Ask the French Bulldog Trainer - Sneaky Piddling Frenchie
admin June 20th, 2008
Dear Hope,
My husband surprised my boys and I with a French bulldog puppy we had
all been looking at for about a week back on December 27th. He has
been a wonderful dog for our family. He is sweet, smart, fun and my
boys absolutely adore him! My husband and I do as well except for 1
little thing… he is a piddler (our term for just randomly urinating
all over our house..) I do not believe that it is a medical problem
because he has been going all night without messing his crate since
January/February. He knows to go to the door if he needs to go
outside and does it. We have noticed that his “piddling” increases
whenever he is not being played with or loved on. I think his
“piddling” is his reaction when he is not the center of attention.What are your thoughts and recommendations on how to get him to stop?
Thanks for your help!
Hope writes -
Dogs aren’t people! Dogs are not spiteful, sneaky, sulky or secretive. If a dog wants attention, he comes up to you and barks, jumps, wiggles, brings a toy, tugs on you, or other direct means of drawing your attention. He doesn’t go off and piddle somewhere just to “show you” he’s neglected.
The reason he piddles when you’re not paying attention is because - you weren’t paying attention and missed his signals he had to go out! He truly isn’t securely housebroken - he doesn’t know the rules yet.
Go back to the beginning. If no one is actively watching him - he’s in his crate. When he earns a bit of trust, put on his harness and leash and attach him to your belt loop while you’re going about your daily life. As soon as he starts sniffing around, indicating a need to go - take him out and praise him when he “does his business.”
Your pup just needs reinforcement of his training. He’s not being headstrong or willful - he’s letting you know he’s not sure of the rules.
-Hope
