Training a French Bulldog has been an exciting adventure for me. These little dogs are full of personality, and while their charm can melt your heart, their stubborn streak can sometimes present training challenges.
Over the course of my journey, I’ve come to appreciate how intelligent and independent these dogs are, which means training requires a bit more patience, creativity, and consistency. In this article, I’m sharing my personal tips on how to train a French Bulldog, focusing on the essential commands and strategies to overcome common behavior challenges like stubbornness and selective hearing.
Understanding French Bulldog Behavior
One of the first things I learned was that French Bulldogs, despite their intelligence, often exhibit stubborn tendencies. While this makes them great companions, it can also make them a bit resistant to training. Their tendency to “turn off” their hearing when they don’t feel like listening—often referred to as “selective hearing”—can be frustrating. But with the right techniques, you can teach them to pay attention and follow commands.
1. Starting with the Basics
The foundation of training any dog is mastering the basic commands. With French Bulldogs, I found that patience and consistency were vital when introducing these commands. Here are the ones I focused on first:
- Sit: This is usually the first command I teach any dog. With my French Bulldog, I used a treat to guide his nose upward, which naturally caused him to sit down. Once he sat, I rewarded him with a treat and verbal praise.
- Stay: After getting him to sit, I started teaching “stay.” This one was more challenging, but by taking baby steps and rewarding him each time he stayed in place for a longer duration, I was able to build his understanding.
- Come: French Bulldogs have a mind of their own, and the “come” command was a big hurdle. I started practicing indoors in a distraction-free space, calling him to me while holding a treat as motivation. Once he came, I rewarded him with a treat and lots of praise.
Pro Tip: Keep training sessions short and positive. I found that five-minute sessions a few times a day worked best, especially for keeping his attention focused.
2. Tackling Stubbornness with Patience
One of the most defining traits of French Bulldogs is their independent nature, which can sometimes come across as stubbornness. In my experience, the key to dealing with this was staying patient and understanding that every dog learns at their own pace. French Bulldogs don’t respond well to harsh punishment, so I avoided scolding or negative reinforcement.
Instead, I used positive reinforcement. Every time my French Bulldog obeyed a command, I made sure to reward him with praise or a treat. If he didn’t listen, I calmly repeated the command in a soft voice, sometimes offering an extra treat to get his attention. Over time, he began to associate listening with receiving rewards.
Pro Tip: Patience is your best friend. If your dog doesn’t respond immediately, don’t get frustrated. Instead, gently redirect them and try again. Training takes time.
3. Overcoming Selective Hearing
One of the more challenging aspects of French Bulldog training is their “selective hearing”—especially when they’re distracted or just don’t feel like listening. When this happens, I’ve found that using high-value treats, like tiny bits of cooked chicken or cheese, makes a big difference. These treats are more tempting than regular kibble and help to get their attention.
In addition to treats, I started using an enthusiastic, upbeat tone whenever I called my French Bulldog. Dogs like him tend to respond better when there’s excitement in my voice. I also found that using body language, like crouching down to his level or clapping, helped him focus when I needed him to listen.
Pro Tip: If your French Bulldog is ignoring you, try using a high-value treat and an excited tone to refocus their attention. The more engaging you are, the more likely they are to tune in.
4. Leash Training: A Gentle Approach
Leash training was another important area in my French Bulldog’s development. Like many French Bulldogs, mine was prone to pulling on the leash when excited or distracted. To help correct this, I used a harness instead of a collar to prevent strain on his neck and give me more control.
- Get Comfortable with the Harness: Before heading out for walks, I made sure my French Bulldog was used to wearing his harness. At first, I let him wear it indoors for short periods, rewarding him for staying calm.
- Loose Leash Walking: Once he was comfortable with the harness, I focused on loose leash walking. I used treats to encourage him to walk by my side, rewarding him each time he walked calmly. If he started to pull, I’d stop walking and wait for him to come back to my side before continuing.
Pro Tip: Patience and consistency are key to leash training. If your French Bulldog pulls, stop walking and wait for them to return to your side. This teaches them that pulling doesn’t lead to progress.
5. Socialization for Confidence
French Bulldogs are typically social and friendly, but like all dogs, they can be wary of new people or situations. Socialization is a crucial part of training that helps them develop into well-adjusted adults.
I made it a priority to expose my French Bulldog to new people, dogs, and environments in a controlled and positive way. I started with short encounters and always rewarded calm behavior. Over time, he became more comfortable with new experiences and interactions.
Pro Tip: Start socializing your French Bulldog early and at a pace that works for them. Gradual exposure to new people, dogs, and environments helps reduce fear or anxiety.
Conclusion: Building a Strong Relationship
Training a French Bulldog is a journey filled with highs and lows, but it’s incredibly rewarding. The key is to be patient, consistent, and understanding of their unique personalities. By focusing on basic commands, addressing stubbornness with positive reinforcement, and being persistent with challenges like selective hearing, you can build a strong, trusting bond with your dog.
Through this process, I’ve learned that French Bulldogs are not only incredibly loving and loyal companions but also intelligent and capable learners. With the right approach, they can thrive in training and become well-behaved members of the family.
Training might take time, but trust me—it’s worth every minute! If you have any other question or want to discuss more you can drop a message in comments or can email me.
