Ask the French Bulldog Training - Potty Training Problems
admin August 6th, 2008
Hi Hope,
We recently added a new French bulldog pup to our family- Alphonse!
He came to our home from a reputable breeder at the age of 9 weeks, and he has been a joyous addition to our family thus far.I read through your advice and responses on this message board on potty training, and have strictly abided to your advice.
After a few weeks, Alphonse began getting the hang of things. He started going towards the door (we used the same door to take him out each time) when he needed to potty, and he even responds to the “go potty” command which we consistently use each and every time he goes.
Alphonse is now 4 and a half months old, and he has been accident free for the last few weeks! Fantastic!
However, just this morning, we were playing with Alphonse as we normally do (our schedule with him- potty, eating, playing, sleeping, etc- has been very routine). All of a sudden, while playing his favorite game, fetch, he stops, makes eye contact with me, and then proceeds to pee!
We thankfully caught him in the act, firmly told him NO, and took him outside where he finished the rest.
What happened here? He wasn’t overly excited, he didn’t eat or drink anything out of the norm, and it seemed as though we were SO close to having him potty trained.
Also, what is the correct remedy going forward to ensure that he stays on the right track on the potty training front?
Hope writes –
Would you believe - you’re doing everything right? Nothing’s gone wrong, nothing needs to be changed.
Alphonse, bless his little heart, is being a puppy.
There are a few things that could be going on here. The most likely is that Alphonse isn’t totally convinced yet that outside is the only place he’s allowed to do his business. Like any other juvenile, he’s testing the boundaries - seeing exactly what he’s allowed to get away with.
Another possibility is you’ve reached a training plateau. I’ve heard various explanations for it, including one theory that there’s a lag while behavior is embedded in long-term memory. I don’t really worry about the why - I just know that at some point it’s going to seem like my dog has forgotten everything she ever knew. Fortunately, their brains stop rattling around in their skulls and settle into the socket again rather quickly.
Stay consistent, enforce the rules you’ve set and Alphonse will get with the program. He may be testing your patience and being a stubborn little bully boy, but he’s actually right on schedule. No puppy is truly securely potty-trained until about six to eight months, so relax, enjoy - and watch him every second!
Hope
