Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 4/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: My husband and I adopted a four month old English Bulldog.  She is now just about a year old and is still not housebroken.  We have her on a tight schedule of when she eats, goes out, sleeps everything and she has no consistency.  She will do great for 3 or five days, then she will just go on the floor.  She even goes in her crate and it doesn't even seem to phase her.  We are at our wits end and we are expected our first child.  We love our dog to pieces, but we cannot keep her if we cannot get her housebroken.  Please help, I am very desperate.

ANSWER: Hi Laila:  I understand your concern for your little English girl.  Have you checked with your vet to make sure she has no health issues?  Sounds like you are doing everything right and she is still having some accidents.  I am wondering if she has a Urinary infection or if her hormone levels are low:  
Many females, after spaying, can have troubles like this.  Here is a link to a very good site.

See if this can help.  Also, at the bottom of the page are some good pants if needed.
The Drug DES may help her:


http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_urinary_incontinence.html


Good Luck
Marie of The Doggie Chalet Hotel
NuVET Plus - The Best Doggie Vitamin in the USA
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is this still your answer if she doesn't just urinate, she also seems to poop when ever and where ever, even in her crate.  She also eats her poop and when outside she will eat our Lhasa Apso's poop as well.

Thank you in advance.

Answer
Ok, I guess that I did not understand she is having a poop problem.  As you said, she is not potty trained if she is pooping all over the house.  First, the poop eating problem:

The reason they eat poop is because the food is not totally digested as it comes through the digestive tract. You need a higher quality food that will fully digest. Something like meat and grain free with no corns or fillers.  ( Innova Evo is a good one)

Some owners say that supplementing their dog's diet with one spoonful
of canned pineapple or a teaspoon of spinach or a dash of MSG can help reinforce the training. These products (apparently and presumably)taste bad once they’ve made the intestinal trip. It’s hard to imagine anything more repulsive than eating stool but seems that spinach-flavored turd is especially gross – even to a dog. [Pineapple and spinach are harmless but you may want to consult a vet before trying this with MSG].

You can also add some pineapple to your dog's diet each day - 3 or 4 cubes will help.

As far as the potty training, You will need to go back to the basics.  I guess she never got it.  Every two hours outside for a potty break.  If you can't do this then place her in a room with a baby gate and potty pads.  
Amazon.com has some great books on this subject.

I hope you can find the time for her.... If not, you may need to re-home her....I know you have a new baby on the way.  Wish I could help you more.

Best Wishes,

Marie of The Doggie Chalet Pooch Hotel
NuVET Plus -  the BEST dog Vitamin in the USA
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html