It is worth noting that French Bulldogs, in particular, are quite a stubborn breed. Once they learn something, they will stick with it forever, but that initial learning phase can be challenging.
If you give your French Bulldog training and make a game out of it, they will want to play regularly as part of their training. But it should also be noted that, in specific, French Bulldogs are quite a bullheaded breed.
They will stick with it indefinitely when they learn something, but that initial stage of learning may be challenging.
From a Frenchies intelligence point of view, French Bulldogs do well compared to other breeds and are the smartest among the bulldog breeds. The graphs show they’re about the middle of the list, which contains all races.
Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence
· Understanding of New Commands: 40 to 80 repetitions.
· Obey First Command: 30% of the time or better.[18]
105. Skye Terrier
106. Norfolk Terrier
107. Sealyham Terrier
108. Pug
109. French Bulldog
The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren. https://thehydrant.wordpress.com/tag/the-intelligence-of-dogs-by-stanley-coren
They are smart dogs that want to please, so if you’re doing your role with your Frenchie, they will learn well.
It is not essential to join obedience school for your Frenchie, but it may make training faster and more efficient. Luckily, plenty of self-help books and websites are available that will work fine as long as you spend the time working with your new little Frenchie.
We at Little French Dog believe in positive reinforcement training. But here is an article on the different types of training methods and outcomes for dogs: Dog Training Methods
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Where To Start?
The first stage would be setting yourself up as an “Alpha” throughout the pet-owner relationship. Moreover, French Bulldogs are dogs, and they must know that you’re the one who is in control. Here are a few excellent French Bulldog training suggestions to set yourself up soon as the Alpha.
- Be the first one to come in or outside the door
- Feed yourself before you feed your French Bulldog
- Don’t move around your French Bulldog. Make your Frenchie keep moving out of your way.
- Do not always pay close attention to your Frenchie. Sometimes you need to disregard them, even if they are whining.
- Do not let your French bulldog sleep in your bed with you–set limits early where they are permitted to sleep.
Keep in mind; that it’s essential to set yourself up as an Alpha quickly as possible, as this will make your French Bulldog much simpler to train. If your Frenchie learns to disregard you, your French bulldog training will become much more complicated.
Have Reasonable Expectations About French Bulldog Training
You must first understand that training a French bulldog to obey your instructions will be regular and prolonged, so it’s best to begin preparing your Frenchie as quickly as you have time available.
Regular communication with your Frenchie can assist you in opening an understanding between the two of you. Communicating and stressing the tones in your voice when you’re giving out orders as a high pitch tone will usually produce better outcomes than shouting to stop.
French Bulldog Conditioning
Photo by Rhiannon Elliott
Training A French Bulldog
They can be stubborn, so training is quite essential yet very satisfying. It is necessary to stay patient while training a French Bulldog.
Begin the easy when starting out training your dog. Attempt and restrict the number of distractions. This may mean taking away toys and anything else that might tempt your Frenchie’s focus away.
Use Treats And Incentives For Your French Bulldog
French Bulldog Treats and incentive rewards are an excellent way to encourage your Frenchie to continue good behavior and training outcomes. There are quite a variety of ways you can incentivize your Frenchie:
- But don’t over incentivize them. Offer your Frenchie a delicious treat.
- Give your Frenchie a lot of affection and snuggling
- Use beneficial reinforcement, for example, a well done, a nice job, or a good boy.
Keep your French Bulldog training lessons brief—ideally, not more than 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Your French Bulldog has a short attention span, and you will often discover that they are readily distracted.
You could have several sessions distributed throughout the day.
Training your French Bulldog can or will sometimes get a little challenging. However, no matter how upset you are, remain calm and comfortable. Once your Frenchie is doing naughty, say “no” to them in a commanding yet calm voice.
No matter what you do, don’t ever hit or shout at your Frenchie as this will scare them, and your French Bulldog may begin to worry about you and become scared of you.
How To Train Your French Bulldog Their Name
Trying to learn how to train your Frenchie may seem intimidating at first, so it’s best to start with easy instructions, such as having your Frenchie react to his name, until moving on to more complex training.
