potty training english bulldog pup

Question
My name is Rachel and my boyfriend James and I brought home our 8 week old bulldog puppy, Herman, two days ago. We immediately began the attempt to crate training Herman, although we know he is still quite a youngster.
We have a crate that is just his size. It isn't a wire crate but there are peep-holes on the front and either side for him to see his surroundings. The first day he pooped and peed all over the house. His poop was not solid (I think because he was nervous about his new surroundings). We live on the third floor of an apartment building so I'm also worried how we are going to get him to scratch at the front door (or do you think he should do his business on the balcony? We have a puppy pad out there which he has used to pee on but not poop yet). Anyway, the next day we made sure to take him out more often and he peed AND pooped outside all day long, we praised him a lot but he's not really into his treats yet. This involved us carrying him down the out the door and down the stairs, onto the grass outside. So again we are worried that he will not learn that he is supposed to know to go to the door.

Also, he is fine in his crate while sleeping but wakes up in the night around 1-2am and cries. We have the crate with a comfy blanket and a few toys for him to feel warm and snuggly, and its on the floor next to our bed ( I thought that maybe if he knew we were near him he wouldn't feel abandoned and lonely). He just does NOT stop unless we take him out and let him lay next to us.I took him out because I thought he might have to go to the bathroom but that wasn't the problem, I think its speparation anxiety.I know you're supposed to ignore it and he will eventually fall asleep but its been our only option so far because we also have a room-mate who has to get up early like we do. As soon as I put him in the bed with us he falls right asleep.

If you have any advice about the apartment potty training and crate training problems please help! We would be so relieved and greatly appreciate it!

Answer
Rachel,

Your pup is still young and if you leave him too long in his crate, he will go.  You want to only leave him in the crate for short amounts of time, so he can learn that it is not the place to go.

It really sounds like you are making good progress in your training!!!  If you want him to learn to go outside, just keep doing like you are.  If you take him out through the door to go downstairs, he will learn to start telling you when he needs to go.

The most important thing is to keep him from learning to go in the WRONG place.  Try not to let him have any accidents.  If you think he is getting ready to go, take him outside immediately.

If you don't mind him sleeping with you, then I don't see anything wrong with it.  Again, he is still young.  He is use to being with his mama and littermates.  As he gets older, you can have him start sleeping in his crate or bed.

Keep up the good work!!!!

Christine Puetz