The French Bulldog is the UK’s most popular dog, and it’s easy to see why. With more and more people owning them, knowing how to train them is a high priority. Frenchies are wonderful animals, loyal, intelligent, and funny. And if trained the right way they can be excellent little companions, no trouble at all, and incredibly low maintenance.
From knowing when to start training, to learning how to housetrain them, you’ll find everything you need to know here.
Are French Bulldogs Hard to Train?
If handled properly, Frenchies are not hard to train at all. But they can be incredibly stubborn pets and will dig their heels in if they don’t want to do something. This is why training them is so important, because the better trained they are, the less likely their stubborn streak will rear its head.
French Bulldogs are also considered the lower end of the intelligence scale for dogs, and while this by no means makes them dumb animals, it does mean that they may have a harder time learning more complex tasks. When training your French Bulldog pup, choose which commands you want to focus on, and work with these until your pup has completely mastered it. It’s tempting to spend time teaching them fun party tricks, but the core commands are far more important – for your safety and the safety of your little furry friend.
French Bulldogs are eager to please and love praise and words of encouragement. Keep this in mind when training them and with patience, fun, and a lot of love and praise, French Bulldogs will learn the rules in no time.
What Age Should I Start Training My French Bulldog?
All dogs need to be trained to follow the house rules, and this is true of smaller dogs too. Many people think that smaller dogs require less training or that they do not need to plan out their dog’s training. But this isn’t true and can actually make it harder to train them later on in life.
The best thing to do is to start training them as soon as you bring them home – don’t wait until they’ve grown out of their puppy phase. The earlier you start, the more success you are likely to have.
This is especially true of housetraining them. You may be tempted to let them settle in first and start toilet training after a few days or even a week, but this could be a huge mistake. Don’t forget that first impressions are everything and if your new companion learns from day one that they shouldn’t go to the toilet in the house then it’s more likely to stick with them. If you let them go wherever they want, then when it comes to teaching them, they will remember before that they could go wherever. This will confuse them and may make it harder to get them to forget one thing and learn another.
Best French Bulldog Training Treats
One of the things that is recommended for training French Bulldogs is a bag of treats. Frenchies aren’t greedy dogs but they do love a treat now and then (who doesn’t?!) So having a few treats handy when trying to train your pup is a very good idea.
However, if you’ve done any research on Frenchies you’ll know that they are prone to obesity and weight issues. So you need to be careful about what you’re feeding them to ensure that they stay a healthy weight. So what to feed them?
- Zuke’s Mini Naturals. This is a treat company based in New Zealand and is a very high-quality brand of dog treats. The standards for pet food in New Zealand is much higher than in many other countries – so you know that you’re getting the best food. Zuke’s really do have the pets best interest at heart.
- BLUE Bits Training Treats. These treats are perfect for being out and about – so excellent for training whilst out on a walk. They are five calories each and can be easily broken into halves or fourths to make them go even further. They are soft enough that even a little Frenchie can make quick work of them whilst walking around. They also come in loads of different flavours so you won’t have to bore your Frenchie with the same flavour over and over again.
- Wellness WellBites Soft Natural Dog Treats. These treats are completely natural and made from things such as oatmeal, flaxseed, and fruit and veg! As the name suggests they are nice a soft and easy to break into smaller pieces. This is especially good as it gives you more control over how much food you’re giving your pup.
How do you House Train a French Bulldog?
House training is probably the most important thing you’ll ever teach your dog and rightly so. House train them once, and do it properly, and you’ll never have to worry about it again. Smaller dogs can be harder to train in this way, and Frenchies are no exception. They form habits very quickly so it’s important to start training from day one. Because they are smaller, they have smaller bladders – meaning they often need to go more often than larger dogs. So, before you begin any kind of house training with them, make sure that you are aware and attentive of their needs – including learning to recognise the signs that they need to go. If you let accidents happen frequently then it will take longer to house train them properly.
