you want your pet to be with you, but until you can control his functions, you need to be strong. Good Luck.

Answer 9

Do you take him for walks? When walking, they will usually find where another dog has been going pee. If you know someone with a dog you could walk them together and he'll watch the older one. My 9 mos old pup watches where my old dog pees and then runs up and sniffs out the exact spot and leaves his mark there as well. Good Luck.

Answer 10

You should try obediance training Petsmart has a great puppy program give this a shot maybe it may help, my mom and dad have a bull dog too and they are hard headed and it took a long time for him to get house broken as well so good luck but that is about the only advice I can give.