Basic rules and methods of training
Breeders identify 3 main factors that influence the quality of communication with a dog. If you do not adhere to these rules, the dog will never become trained.
How long to train
The main condition for training is to practice a lot. Classes should be done daily to achieve maximum effect. To do this you need to train for about half an hour.
According to breeders, this time is enough. Otherwise, the dog will begin to become overtired and lose physical abilities. In addition, the pet may lose interest in learning and begin to make mistakes. In the future, the French Bulldog will begin to resist following commands.
During the training process, the bulldog needs rest
Reward and Punishment
The French bulldog, like all other dogs, can only be scolded verbally. You should absolutely not hit or intimidate a pet.
Attention! A frightened pet will stop obeying its owner, will be closed off, will rush at people and bite.
Don't forget about encouragement. To do this, it is enough to speak kind words to the bulldog. However, it is necessary to remember the golden mean. If a puppy is rewarded too much, it may mount its owner.
What needs to be prohibited
The owner must prohibit the following:
- Sleep on the owners' bed. The pet must clearly understand where people's territory is.
- Damage clothes and shoes.
- Chew furniture.
- Beg or steal food.
- Relieve yourself in places not designated for this purpose.
- Biting and chasing the owner.
The process of raising a pet
Training requires step-by-step actions. In total you need to go through 5 stages.
The dog must remember the name
The French Bulldog must be called by name at all times. Under no circumstances should you call him by different nicknames. Otherwise, the puppy will never remember its name.
Training a puppy to wear a diaper
A pet raised in a nursery or from a private owner is already accustomed to a diaper. However, in a new room the puppy will feel confused at first, as a result of which he will begin to relieve himself anywhere in the house. Therefore, the baby needs to be made aware of where he can and cannot go to the toilet.
Puppy socialization
Within a few months the puppy will be very sociable. After 8 weeks he begins to develop fears when strangers come into the house. Therefore, the dog must master basic communication skills with people.
French Bulldogs are always open to communication
The owner is the boss of the house
French bulldogs are always fighting for leadership. Therefore, the dog owner should show his dominance. Otherwise the bulldog will not obey.
Transitional age
The difficult period begins a year later, when the dog reaches puberty. At this moment, the French bulldog again stops obeying, snapping and defending leadership. Breeders recommend being patient. Time will pass and the dog will begin to behave normally.
Basic rules of education
A dog is a pack animal whose genes contain a tendency to obey certain rules of behavior in society. The main thing is to convey the rules you have established to your pet in a timely and convincing manner, and raising a French bulldog will not cause any problems.
- Your first priority is to show the puppy his place in the family hierarchy. This is especially true if you come across a puppy prone to dominance. Having incorrectly determined his importance, he may imagine himself to be the leader of the pack, begin to bite and try to subjugate himself to family members, especially small children. From the first day the puppy is in the house, show him that his importance is lower than that of family members and, alas, he is on the last rung of the family hierarchy. This must be done without violence, gently but confidently. The maximum that can be allowed as punishment is a stern voice and a slap on the butt with a folded newspaper. Usually, this is enough for the child to understand that his claims to leadership are groundless.
- Provide your French Bulldog puppy with a resting place away from noise and drafts. Teach him to go there on the command “place”, encouraging him with a treat.
- Feed your pet in one place, adhering to the diet. Remove uneaten food until the next feeding. The exception is water, which must be available to the dog at all times. Stop begging for food between feedings. The dog should receive treats only as a reward for following commands during training.
- From the age of three months, study the information on how to train a French bulldog at home and begin training it. This is necessary not only for good training, but also to ensure the safety of your pet.
Basic command training
First you need to learn the basic commands. They are in every beginner's guide. It doesn’t matter whether the owners have a boy or a girl. Any French Bulldog can become a well-mannered dog.
- "Ugh!"
As soon as the puppy does something bad, you need to say “Ew”. For example, a pet goes to sleep next to its owner.
At such moments, the French Bulldog needs to say this command loudly and clearly. You can also use actions to drive him out of bed.
- "To me"
This command will come in handy for walks. To do this, you need to call your pet to the bowl with the words “Come to me.” Once done, gently give her a treat.
- "Place!"
This team is best remembered at home. The puppy must be placed on his bed and the word “Place” must be said. After this, you will need to gently stroke the dog.
But if she wants to get up, she plans to show severity. The puppy must understand that he has not yet followed the command.
