Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 11/23/2009

Question
Hello Maria,

About a year ago I got my first dog, an English Bulldog named Buddha.  He's now a year and three months old and has grown into an amazing looking bulldog.  I literally can't walk down the street with him without being stopped by someone who wants to meet him.  For the most part hes a great dog.  He's very active which is not what I expected when I was buying a bulldog but is fine with me.  He doesn't chew on furniture (maybe a pillow or two) and is not really food agressive.  He eats and drinks twice a day so when he does I give him his space.  However, since I brought him home we've had a problem with potty training.  I usually take him out at 9 before he eats, again around 2, then at 8 before he eats and again at midnight before bed.  Still he pees at home all the time.  If I don't crate him which I have no choice now but to do then he'll pee all over the house including the couch.  And when I do crate him, he pees in the crate.  It almost seems as though he doesn't even care that he has to sit or lay in his own urine.  He sometimes poops in the house as well but its very rare.  I clean the tray in his crate thoroughly and find myself having to clean him all the time because he's doing this which is difficult because he doesn't really like it. I thought it may be a medical problem but sometimes he hold it for up to eight hours and sometimes he doesn't want to hold it for two.  I don't know what to do. I love this dog to death but if I can't fix this somehow I'm going to have to give him up and just the thought of that kills me.  Please help...

Larry

Answer
Hi Larry and Family - Wow, it sounds like you have a wonderful boy, except for a few problems.  
I would love to address the Medical and Nutritional end of the question.  For the ? behavior issue - I would like to invite you to one of my groups: I am the Moderator for the Dog Whisperer fans group:  I know these folks will help you....
It is a free Yahoo group:
Link will be below:

Ok - I would like to see your place your boy onto a grain-free food:  Mix your Food and the new food for 3 weeks - Then, go 100% to only grain-free feeding - after the 3 weeks of mixing.
Here are some to look for :  Innova EVO; Wellness Core, Merrick BEFORE Grain or Canidae Grain-free formula.  Let me know if you can't find the brands I mentioned.
Please feed your boy only 2 x per day - at 7 or 7:30 am and at 6-7 pm  (*if possible)

For his kindey health - I would like to see Buddha on a Cranberry supplement and the NuVET wafer supplement.  Also, please pick up the water dish at around 9 pm.  
You don't want Buddha to keep filling up with water.

Here are the supplements that will be needed:

GREAT for kidney health:
Doc Roy's Potassium Citrate + Cranberry  ( powder)
1 dosage per day - in the am food

http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/1995-Doc-Roy-s-Potassium
Citrate-Cranberry.aspx
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I sure do like Revival Animal Health's web site-  Safe to do business with them!
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NuVET vitamin supplements : LOADS of bullies take the NuVET products...
For a healthy bulldog - 1 wafer each day:
Use each day 1 wafer per day / Our clinic does great with the NuVET .....
We have seen great results and the taste is good, too...

Please tell them Marie Peppers sent you - ASK the PET NURSE Site:
39.00 for the 60 count bottle of Wafer treats
55.00 for the 90 count bottle of Wafer treats
http://www.nuvet.com/81098

When you call in - 1-800-474-7044
ASK HOW you can get the 15% OFF every order.  *order code 81098
************************************************************
Write down my name and e-mail :
so we can stay in touch:

Marie Peppers / Ask the Pet Nurse
mtnmom@gci.net

You can also buy a male belly band- if needed in the house:
If you can't keep an eye on him, then crate him.
The male belly band or male wrap will save the house from accidents?

NOW - my dog whisperer group;  JOIN here: and ask for help:
Re-print what your wrote to me:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DogWhispererFans/

The group:
Our high-volume group, are advocates, friends & fans of National Geographic Channel's TV show "The Dog Whisperer".

We use dog psychology, obedience training or both for jumping, barking, leash, walking (pulling), chewing, good behavior with other animals, fostering, rescues, adoptions, purebred ~ simple to complex!

“I believe that often dogs can teach us profound things about ourselves.” Cesar Millan. Our Dog Hero/Role Model: Daddy, (Cesar's beloved pitbull the only "problem-free" dog Cesar ever owned). We support Cesar's dream "No more dogs abandoned / euthanized from behavior problems"!