It is recommended that you buy a crate for your puppy, for them to go in when you can’t be there to supervise them. Like most dogs, French Bulldogs like to have a safe, confined space to go to when they need a little me time. Put some treats into the crate and allow the pup to explore it on their own. Do this before closing them inside. It’s so important that your dog doesn’t feel like the crate is punishment so letting them get to know the space on their own is crucial.
Once they are inside and you have closed the door, don’t leave immediately. Spend some time playing with them through the bars of the crate and making a special fuss of them. Lots of praise is important at this stage of the training in order to make them feel safe.
While in their crate, your pup will avoid going to the toilet – as it’s their space to sleep etc. But once you take them out you should immediately put them on their lead and take them outside with a very clear command i.e. “Let’s go to the toilet”. It’s important to repeat this phrase every time you take them out, because they will learn to associate that phrase with – you guessed it – going to the toilet. Reward your pup with lots of praise once they’ve done their business and maybe a treat.
After a little while, your puppy will learn some cues to tell you they need to go to the toilet. This could be standing by the door that they use to go outside or whimpering. Always make sure that you lead them outside and never carry them. It’s important that they learn to get there by themselves. Once outside, lead them to where you’d like them to do their business and let them explore until they go. If they don’t go to the toilet then put them back in their crate for a slightly longer period of time – until they need to go again.
Be sure to give them lots of praise and treats for going to the bathroom outside and clean up any indoor accidents immediately. If you leave them then your dog may begin to associate a certain place in the house with the toilet and it will be harder to teach them otherwise. Don’t scold them if they go inside – accidents happen. Just clean it up immediately and ignore that they’ve done it – don’t praise or comfort them either.
Crate Training
Are French Bulldogs Easy To Crate Train?
Some people think that using a crate is cruel. In fact, this practice is far from cruel and can actually comfort your puppy – by giving them a private place just for them which will make them feel safe and secure in their home. French Bulldogs are no exception, and they love having a place to hide away with a toy or blanket to cuddle.
Crate training can also act as a way to protect them when you’re not there to supervise. Putting them in a crate limits what they can do, so they are less likely to get into things they shouldn’t and less likely to hurt themselves or put themselves in harm’s way. Because of a Frenchie’s instinctive need to have their own ‘den’ they are relatively easy to crate train. Just make sure their crate is comfy and cosy – with plenty of toys and soft blankets to entice them.
How Long Does It Take To Crate Train A French Bulldog
Crate training a French Bulldog shouldn’t take that long, provided if it’s done correctly. As mentioned above, they like having their own little den to escape to every now and then. If you make sure you have the right crate and make it a nice cosy place to be, then crate training will take no time at all.
Finding the right crate
To start with, you need to find a crate that is a good match for the pup. Remember that they will grow, and you will want one that will last them a long time – so purchase one based on how big you think they’ll be instead of how big they are now. Luckily, Frenchies never grow to be that big, so you can often get away with buying a smaller sized one – often saving you a bit of money too! It should be big enough that they can move around comfortably once they are fully grown.
Inside, you want to make it nice and cosy for them. A pad or wall-to-wall carpeting is a good way to start this, but also add a nice comfy bed and maybe a blanket or two. It’s also worth adding some really fun toys to the crate, so your pup really feels at home here. The more they enjoy their time in their crate, the easier it will be to train them.
How to Crate Train a French Bulldog?
To start with, you want to make sure that you place the crate in the right place in the home. Try to choose a room where there is plenty of human activity, but not so busy that your pup can’t get any rest. Dogs are pack animals after all, so they enjoy being around their pack most of the time. Once you’ve placed the crate in a suitable spot, bring your Frenchie over to their new home and, with lots of fuss, allow them to dive in on their own and explore a little before closing the door on them.
How long you first leave them in the crate depends on how well they react to it. Most dogs will bark, whine or cry at first – this is completely normal. Just leave them to it and they’ll eventually stop. Most dogs get tired of this after a minute or two so just let it run its course and don’t pay any attention to it. After they’ve stopped for about five minutes you can open the door and let them out. Make sure to give them plenty of praise and fuss and take them right to the door to go to the toilet.
