French bulldog coming very soon - please help

[VerrucaUpdate]

It’s a mercy mission tbh. I wasn’t looking for a dog just yet (was going to leave it a few more years) but I can’t leave this one. I’ve had dogs before but always labs so no experience of frenchies.

Past history: she’s 2.5, has had 3 litters , c-section each time. She was then given to her next owners as breeders didn’t want her anymore. New owners have had her for 6 months but now can’t keep her either. They have a baby on the way and she has huge toileting/chewing issues.

I’ve said I will take her for a trial for 6mths or so with a view to keeping her long term but I can’t see her going back to be honest.

So here’s the problems as they stand. She hasn’t been spayed yet, so that’s number 1 on the list. I’m hoping that might help with issue 2 the toilet issue. She doesn’t mess in her crate at all but as soon as she’s out she will. She does go for a wee outside but doesn’t seem bothered if it’s in or out of the house. Will urintate on sofas/beds etc. 3, she chews furniture etc. Tbh I think that’s more boredom as she’s alone for most of the day.

I work out of the house x 2 days for 6 hrs both days. Other than that I’m home.

I’m planning on keeping her in the laminated kitchen short term with a gate to prevent her going in the rest of the house.

Any advice re the toileting? Crates? (I’ve not used them before but she’s happy to use one apparently). Introducing her to our cat?! I’m quite worried about that as the cat hasn’t been around dogs before. Although she will be able to come and go without going in the kitchen.

@Lucymek that's horrid. No dog should be denied access to toilet outside and forced to mess in the house. Those pads are NOT meant for long term use.
In fact OP puppy pads confuse the issue for dogs. They need to learn to go outside.

Please think carefully OP. This is a possibly unspayed bitch who has never been toilet trained. It's extremely unlikely she is flea and worm treated with anything safe and effective if she hasn't seen a vet.

Oh and she may well have separation anxiety too. Very hard to treat and means you can't leave her at all to start with (would explain the chewing and sofa peeing)

Wolfie makes a very good point about separation anxiety, very likely and very hard work.

Bloody hard work! I can tell you that.

I would definitely take her to a vet in the first week to get her thoroughly checked over. (I did this with my Battersea rescue even though they were brilliant - it just gave me peace of mind and I could ask the vet all the questions that had occurred to me, i.e. what is ideal weight, etc).

Update: So some good news today!

Papers have arrived. She has:

Full vaccination up to 7/2017 - worming up to 6/2017. So not due her boosters until the summer.

Bronze health check from the vet

BOAS score of 0

Nostril score of 1

Genetic testing for HC HSF4: clear

Five generation KC certificate and lineage

Microchip info

Vet info

There is nothing about the pregnancies. I’m guessing she is still registered with her previous vets and I have their number to call so I can find out more

Feeling much more positive now

I have a frenchie mine was very easy to toilet train they do need a lot of attention and praise when they go in the right place but I am with her 24 7 I understand not everyone can be. Maybe get her checked for a water infection if she is just weeing anywhere French bulldogs can be prone to water infections. Other than that they just need a lot of love and attention they are amazing dogs!

How are things progressing OP?

I rescued a beagle that wasn’t toilet trained - also notoriously hard to achieve. It took ages for him to be completely clean in the house. He’d go to the door for a wee if I was in the room, but just wee if I wasn’t - he understood I preferred him to go outside, but didn’t grasp the concept of holding it for AGES. Definitely get a crate. If she’s happy it will save your sanity and help her get used to holding it.

And well done. You’re a star to rescue her.

I hope all goes well with her, thank you for choosing to rescue.

Food wise, go raw if you can. Raw doesn't suit me at the moment as I travel for work a lot and the dogs come with me, so I use this Grain Free food.

Offering her lots to chew and redirecting unwanted chewing onto tastier chews will help her chewing problem very quickly.

With regards to toilet training, crates are brilliant but as she has had such bad experience with crating I would probably go the way of sealing off a small utility room or similar as 'her space'.