Puppy training
There is no need to train the puppy from the first steps in the house: moving is already stressful for him, and excess pressure will only lead to cowardice or aggression. The key to a harmonious relationship will be care and affection. It is necessary that the dog has one owner - it is he who should devote the most time to the baby.
If contact is established, the puppy will soon begin to worry and whine in the absence of the owner, and when he returns, he will run towards him. But education should begin now: the baby should not be allowed to do things that would be prohibited to an adult dog (biting even in play, snapping, taking the owner’s chair, etc.). Habits are built to last. Between meals, you should not feed him treats, which should only be a reward for obedience.
Name and toilet training
Raising a French Bulldog begins with learning its name. You need to call the puppy by name during every interaction - be it feeding or playing, combining this with the command “Come to me!” At the same time, you can sit down, beckoning him with your hands. As soon as the dog begins to follow the command and come when called, reward him with a piece of tasty food.
As the skill becomes stronger, you need to increasingly replace treats with praise, otherwise their value for the dog will decrease and, paradoxically, it will obey worse.
Similar article: Rules for caring for and keeping a French bulldog at home
At first, after the puppy arrives, it is better to remove the carpets, since you will only be able to teach him to endure before going for a walk after several months (he still has a very weak bladder).
First you need to train your bulldog to use the toilet in a special tray. Place your baby there 10–15 minutes after eating, immediately after sleep or active play. Wait until he does the “deed,” then praise him. If this does not happen, try again in about five minutes. Be patient, as it will take time for your dog to get used to this place. After a while he will start going there himself.
A small puppy should not be punished for puddles: until 4 months old, he has poor control over the process and may simply not make it. At this age, you need to praise more for success than punish for failure. Later, control can be tightened, but still be prepared for the fact that up to 9–10 months the dog may leave puddles and piles in the wrong place.
During the cold season, the puppy cannot be taken outside, but if conditions allow walking, praise him especially actively for relieving himself outside. For some time he will go to the toilet both at home and on the street, but as a result of patient and consistent toilet training, it is on the street that you will achieve what you want.
Basic teams at home
Most basic commands can be taught to a baby French Bulldog at home.
As early as possible, he must master the command “Fu!”, that is, the instant cessation of any action. In this case, training and education are combined: you simultaneously teach the dog a command, and make it clear what not to do. A bulldog should not be beaten as punishment; he will perfectly understand stern intonation or shouting.
Similar article: What nicknames to choose for French bulldogs boys and girls
On the first day, show him a bed with the word “Place!” In the future, if the puppy begins to lie down to rest in another place, carry him in your arms, repeating the command. Actively encourage your baby when he begins to go to the lounger on demand.
Already in the second month, the French bulldog can perform the commands “Stand!”, “Sit!”, “Lie down!”, “Paw!”, “Show your teeth!” (useful when examined by a veterinarian).
The French bulldog is characterized by stubbornness, but it is absolutely forbidden to give in and interrupt the training if the dog does not obey, falls to the ground or tries to escape - get your way every time, otherwise the dog will become uncontrollable. It is better to use contrast: punishment for obvious disobedience and reward for following the command. If the dog simply cannot understand what you want, it is better not to punish it, otherwise it will become completely confused. Just persistently continue to achieve the desired action.
You need to end each workout with at least one success, but you shouldn’t force things by trying to get results too quickly. Do not start training a new command until the dog has mastered the previous one (except for “Come!” and “Fu!”, training for which should begin immediately).
The French bulldog should get used to the leash while still in the apartment (you can start using it at 3–4 months).
Common Mistakes
Improper training provokes your pet to disobey
Training a French bulldog is similar to raising children. If the owner praises the puppy without a good reason, he will stop obeying. At the same time, you should not be afraid to punish the dog. He must understand and realize his mistakes.
An equally important mistake is to be too strict with your dog. Many owners forget that this is a four-legged friend. They begin to train the puppy a lot, as a result of which the relationship can noticeably deteriorate.
So, now everyone knows how to raise a French bulldog. The training process will be long, but very interesting. Therefore, the owner will have to be patient.
Are French Bulldogs trainable?
There is no breed of dog that cannot be trained. Training a French Bulldog is an obligatory stage in a dog’s life. And even if at first the training turns into a series of failures, when the puppy refuses to follow commands, you should not despair.
From the first day a dog appears in the house, it should not be given any concessions, despite the touching expressions on its face that evoke pity and a smile at the same time.
The character of the French Bulldog is not simple. You need to “reach out” to this dog and find a common language. Then the pet will become loyal, flexible and very sociable.
