Expert: Christine Puetz - 11/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Christine,

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 aggressive.  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: Larry,

If he has not been neutered, then that would be your best shot to cure him of going in your house.  He may have already learned the behavior and it may be still hard to break him, but I believe this would help.

If he has been neutered then you will have to find out if it is a physical problem or just behavior.  

Let me know if he has been neutered or not.

Christine Puetz

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

QUESTION: Thanks for replying so quickly.  He has been neutered, about 4 months ago.  It helped calm him down a little but that's about it.  Can it be a physical problem even though he holds it for up to 8 hours sometimes and not others?  What should I have the Vet check for?

Answer
It sounds more like a behavior problem than physical.  Since you have had him neutered, try to take as many days as you can - like a long weekend - and do some intensive training.  Just like when he was a puppy.  He will have to be re-trained since he has learned to go in his crate and in the house.  I think with some intensive training, you should be able to get him to hold it like he should.

Christine Puetz