In order to get this training to stick you should try this several times a day for a few days. Gradually increase the time they spend in the crate before being let out. Don’t be afraid to give them lots of love and attention each time they go into their crate. They will learn that this is a safe place for them and nothing bad will happen once they go in. Be patient and take your time and you’ll soon notice that they’re in there just because they want to.
It’s highly important to note that you should not lock your puppy up in their crate overnight until they are at least 12 weeks old. Young puppies cannot control their bowel and bladder as well as slightly older dogs, and if they make a mess in their den it will distress them even further.
French Bulldog Basic Commands
Before thinking about training your French Bulldog to do tricks, teaching the basic commands is a must. This will make them more obedient and will help with walking and socialising. They are more likely to pick up other, more complicated commands if they have a good basic framework already laid out for them.
Teaching A French Bulldog To Sit
This is the place that most people like to start, as it’s one of the easiest commands for any dog to learn. In order to teach your Frenchie how to sit, you should start by standing in front of them – preferably with a treat in hand. Your pup may start to jump at you in order to get the treat. If they do this then just turn around without acknowledging them. By doing this you are discouraging the dog to jump. Once they are no longer jumping, hold the treat just above their nose so they can smell it. This is important in letting them know they will be rewarded for doing this.
Move the treat over their head and let their nose follow. As their nose lifts up, their hind quarters will lower naturally, almost forcing them into the sitting position without them even realising it. As soon as their rear hits the floor, say sit clearly and give them the treat. This will teach them to associate the action, word and reward. You will need to repeat this process a few times before the association kicks in, so remain patient.
If this doesn’t work, then you can always push their rear end down and say sit when their bottom hits the floor. This will work in exactly the same way; you’re just creating that sitting position in a different way. Don’t be too forceful, just a gentle push should send them to the floor – they’ll be too busy focusing on the treat to put up much of a fight.
Teaching A French Bulldog To Lie Down
Starting with the sit command is a good way to go about training, as many of the other commands will follow on naturally from there. Getting your pup to lie down follows very naturally from the sit command, so if you’ve taught them to sit then you’re already halfway there.
One of the easiest ways to teach them the lie down command is to start off as if you are getting them to sit. Get them to sit and then instead of giving them the treat, move it down between their front paws. Their head will follow and as a result they will usually end up lying down without even realising it.
Then, in much the same way as the sit command, as soon as they lie down, say the phrase and give them the treat. Again, they will begin to associate the action with the command and the reward. Practice this a few times and you’ll soon have them lying down with no trouble at all.
Teaching A French Bulldog To Stay
Teaching your French Bulldog to stay is often one of the harder commands for them – and many other dog breeds – to learn. However, if you’ve already taught them to lie down and sit, this will make it much easier. The stay command is crucial in ensuring your dog’s safety, as well as the safety of other dogs. If your pup knows to stay still when told then they are less likely to run off after other dogs, or into the road. Before letting your dog off the lead when walking they should know the stay and come commands – to ensure their safety as well as anyone around you.
To start with, give your Frenchie the lie down command. Make sure you have a few treats in your hand so they understand that they will be rewarded for doing what has been asked. Once they’re lying down, stand in front of them and say ‘stay’ with a firm voice. Place your hand in front of you with your palm facing your Frenchie (think holding your hand up to make the stop sign). Wait a couple of seconds at first and then give them the treat.
The first few times you try this, you want to keep them still for only a couple of seconds. This is just to get them used to the idea of staying still. After they are doing it well for a couple of seconds, gradually increase the time before giving them the treat. If they are having trouble, try reducing the number of seconds and working back up.
If they are having trouble with this then don’t scold them or tell them off. Just ignore it and give no praise or encouragement. This is usually enough for them to learn that they aren’t doing what has been asked of them. Once they’ve mastered this, you can also get them to stay from sitting, and try moving around them and giving them the command. It’s also good to practice doing it from further away so they get used to the command, even while outside. Eventually you should get them to stay and leave the room or move out of sight. If they get this then they’ve mastered this command and it’s time for lots of love, praise and – of course – treats!
