English Bulldog Puppy House Training

Question
I bought a female English Bulldog Puppy at 12 weeks old.  She is now 16 weeks old.  I haven't attempted to crate train her yet because she has no pattern as to when she goes to the bathroom.  During the day, she stays in my bathroom with her crate and I leave pee pads out.  Usually when I get home she has shredded her pee pad and pooped several times on the floor.  We take her out often but she seems to poop 10 - 12 times a day.  She had tape worms but has been medicated for it.  We take her outside for 20 minutes and she will just lay there.  Soon after we bring her back in, she pees whereever.  Last night she peed in her crate and licked it up.  She is obsessed with water so we only give it to her a few times a day, (advise from the breeder).  Since this is my first English Bulldog, I need some advice on training.

Answer
Angell,

Bulldogs can be very stubborn and it is always harder to break a dog from a bad behavior then to teach good ones.

I think you need to give up on the potty pads.  Bulldogs love to tear things up.  You also want to be careful that you limit water too much.  Bulldogs need adequate water.

You need to set aside a few days of intensive training.  That means whenever she is out, you have to be watching her.  Anytime it looks like she is getting ready to 'go', take her quickly outside.  You could even put a bell on the door and ring it so she learns to ring the bell when she needs to go outside.

You cannot let her go in the house!!!!  You will have to catch her every time.  Then praise her when she goes outside.  She will finally get it.

If you are leaving her during the day for a long period, it may be too long to expect her not to go.  I suggest using a small crate.  If she doesn't have a lot of room, she should want to keep it clean.

It all is dependent on your consistency and effort.

Christine Puetz