Ask the Frenchie Trainer - Teenage Terror French Bulldog!
gollygear July 22nd, 2008
Hi Hope,
I have a 9 month old Frenchie, who to say the least is really pushing my limits. She is only left alone for 3-4hr periods at the max. We crate trained her for the first 5months and when I thought she was house broke we let he roam the house. She typically did very well but recently she has been pooping and peeing throughout the house in certain favorite spots of hers. She is also going crazy in the house when we are gone by somehow opening cabinets, drawers, doors, etc to get stuff out, rip them up, pee, and basically be a little terror.
What suggestions do you have? How can I eliminate this poor behavior and stop the defecation within the house?
Thank you!
Hope writes -
Welcome to the wonderful world of adolescent Frenchies! If there’s a way to get into trouble, they’ll find it. And, in reality, that’s a good thing - you want a dog who’s curious, engaged, and looking for fun.
Like every other adolescent, human or animal, your pup needs some boundaries set for her. The only way to do that when you’re not home is to keep her in her crate.
You already mentioned that she was very successful in her crate. My question to you is - why did you stop using it? Crates are not a temporary housebreaking aid, although that is one of the first uses. It’s also your dog’s “room,” the one place in the house that belongs to her, where she can go to be safe and secure.
Dogs are den animals by nature. Most dogs love being in small spaces, secure and cozy. I know of one dog, a Boston Terrier, who never got into trouble unless he was denied access to his crate. Then he tore up the house.
You need to restore your pup’s special place to her - as soon as possible. I also know of a recent case in which people thought they were doing a kindness to their rescue dog by leaving it uncrated when they were away. He ate a tube of ointment and died.
It’s a harsh lesson - please learn from others’ experience. Your little girl is too precious to risk.
Hope
