Training Your French Bulldog
Help & Advice for Training French Bulldogs
Whichever breed of dog you get, some sort of training is going to be essential. When it comes to training French Bulldogs specifically, this can be a bit of a challenge as they’re known for being somewhat stubborn. However, it’s still an important process if you want a well-behaved dog – and it can be a lot of fun too!
The level of training that you give your dog – and how easy it is – will depend on a number of factors, including how old they are and their own personalities. Generally speaking though, by learning how to work with the French Bulldog’s traits and characteristics you can find the best training methods for the breed. Read on to find out all about training these characterful dogs.
Firstly, are French Bulldogs easy to train?
As mentioned, training French Bulldogs can be a bit of a challenge due to their famous stubborn streak. They’re also an intelligent breed, which means they can become bored easily and could lose interest in your training plans. However, this intelligence is also a good thing when it comes to training as they pick things up quickly.
Also, French Bulldogs love people and so their eagerness to please can make them well-suited to training. As with many breeds, the key is to keep it fun. So while training a French Bulldog might not be the easiest task to begin with, once you begin training the right way you should find the dog responds well.
What training is essential for French Bulldogs?
All owners will have their own ideas about how trained they would like their dogs to be. Some want dogs who can walk perfectly to heel, can fetch the paper and perform a plethora of tricks. For others, basic behavioural training will suffice.
Generally, there are several pieces of basic training we would recommend for all dog breeds. These include:
- Toilet training – if your dog is living inside with you, then toilet training as early as possible is recommended. French Bulldogs have small bladders, and will need to go fairly frequently – therefore getting this training in as early as possible is recommended
- Recall – even if you don’t plan to walk your dog off lead, you never know when they may break loose and need to be called back
- Basic good behaviour – even for small breeds such as French Bulldogs, it’s important that they learn not to pull on the lead, jump at people or bark excessively
- Social skills – French Bulldogs in particular can be somewhat stand-offish from other dogs and people. Completing basic socialisation with them from a young age will help to prevent any future problem behaviour, such as nervousness or aggression with other animals
Tips for Training a French Bulldog
As mentioned, French Bulldogs are an intelligent but stubborn breed. This means training may need to be approached in a different way to other breeds, who may be more eager to learn. Some tips for training include:
Keep Sessions Short – French Bulldogs’ intelligence means they can get bored easily, so they’re unlikely to pay attention during long, repetitive training sessions. Instead, try to keep training short and sweet, with sessions of 5 minutes maximum.
Use Positive Reinforcement Only – this breed loves having fun with its owner, so keep sessions fun and use lots of treats to reward good behaviour and keep your Frenchie interested. If your dog misbehaves then don’t tell them off – instead, distract them.
Train on a Lead – this will stop your dog becoming bored and stubbornly walking off on you!
Remove Distractions – try to complete your training somewhere quiet and without too many distractions. This could mean an early morning visit to the park, or locking other dogs out of the room or garden if you’re training at home.
For more information on training, or if your French Bulldog has specific behavioural problems, we recommend reaching out to your vet or a local dog trainer.