As mentioned above should use treats to teach your Frenchie his name. Carry a treat in your hand while holding it next to your body. Now, try calling your Frenchie’s name.
Your Frenchie will probably look at the treat in your hand at the beginning. Continue to call their name until they look you in the eye.
Once they have done so, offer them the treat immediately and continue this practice by keeping the treat in your other hand. When they become used to coming to you, begin calling their name without a treat, rewarding them with a large greeting, and giving them a good pat.
French Bulldog Toilet Training
Some French Bulldogs take up to eight months to the toilet train and can be frustrating for the owner. You must remain calm and persistent throughout the entire process. Your dog doesn’t try to be an annoyance.
French Bulldogs under six months of age generally don’t have wholly formed bladders and have difficulty controlling them. That’s why starting your French Bulldog toilet training is essential.
You’ll need to maintain an eye out for tell-tale indications they’re likely to go into the bathroom, such as sniffing as well as spinning around in circles before peeing.
When you see this happening, bring them to the spot you want to go to before they have a chance to relieve themselves.
Setting up a daily routine is essential in minimizing the number of accidents. Here are a few tips to follow.
- Take them to their toilet location first thing every morning.
- Make sure you feed them regularly. Once in the morning, another in the evening.
- Shortly after eating, take them out to pee. After taking your Frenchie for a walk or good play session, take them to their toilet spot again.
- Try to restrict them from drinking before they go to bed. This stops accidents throughout the night.
When your French Bulldog goes to their toilet spot on their own, praise them that they’ve done the right thing.
You’ll need to keep teaching them if your Frenchie doesn’t understand where to go to the toilet. Taking them out to the same grass area is a good start, and he remains there with them until he goes to the bathroom and instantly praises them.
Your French Bulldog will understand after a while to connect the spot with going to the toilet and will in their way for you to take them there or let them go to their spot.
French Bulldog Crate Training
Crate training is useful in creating a safe space for your French Bulldog. If you’re not at home, just want them to go to sleep or keep him from causing mayhem. Still, it is a fantastic toilet training method as French Bulldogs don’t like to relieve themselves in their personal space and would instead find a more suitable spot.
Be patient, as this will take a few weeks.
Place a soft blanket into their crate to engage and play with them close to the crate. The next stage encourages them to use either their stuffed animal or favorite snack to enter the crate. Make it possible for them to enter without forcing them.
If they are not interested this time, don’t pressure them. They will get to it with a little more play and patience.
It’s time to begin feeding them meals closer to the crate. Start with their bowl a short distance away from their crate, then slowly, each time, bring their bowl closer and closer. Eventually, start putting their bowl inside their crate.
Start practicing shutting the door behind them while they eat their meal when your Frenchie has become comfortable entering and eating. After finishing their meal, keep the door closed for several minutes.
If your Frenchie starts to cry, do not let them out until he finishes. Ensure they can see you within the crate, which helps decrease their anxiety. Otherwise, they will do this all the time.
You will be able to leave the door closed for extended periods as your French Bulldog becomes even more comfortable with the crate. Eventually, start calling them, give them a treat, and then use an “off to bed” command to go inside the crate.
Once they go into the crate, provide them with another treat. After entering, pet them and then close the door saying good dog.
Sit by the crate for a couple of minutes before leaving the room. Begin to increase the time before you leave the room with each session. This method can take from a few days to a few weeks before your Frenchie begins to feel relaxed inside the crate.
Only Kidding! Do not Crate your dog in a box. 🙂
Getting Your French Bulldog Used To The Crate At Night-Time
Placing the crate near your bedroom or outside your bedroom in the corridor is a smart idea; they understand you’re close. Move the crate from your bedroom to where you want it every night.
How To Leave Your French Bulldog Home Alone?
When your Frenchie begins to feel relaxed in the crate for more than 30 minutes at a time, you will be able to start leaving them at home alone. Use the “on your bed” command and show them you have a treat, and point to the crate.
It’s essential that once you get back, you don’t make a large fuss about it but calmly let him get out of the box. It’s a good idea to put a couple of toys in the crate so that he can have fun.
How To Stop Your French Bulldog From Howling And Crying In Their Crate
If your Frenchie begins howling or crying, it’s a matter of waiting a few minutes to see if they still keep going on. If they are still crying and you’re sure they want to go to the toilet, then let them go.