Teaching A French Bulldog To Come
Teaching a French Bulldog (or any dog for that matter) the recall command is just as important as the stay command. Again, this will stop them running off and chasing things (Frenchies love to chase smaller animals). Having them know the recall command could also potentially save their life, by stopping them running into traffic, or into another dog who’s not as friendly. Make sure they know this command before taking them to socialise with other dogs.
Before starting this training, it’s best to have another person with you. To begin with, have them hold your French Bulldog on their lead and sit a few feet away from them, but still facing them. Enthusiastically call your Frenchie’s name – followed by the come command. The person holding the lead will walk towards you, leading the Frenchie too. As they walk towards you, open your arms wide and be very open and enthusiastic about seeing your Frenchie.
When they reach you, make a huge fuss of them and make sure to give them a treat. Repeat this exercise a few times with your pup still on their lead before moving on to the next step. Once they are comfortable doing this with the lead, have the person helping you just lightly hold their collar before you call them. Then follow the exact same procedure as above. Once they’ve learnt this and are coming to you, when guided, move onto other variations of the command.
Try calling them while you are in another room and have them come and find you. Another variation to try is to have someone else walk past them and call them when they start to follow the other person. This could also work with a toy or ball – throw the ball or toy and when they go to fetch it, call them back. Make sure that every time they come to you, reward them with treats and huge amounts of praise. Frenchies love to please and they will be more likely to follow the command if they know how happy it makes you. So, show them how happy you are to see them!
Remember not to get annoyed if they don’t follow the command, and definitely don’t tell them off. If they don’t come, keep on calling them in the same enthusiastic tone until they do. Then praise them again. If they don’t, once you are able to get a hold of them, don’t punish them or tell them off. Just ignore it and try again at another time. The last thing you want is for the stubbornness to take over and your Frenchie decide this isn’t something they want to do.
Teaching A French Bulldog To Leave
Now, throughout these basic commands, you’ve seen that you shouldn’t be punishing or scolding your dog for bad behaviour. Positive reinforcement is the best way to teach your pup something. With that being said, sometimes you need to scold them slightly in order to keep them safe. A prime example of that is telling them to leave something alone. Sometimes they can get hold of something they shouldn’t, and you need to get them to leave it alone.
It’s worth noting that this should only be used when absolutely necessary and without any hint of aggression from you. If you are even slightly annoyed in your tone when talking to your dog, it can eventually lead to aggression from them, too.
First things first, make sure you have treats to hand in order to praise them when they do what’s asked of them. Some people have found that it’s best to get their dog’s attention first by telling them to sit (if they already know this command – it’s recommended they do before trying anything else!) Tempt your dog towards something they shouldn’t be touching – maybe a human snack or shoe (if they’re particularly interested in shoes). As they walk towards it, firmly (but calmly) tell them to leave it. When they look back at you, praise them and offer a treat. They will immediately go towards the treat and hence, leave the other thing alone.
Practice this a few times each day and your French Bulldog pup will soon learn this command. Many people find it easer to get their attention with another command first – sit works very well. They will also respond best if they are already in the mindset of following a command.
Walking
Walking a new dog is something that can be a little nerve-wracking as you can’t be sure how they’ll react to things in the outside world or being on a lead for the first time. Many people don’t take the time to train their dog while walking and so find it hard when they misbehave or pull on their lead – even as they get older. French Bulldog’s can be very excitable and enthusiastic dogs, so they are likely to pull on the lead to get where they want to go. Without proper training this can cause all sorts of problems in the long run. Frenchies may be small but they pack quite a punch, and you don’t want them to end up taking you for a walk!
How to get a Frenchie to Walk on a Lead
Getting any dog to walk on a lead is a crucial step in their training to become a proper member of doggy society. It stops them running off into traffic, or into the jaws of other, less friendly dogs. You should also make sure to put your dog on a lead if you come across a nervous dog with their owner. The last thing a nervous dog needs is your little inquisitive friend making them even more afraid.
