New Frenchie owner and can't get her potty trained!

[benjen879]

Okay, so we got our Gizmo form a very reputable breeder at 14 weeks old. A little older than she should have been but never the less. Anyway right off the bat we noticed she ate her POOP:eek:!!! Gross right! Anyway we scheduled a vet appointment for about 1 week after we got her and about 2 days before the appointment we noticed that she was peeing ALL THE TIME! Sometimes even straining to urinate. I knew it was a UTI and the vet confirmed it and out her on antibiotics for 2 weeks. We took her back to the vet and she was cleared of the UTI and had gained some weight so seems perfectly healthy. The problem is that if I'm not home (and sometimes even when I am) she goes to the bathroom all over the house including on my BED!:eek:

So she's about 20 weeks old now and I'm at my wits end with her. Should I have some major tests done to make sure she doesn't have some type of bladder abnormality??

[gmacleod]

It's stating the obvious, but your pup is not housetrained ;-) Which means that she shouldn't have the freedom to roam the house, or be where you're not - that's for housetrained dogs. If she's always where you can see her, then you should be able to prevent accidents.

When you're not home, you need to restrain the dog - either by crate training her, or restricting her to a room (preferably with a hard floor) and leave some newspaper or similar absorbant thing for her to relieve herself on. It's not housetraining, but at least it's easier to clean up.

Other points: 20 weeks is young for any dog to be housetrained, and Frenchies take longer than most, it seems. So you might need to adjust your expectations a bit (it will save your sanity, at least).

And lastly, you've got to housetrain the dog. That's also stating the obvious, but it's also something you haven't been doing effectively up until now. The basics of housetraining are that you take the dog outside every 30 minutes or so (maybe a bit longer between potty stops with a 20 week old) and praise madly when the dog starts to eliminate (go wild with the praise - its the ONLY means you've got of letting her know she did the right thing). In between those potty stops, you never ever let the dog out of your sight - keep her in the same room as you, or tether her to you - but don't ever give her the sort of freedom that allows her to sneak off unseen and potty on your bed, behind the couch or whatever. That sort of freedom should only come when the dog is trained, not before. Don't bother with scolding accidents, especially after the fact. The only negative feedback you should give is a loud "Ah ah" with some handclapping (to startle the dog) IF you catch her in the act of pottying inside - then race her outside to finish. If you miss the event, forget about the negative feedback - the animal won't understand, so it's pointless (or worse, might start avoiding pottying with you around - which will make getting her to go outside with you around rather difficult). Never leave her to go out alone - as you'd miss the chance to praise her for doing right (and hence teaching her its right). Lastly, keep it up until the dog is a good 7-9 months old. Good luck!

[benjen879]

No..no I should have been much more clear. I mean when I'M not home and the other members of my family are watching her, she pees everywhere. We do crate her during the day but she will soil in her crate as well. Believe me we have a Bullmastiff and a Pug so this isn't our first time at the rodeo so to speak. That is what has me concerned. Anyway we went back to the vet and her UTI had came back so she is on another round of antibiotics (2 to be exact) and she seems to be making progress. At least no bed wetting accidents :-) I'm just worried that maybe this is some type of genetic health problem

[benjen879]

We have never experienced this with our other dogs. Is this really strange and gross as I see it? Or just kinda normal?

[KarenTX]

other members of your family. Consistency if her feeding times and going outside. Tether her to you on a leash if necessary, that way at the first sign she needs to go, you can take her outside. She is still a baby. One other thing, if she is on antibiotics, do you have her on a probiotic to keep the good bacteria in her system? The meds can cause her to have runny poops and may may her go more often. I use FortiFlora whenever mine is on an antibiotic. It's a powder in a little packet that you sprinkle on their food. Your vet will have it. I usually do half a packet in the am and the other half in the pm.