Bring them back to the crate when they have completed their toilet run. If they keep crying after that, you must remain strong and ignore them. If the issue persists, you may need to begin the crate training process again.
Too Much Time In The Crate For Your French Bulldog?
Trying to leave your French Bulldog in a crate for too long can be a terrible idea. Your Frenchie can start feeling trapped and depressed if they are left alone in their box for too long.
The general rule would be that a dog under six months should spend no more than 2-3 hours in a crate as they have not yet fully developed toilet habits and are likely to soil their crate.
How To Socialize Your French Bulldog With Other Dogs
French Bulldogs love their owners and other humans but can also be obstinate and aggressive towards other animals. It’s essential to socialize your French Bulldog early to ensure they will get along with other dogs.
Once you introduce them to new dogs or new people, don’t pressure them to engage, but let them explore themselves around a new dog or individual. When they walk up to them willingly, reward your French Bulldog with a treat. The time to do this is around 12-14 weeks.
If your Frenchie seems scared, allow them time and wait for them to relax and introduce them again. Don’t ever pressure them, as this might make them more anxious.
French Bulldog Making Friends
Photo by For Chen
How To Teach Your French Bulldog “No” Snd “Stop It”
When your Frenchie does something they are not supposed to, like biting or chewing, you’ll have to educate your dog to stop and not to continue. When undesired behavior, say “No” or “Stop” and tap their nose softly.
Alternatively, offer them a toy and give them a treat when they start chewing this instead. That way, they will learn what is appropriate to chew. Revisit this until your Frenchie knows and will react quickly enough.
How To Teach Your French Bulldog To Sit
Stand in front of your Frenchie while showing them a treat in your hand. Make sure they can see it. Command firmly to sit down while softly pushing down their bottom until they sit down. Offer them a treat immediately once they sit down and praise them.
Repeat this. Step back from them, turn and face them with the treat in your hand and tell them to sit down again. Continue to push his bottom softly and praise them as before.
This training technique will require several sessions until they know what to do, but they will eventually respond to the term sit.
How To Teach Your French Bulldog To Lay Down
Ensure that your Frenchie begins in a seated position while having a treat in your hand. When you say “lay down” or “down,” move your hand towards the ground. Make sure they understand you’ve got a treat or can see it.
Your dog will slowly follow your hand to the ground and may begin to lie down. If not again, give him a gentle push towards the ground. Offer them the treat and praise as soon as they lie down. Keep practicing this until your Frenchie can lay down on command.
How To Teach Your French Bulldog To “Stay”
Start in the sitting place with your Frenchie and start praising him. Just like you tell somebody to stop, stick your hand in front of you. Slowly walk away while stating “Stay” firmly.
If your Frenchie begins running towards you, start again by asking them to sit down, then position your hand in front of you once more while stating, “Stay.” Give them a treat and praise their good behavior once they have remained in position for a while.
Repeat this until your Frenchie understand that they have to stay.
How To Teach Your Frenchie To “Come”
Once more, start by telling your Frenchie to sit down and walk away slowly. Steadily crouch down, slap your leg, and say “come” in a pleasant, high-pitched voice.
Your Frenchie will believe you’d like to start a game with them and will run to you. Then give them a treat every time they react and follow the “come” order.
How To Teach Your French Bulldog With Clicker Training
Start teaching your Frenchie to connect a clicking noise as a reward for behavior. Example dog clicker. Giving your French Bulldog a treat each time you click on the clicker is the simplest way to do this. Train your Frenchie, press the device, and offer him a treat when they do the desired command.
Your Frenchie will associate their good behavior with the clicking noise over time. Once the clicker is familiar to your Frenchie, you can begin trying to wean them off treats and then use the clicker as a reward.
The Best Tips For Training Your French Bulldog
Keep some treats in a pocket bag to simplify your life. This will mean whenever your Frenchie does the correct thing. You have simple access to rewards.
If your Frenchie gets frustrated, then keep the training session short.
Never hit, shout or be impatient with your French Bulldog. Remember, they’re still young, and they’re still new to training.
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