It’s something that dogs can struggle with, and as a result many owners give up, accepting that their dog will always pull on the lead. With French Bulldogs, there are many different ways to get them to walk on a lead nicely, saving you loads of time and hassle in the long run.
It is recommended that when walking a Frenchie, you use a harness rather than a collar. Frenchies are muscular and enthusiastic, meaning their tendency to pull on the lead is greater than other breeds. French Bulldogs are also a breed that can struggle with their breathing, so something that wraps their whole body rather than just their neck is better for their breathing – especially if they’re prone to pulling.
When starting out this training, make sure you keep a few treats close by you, in order to keep your Frenchie interested in you. Get your pup used to using the lead inside before taking them out with it. The shock of being outside and having something unfamiliar on will make them more likely to act up. At this point, you don’t even need to hold the lead, just let them explore and play with it – make them see it’s nothing to be afraid of and can even be fun.
Once they’re used to the lead, do some practice walks in the house or garden – somewhere enclosed that your pup is used to. Walk a few paces and use the come command to keep them at your heel. Don’t forget the treats and praise, as this will encourage your pup to remain interested in you and what you’re saying. Don’t go overboard with this at first though, start slow and work your way up. Young puppies are distracted and tire out easily, so you don’t want to overload them with too much training in too short a space of time.
Once they’ve got the hang of it in a familiar environment, it’s time to take them into the great outdoors. But make sure you pick the right time to take them out – not just the time of the day but how your puppy is feeling. If they are too overexcited it will be harder to train them but at the same time, too tired and they won’t feel up to it. Try to strike the middle ground between the two. Also try to pick a time of the day when there won’t be loads of people out. Too many other dogs will excite and confuse your Frenchie and again, it will be harder to train them.
You need to have your French Bulldog paying attention to you at all times, especially the first time you take them out. Do the same thing you did when you were in the house and they should have no problem with this. However, it may take them a little while as there will be lots of new and exciting smells and things to see. Remain patient and never scold and your puppy will find their way back to soon enough. If you find they are having trouble concentrating, make things even more fun. Frenchies love to play and please their owner so lots of fun, energy, and praise will help their attention remain focused in the right place.
How to Stop a Frenchie Pulling on a Lead
Because of their excitability and general zest for life, Frenchies are slightly more prone to pulling on the lead than many of their other doggy counterparts. And because of their small stature, many people don’t think them pulling on the lead will be a problem. However, these dogs are deceptively muscular and strong and will surprise you with the determination to get where they want to be, and not where you want them to be.
To start with, make sure that you aren’t doing this on a normal walk. Try to dedicate some time just for this training and don’t interrupt what is usually their playtime. Also make sure they have done a bit of playing beforehand to get their energy levels up. But don’t overexcite them. The trick to training a French Bulldog is to strike a delicate balancing act between them being excited to learn and play, and so excited that they won’t pay attention. Also try to free their training environment of distractions, so that their attention will be better focused on you, and you won’t be battling the toys for their focus.
What you need to do to stop your French Bulldog pulling on the lead is quite simple. With them on their lead, walk around but change direction quickly, sharply, and randomly. Try to switch direction every couple of metres – you want to appear very unpredictable to your dog. This will confuse your French Bulldog and they’ll keep their attention on you at all times. They will think of it as a game and won’t have time to pull on the lead, as they’ll be too busy waiting for you to change direction again. If you do feel them starting to pull, then just change direction quickly and it’ll soon refocus them.
You should also have other props with you to keep things interesting – a toy or their favourite ball, for example. This is to use if they start to get distracted. The idea is to keep them focused on you and aware of your movements always.
However, if you’ve tried this and found no success you can always use the stop technique. When they start pulling just stop walking. Don’t acknowledge them or scold them, just stand still where you are. Once they relax and the lead loosens you can start walking again. This will teach them that pulling doesn’t actually get them where they want to go and will slow their progress. Sooner than later they’ll see that walking with you on the lead is far more fun than trying to run off or drag you in a different direction.
How do I stop my French bulldog from crying at night?
