5 Bulldog Potty Training Problems and How to Overcome Them
Unfortunately, many bulldogs have been abandoned due to issues with house training. It’s a tragic situation, and typically, it is human error that is to blame.
Knowing how a French or English bulldog is, temperament-wise, can help you overcome many potty-training problems.
In this guide, we will discuss some of the common French and English bulldog potty training problems and their solutions.
Common English and French Bulldog Potty-Training Problems
1. Fear and Anxiety
Bulldogs are generally very sweet, mild-mannered, and loving dogs. They sometimes tend to go potty indoors when they are scared or anxious.
Has your dog recently been through changes? Have you changed the residence? Even if you have brought home a rescue dog, then it is likely that he or she is afraid owing to past trauma.
All these things can greatly impact your French or English bulldog potty training and could lead to frequent indoor accidents.
If you have to leave your pet home for prolonged periods, then your pet might pee indoors often.
An easy way to overcome this issue is to take your pet outside to empty out its bladder before you leave for work and right after you get back home.
You can also use potty training pads or dog pee pads for your bulldog puppy and train her/him to eliminate it. This is an important part of how to potty train a puppy.
2. Excitement and Submissive Urination
Bulldog puppies get really excited. When they see you after a long time, they tend to urinate out of excitement.
Submissive urination is another common English and French bulldog potty-training problem. These sweeties want to show their ultimate surrender to you but end up urinating when rolling on their backs.
In most cases, such problems get resolved once the puppy grows older and has better control over its emotions and its bladder as well.
You can also tone down your leaving and arrival by not making a big deal out of it. Do not pet or cuddle your pet or make those ‘sorry statements’ for having to leave her/him. This way, your pet will also get used to your departure.
3. Underlying Health Issues
Some medical problems can also cause frequent indoor urination despite your best attempts to housetrain your pet.
Spayed females tend to have leaks when they lie down to sleep. Also, male and female bulldogs with urinary tract infections could suffer from uncontrolled urination.
It is best to discuss these health issues with a vet so you can both decide on the right treatment for their resolution.
4. Territory Marking
Male bulldogs pee indoors as a gesture of marking their territory. This is common in unneutered dogs. You can easily prevent this behavior by neutering your pet by the time he gets 6 months of age.
If, despite neutering, you see your English or French bulldog lifting his hind leg to urinate, clap your hands loudly. This will get his attention and make him stop. You can then take him outdoors to complete his business. Alternatively, take him to the indoor potty-training pads to let him ‘go’ there.
Praise your pet copiously when he goes to the designated spot.
It is also a great idea to get your puppy a crate. Crate training can help prevent many unwanted indoor potty accidents since your dog will never void in its sleeping area. Just make sure that the crate is of the right size otherwise your pet might still use its corner as a potty area.
5. Incomplete Potty-Training
Remember: you should not consider your French or English bulldog potty training complete until s/he has not had an accident indoors for more than 45 days in a row.
You can easily potty train any pup with some consistent efforts, treats, and praise. Check out our detailed guide on the best way to potty train a puppy bulldog in 5 days here.
Every time your pet starts to sniff or go around in circles, it is a sign that s/he wants to go. You may want to also take your pet to its potty spot after every meal.
If you have to potty train an adult bulldog, you must still train him as you would a puppy. An adult dog needs to defecate twice a day and urinate at least 3-4 times daily. Plan your dog’s potty training schedule accordingly.
With some consistent effort, you will definitely see results.
Conclusion
When it comes to pee and poop, most bulldogs learn quickly.
Still, communicating that the carpet or rug is not a toilet can be tricky especially for novice dog owners. And some bulldogs do end up being stubborn or ‘difficult’.
However, hitting and rubbing your pet’s nose in the mess s/he has made are all old and cruel methods of overcoming such bulldog potty training problems. They will only avoid your eye and still poop or pee indoors.
Instead, kindness, love, praise, and healthy treats along with a consistent potty-training schedule will get you the results faster.
Be patient. Housetraining a dog takes time. With bulldogs, it could be weeks, even months before they are housetrained.
Do let us know your experience regarding bulldog housetraining in the comments below.
Do You Own a Bulldog?
Bulldogology loves Bulldogs, our free Bulldog guide is the essentials guide for your perfect Bulldog. Learn how to be the best way to be a proud owner of this awesome breed.
Made for current Bulldog owners and new bully owners!
With our Ultimate Bulldog Guide…
- Learn more about your Bulldog, and ready yourself for any health problems
- Why Bulldogs shed so much and what you should do
- What collars are best for Bulldogs and what NOT to get
- Got a hyper Bulldog? See section 8 of this guide on how to get your Bulldog to calm down
- What to do with those rosebud ears when your Bulldog needs cleaning
- How to feed your Bulldog and the best type of food for this breed
- And so much more!
Thanks for information it was very good
I am Jenny and I have a french bulldog. 3 months old. He seems to be pooping and peeing very frequently, and all over the place. I need to start potty training him from now on. is it too early? Someone suggested I keep him in the bathroom for 2 months which I think is too cruel. So I’m now keeping him in the play cage with a pee pan in it. Does it work this way? Please advise as I’m sometimes stressed out seeing his poo and pee everywhere in the house. Thank you.
We just got an almost 6 months old English bulldog puppy and are struggling to get him to go outside. Not so bad during the day, but at night he has no problem going pee or poop inside his crate, in spite what the article says. Never had that problem with our older dog when she was a pup. What can we do to get him to hold his business till morning time?
Hi we are having the same problem same age and breed did you get any advice if so would you email me [email protected] many thanks
Lisa
I have the same thing … I got my Tri colored English Bulldog in January when she was seven months old. I’ve had trouble getting her completely potty trained. It’s been eight months and it’s better but still she will go outside and be out there for several minutes Ave pee but then come back right back inside and poop on the floor within minutes. She’s very loving, although hyper. But she is very naughty. It seems she’s always looking for something to get into. I try to keep a lot of toys for her, but she still likes to get into anything possible. Any help or recommendations would be appreciated.
Urgent help needed, we have been given a 5 month old frenchy, whoever had him before hasn’t given absolutely No training whatsoever, when walked he will just sit and not move when i finally get him out in a small area he will sniff sometimes he doesn’t and if we are out for 5 mins or up to a hour he will not do anything, so he does all his potty time in my flat, he has a crate which we are trying to do, but with so many kids in the house with different ideas I fear he’s getting confused, he is stubborn, we have tried everything, treats praise , he’s a beautiful boy , we cuddle we play we have chill time with belly rubs and toys but he will not potty outside