Don’t be alarmed if the first few nights at their new home is quite distressing for your French Bulldog. Don’t forget that they have been taken away from the mother and siblings, and the environment they know – only to be placed on their own in a new, unfamiliar place. You’d probably cry if that happened to you!
It’s a natural instinct for your pup to cry out or howl for their family, especially at first. This is the thing that helps them survive in the wild – the ability to call for the rest of their pack. If your Frenchie pup is crying, it is simply their survival instinct kicking in. They learn that if they call for help then someone will come and find them – and they will be much safer. Knowing the reason that they’re crying will help you to remain patient whilst they get used to their new surroundings and make you both feel happier, safer, and more comfortable.
When you decide to go up to bed, make sure to leave your Frenchie pup with a nice, long-lasting treat. This will hopefully distract them long enough that they don’t notice that they’re alone for a little while. Take them out to the toilet and give them a nice, but brief, goodnight. Some people recommend having their mother’s blanket – especially the first couple of nights – so they are in the presence of a familiar smell. You can also leave a t-shirt that smells of you with them. Smells are incredibly important to dogs and having familiar smells will put them at ease.
If your pup starts crying, your first instinct will likely be to go to them immediately. However, you should ignore it, as hard as it may be. If you respond to the cries – either positively or negatively – it only reinforces that their behaviour results in them getting attention. And we all know how much French Bulldogs love attention. It doesn’t matter why you go to them – to reassure them or scold them – the fact that you came at all will reinforce this behaviour. Not going to them at all will soon have them learning that this behaviour doesn’t result in what the pup wants. If you go to them, they are likely to continue crying, and perhaps even start crying more.
Of course, it is recommended that you have a puppy crate for them to sleep in – as this makes them feel safe and secure when you’re not there. Don’t lock them in the crate and make sure it is a place of happiness and relaxation for them and they’ll be more likely to settle down.
How to Socialise Your French Bulldog?
It’s important to socialise any dog, and a French Bulldog is no exception. A well socialised dog will be a great companion to you and for others. It will make them less aggressive to the surrounding environment – other dogs and people. A poorly socialised French Bulldog can exhibit aggressive behaviours to other dogs, and strangers. This is why socialising is so important, and it’s important to get it done sooner rather than later. Trying to socialise your older dog can take a lot longer and be a lot more of challenge. So, it’s in your best interest to do it as early as you can.
To start the socialisation process, you should begin at home. They are familiar with their home and the surrounding environment, so are less likely to be anxious in the beginning. Getting your Frenchie used to the home and the people in it is crucial before having them encounter the outside world and all the possibilities that holds. The first step to take is to have your friends come over to your house, and if they can, bring their dogs. It helps if their dog is already socialised and comfortable with other dogs – it’s not recommended that two young dogs socialise together if they’re both new to it.
Another way to socialise your pup is to take them on a car ride. This works for two things – socialisation and getting them used to being in the car (essential for later vet visits etc). But don’t be tempted to take your French Bulldog to crowded places. Instead, stick to less busy places, but still somewhere that you’ll encounter a few others. Once they’re used to this, you can start taking them to new and different places. The more varied environments they visit, the better they’ll be at socialising later on. Remember not to overwhelm your pup by taking them to too many places or having them meet too many people. It’s a slow process – but definitely worth it.
Make sure to always reward your French Bulldog for a successful interaction or encounter with other people and especially dogs. This acts as a reinforcement and will encourage them to repeat their actions in the future. Pay close attention to their body language and make sure to follow any cues they are giving you. Yawning could be a sign that they need a break, or having trouble paying attention to one thing could mean they are tired. The goal of socialisation is to get your Frenchie to have fun – and if they’re not having any they won’t learn as well.
How to Stop Your French Bulldog from Chewing/Biting?
The same as babies, puppies like to explore the world around them through their mouth. Remember that they don’t have hands to pick up things, so they have no choice but to learn about things through their mouth. Add to this to the fact that puppies also teethe in the same way as babies and chewing and biting can also relieve some of this discomfort as well as being a way for them to explore.
But just because it is normal behaviour doesn’t mean it’s not annoying behaviour. Especially if your French Bulldog puppy has taken a liking to your shoes, for example. You don’t want to keep buying new shoes and hiding them can become a real pain. Fortunately, French Bulldogs aren’t big biters, and the majority of Frenchie owners won’t have to worry about this as a serious problem. But it can still happen, and it’s important to know how to put a stop to it before it causes an issue and your puppy bites something they definitely should not (a small child, for example).
If you’re trying to stop this behaviour before it becomes a problem, they are some things you can try. When playing together, puppies will bite and chew each other as part of the general rough and tumble puppy siblings love. If your Frenchie pup gets too excited during play and starts nipping, your best course of action is to squeal like a puppy yourself. This is known as bite inhibition as it will make your puppy believe that that have hurt you and will likely become submissive. During play with other pups, they will squeal to let the other pup know they have been hurt, or the play is getting too rough.
It’s hard at this point because it can be tempting to let your puppy know that they haven’t done anything really wrong. But the urge to comfort them will only hinder your progress. As you will have learnt from other training, French Bulldog puppies respond best to positive reinforcement. If they nip at you and you reassure them, they could repeat the behaviour in future – because they know they will get some love and attention afterwards. Try and stay firm and ignore your puppy – after you squeal – and they will soon learn they shouldn’t be biting you.
You can also use a toy instead of your hands when playing with your Frenchie pup. If you notice them moving towards your hands or fingers with the intention of biting, quickly move your hands out of the way and replace it with a chew toy. Over time this will reinforce the idea that humans aren’t for biting, but toys are.
It’s also tempting to let them bite your shoes and feet, as these puppy bites don’t really hurt. And it can be a fun game for everyone involved. But the longer you keep this game up, the longer it will take them to learn not to bite. Use the same technique that you use for hands and fingers and your pup will learn that shoes and feet aren’t to be bitten.
You should teach your French Bulldog puppy to get used to your hands near their mouth, as you will need to do this every now and then. You’ll need to check their teeth, administer medicine and potentially fish things out of their mouth that shouldn’t be there. If they try to bite you every time you put your hands there, it will become tedious very quickly and you may not be able to look after them as well. To do this, you can give them a small treat, place it in their mouth, then take it out. They will try to nip at first, but as long as you take the treat away when they do, they’ll soon learn that biting does not get them what they want.
French Bulldog puppies may also bite over food. Puppies are incredibly protective of their food and will try to defend it – even if no defence is needed. If your puppy is biting when you place their food or try to bite anyone who comes near their food, then you can – and should – put a stop to this. To start with you should place the food bowl in front of your pup and quickly take it away. If you don’t get an aggressive reaction, give them plenty of praise and put the bowl back down in front of them.
If they do growl at you, or try to nip at your hands, give them a firm command (the leave command will work here) and keep a hold on the bowl for a little while longer. Keep practicing this until the biting or aggression stops and they learn that you are in charge of when they get their food. It’s important to let them know who is in charge – and that they can’t bite or exhibit aggressive behaviours to get what they want.
You should always supervise your puppy when around new people, especially young children. Children and puppies are quite similar, and they can often behave in ways that they shouldn’t. Even the most well-trained dog can snap if pushed too far by a child who doesn’t know when they should leave them alone. Children can also be knocked over by excitable puppies, and French Bulldog puppies are known to get very excited.
Frenchies are usually great with kids, and the cases of them showing aggression towards a child are rare. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry and minimise the risk of anything bad happening to either the child or the puppy.
Training A French Bulldog Not to Jump
Frenchies are hugely loving dogs, and they really enjoy showing this love and affection to their family. This can manifest in them jumping up to greet you or jumping to get your attention. While this is cute and adorable at first, it can soon become annoying and potentially even cause issues if they start jumping at small children or people who aren’t steady on their feet. It’s also embarrassing to have your Frenchie jump up at random people whilst out walking. So, while it’s tempting to let this behaviour slide in favour of the sheer cuteness of it, it’s something you do want to teach them not to do.
If you haven’t brought your Frenchie home yet, then it’s best to discourage the jumping from day one. However, it’s okay if you have let them jump up, as it’s a behaviour that is easily sorted. If you’ve noticed your French Bulldog jumping up when you get home, then there are some things to do to stop this. When you enter the home, remain calm and set your things down calmly. If your French Bulldog pup is already excited, ignore them until they calm down. Once they have calmed down you can greet them – gently. Try to remain calm and gentle as being too enthusiastic can lead them to repeating the unwanted behaviour. Remember that Frenchies love attention and will do anything to get it.
Another way to get your Frenchie to stop jumping is to take a step forward – into the jump. When a dog jumps, they balance on their hind legs which is already unnatural for them. If you step forward into the jump, you further put them off balance and they won’t like it. Consistently doing this will cause your dog to associate jumping with the unpleasant sensation of being off balance and they’ll stop doing it. You can also do this while holding their front paws – almost as if you are dancing with them. Again, this throws the pup off balance and they don’t enjoy this at all. They will be forced to sit down or move away in order to regain balance and it will reinforce the idea that jumping leads to an unpleasant sensation.
If these don’t work, there is another really simply method to try. When your French Bulldog puppy jumps up at you, just turn your back on them. Don’t acknowledge them, just turn around and stand facing the other way. They might run around to your front and try and jump again but keep repeating the turning around technique. Your puppy will learn that jumping gets them ignored – and they hate being ignored. They’ll learn that jumping is not the way to get your attention and will stop doing it.
How do you Discipline a French bulldog?
From time to time, French Bulldogs will exhibit behaviour that is unacceptable. No matter how well trained they are, they are still puppies and they still get carried away. So, discipline is important for this, but it should not be placed at a higher priority to training. The best way to get your dog to behave is to take the time to train them properly. But knowing how to discipline them is crucial too. As you will have learnt from other tips in this article, Frenchies do not respond to negative reinforcements. In fact, most dogs only respond to positive reinforcements – and this is something that should be remembered when disciplining them too.
Some tips to remember before starting this:
- Always use positive reinforcement for good behaviour.
- Use a firm voice and strong body language.
- Be consistent within your house. If your pup has more than one person disciplining them in different ways, they will become confused and will be more likely to misbehave.
- Discipline them at the time of the misbehaviour so that they know what they’re being told off for. Puppies don’t have great memories and won’t remember even ten minutes after the fact.
- Never, ever, hit or shout at your dog if you don’t get the results you want. Aggression towards them will only make them aggressive towards you and others in the long run.
Because Frenchies aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed, keeping things consistent and simple is your best route to take. Figure out what behaviours are off limits from day one and stick to it. Don’t praise them for behaviour one day and scold them for the same the next.
If you are going to discipline them for a certain behaviour, do it as soon as they exhibit it. For example, if you’ve gone out and returned to your Frenchie having chewed up a cushion – you shouldn’t punish them then. They won’t remember what they’ve done, and they won’t put two and two together. They’re not like children who can be reasoned with – they won’t understand no matter how much you explain it to them. So, punishing your Frenchie for something after the fact will not help at all. Unless you catch them in the act of doing something naughty, it’s not worth disciplining them.
Dogs pays a lot of attention to our tone of voice and our body language. You need to keep a firm tone and posture when disciplining them. For example, you should have a frown or stern expression on your face and not a smile. But don’t lose your temper and shout or lash out. Dogs are pack animals, and you are the pack leader. In a pack, the alpha dog will be firm with their subordinates without being aggressive. Aggression only leads to aggression and you’ll end up with an even bigger problem on your hands.
Make sure to take breaks when disciplining them. If you’re playing and they nip or bite, make sure to stop the play immediately. This is the last thing they want to happen and so won’t repeat the behaviour that makes this happen. Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your French Bulldog puppy – and with good positive reinforcement, the need for discipline should be low.
When training your Frenchie, make sure to remember that aggression is a definite no, as is physically lashing out. This will only make your Frenchie react unpredictably and is more likely to make them lash out in return. Remember patience, fun and attention and you’ll have your Frenchie pup trained up to a high standard in no time.
