Training Your French Bulldog Step-by-Step Guide

In the first year of a puppy’s life, it is extremely important to consistently go through all stages of education, socialization and training. We will tell you how to do it correctly.

Peculiarities of education and training of the French Bulldog

French Bulldog– one of the most charming dog breeds. These incredibly intelligent pets easily adapt to family life and are capable of learning from a young age. Representatives of this breed have a high level of intelligence, which makes them ideal companions. However, to raise a dog with good manners and a strong psyche, it is extremely important to start education and training on time.

The first year of a French Bulldog puppy’s life is the most important in terms of training and socialization. It is during this period that all the basic behavioral skills and habits are established, which will determine the character of your dog in the future. Raising a puppy requires attention, patience and consistency, and the earlier you start, the easier it will be for you in the future.

At what age should training begin?

Training a French Bulldog puppy begins from the first day it appears in your family. This does not mean that you need to start training right away – we are talking about education, which includes establishing rules of behavior in your home. The puppy needs to learn: what is allowed and what is not; how to behave with all family members, even the smallest or the oldest; what can be played with and what cannot; where to go to the toilet and much more. These basic points lay the foundation for future training. It is important not to miss this period, since puppies absorb information best at an early age.

You can start learning commands in a light, playful way when the puppy has fully settled into your home. As a rule, one week is enough. By this time, the puppy is already filled with curiosity and diligently explores the world around him. If after this time the puppy remains fearful and does not make contact well, then it is better to seek help from a dog trainer-zoopsychologist, since such behavior is not typical for puppies of this breed.

When can you start training with a dog trainer?

The first lessons with a dog trainer can begin immediately after the puppy has completed quarantine after vaccinations and begins to go for walks. This is the optimal age to begin professional and household training, since the puppy has already adapted to the home and begun to master the basic rules. The first lessons are best conducted in a calm home environment to avoid distractions, and then you can move on to outdoor training.

Early training with a dog trainer helps avoid mistakes in training and gives you the opportunity to train your puppy professionally. In addition, a specialist can help you understand how best to work with a specific dog, based on its individual characteristics. It is important that training takes place in a positive and motivating environment, without the use of punishments that can damage the puppy’s psyche.

If the quarantine is not going to end soon, and a huge number of questions have already accumulated, you can consult with a dog handler – zoopsychologist remotely via video link and quickly get help from a professional on the issues you are interested in. Every year, this format of classes is gaining more and more popularity.

Myths about training: why you shouldn’t wait until 6 months

Many puppy owners believe that it is better to start training only after the puppy is 6 months old, fearing to harm the dog’s psyche. This is a myth that remained from old, too harsh training methods. Modern approaches to training, based on positive reinforcement and gradual introduction of commands, show that training can and should be started from the first days.

Don’t wait until unwanted behavior becomes ingrained. The sooner you begin working with your French Bulldog puppy, the easier it will be to correct behavior and develop good habits. It’s important to remember that puppies under 6 months of age are actively absorbing information, and this period is key for their socialization and the formation of behavioral norms.

Training a 2 Month Old Puppy: Basics of House Training

At two months old, your French Bulldog puppy is still in quarantine at home after vaccinations, and this is a great time to begin training in a calm and safe environment.

Toilet training

The first step is to train the puppy to go to the toilet on a diaper . You should not rush to teach it to go to the toilet right outside, skipping this stage, because the puppies are not yet physiologically ready for two-time walks. This ability in French bulldog puppies is developed no earlier than 6 months, and for some, the need for more frequent walks can persist up to 1.5 years.

It should be remembered that any training is a rather complicated thing and, seeing the first positive results, you should not think that your puppy has already understood everything, but you should continue training according to the method, so that after some time you do not have to start all over again.

Getting used to a collar, harness and leash

The second important point will be to accustom the puppy to the collar (or harness) and leash . Yes, yes, this should be done at home, so that by the time the puppy goes outside for the first time, wearing the collar is not an additional stress for him, but is already a habitual thing, and he can start exploring the world around him, and not try to get rid of an incomprehensible object.

House Rules: What to Allow Your Puppy and What Not to Do

The third point that causes the greatest difficulties for new owners will be teaching the French bulldog puppy the rules of behavior in the house and the daily routine. During this period, it is necessary to teach the puppy the following basic principles:

• You can only play with your own safe toys, not with your things or clothes.
• There is no need to bite your hands and feet even in the game, there are suitable toys for this
  Establish a proper daily routine so that everyone can get enough sleep at night, and daytime is more suitable for playing games and having fun together.
• Wean off gnawing dangerous objects: furniture, clothes, walls, baseboards, etc.
• Teach your puppy to stay home alone, knowing that you will definitely return
  Some new dog owners think that the undesirable behavior of a French bulldog puppy “will go away on its own when it grows out of it.” But, unfortunately, the behavior that is allowed to a puppy from childhood will later be perceived by an adult dog as a self-evident variant of the norm.

Getting to know the teams

You should already now begin familiarizing yourself with the basic obedience commands in a light, playful manner. At the same time, focus on rewarding for performance, because the puppy’s psyche is still quite flexible and excessive demands can frighten the puppy and undermine its trust in you. Therefore, first of all, you need to try to interest the puppy by offering it a toy or a treat, and sometimes just praise and shared fun.

Socialization and training at 3 months

At three months, a French bulldog puppy is ready for its first walks. During this period, it is important to gradually introduce it to the outside world, including people, other dogs, and various sounds. Socialization at this age plays a key role in shaping the dog’s character and preventing fears or aggression. Start with short walks and gradually increase their duration.

Correct formation of the nervous system

At this age, the nervous system of French bulldog puppies is actively developing . It has been proven that raising puppies in isolation during this important period, later on, contributed to the development of pronounced cowardice. Therefore, it is necessary to show the puppy as much as possible of what it will encounter in its future adult life. This should be done very carefully and gradually, so as not to overload the puppy or frighten it.

The territory of a country house, a summer house or a village are places with a minimum number of external stimuli for a city dog. Therefore, if you plan to keep a dog in an urban environment, “growing up” a French bulldog puppy in such stimuli-poor conditions is unacceptable.

Meeting people and dogs

It is necessary to introduce the puppy to friendly dogs and people , so that later the puppy does not develop aggression or cowardice caused by fear of something new and inability to communicate. Currently, unfortunately, this is a fairly common problem in adult dogs, with which their owners seek help from our specialists.

Puppy behavior on the street

With the start of active walks, there is a need to explain new rules of behavior to the puppy:

• Now you can and should go to the toilet outside, instead of carrying everything home
• Not every new person or dog wants to communicate, so before you run to meet them, you need to get the owner’s permission.
• Not all food is healthy, so you shouldn’t pick it up on the street, no matter how attractive it may seem.

Practicing obedience commands

Training a French bulldog puppy follows the same principles as at 2 months. It should be remembered that at this age, puppies develop conditioned reflexes quite easily, but they are also forgotten just as quickly, so you should not scold the puppy for not following commands, but you should pay more attention to repeating what has already been covered and learning new material.

Training at 4-5 months

Training a French Bulldog puppy requires a lot of patience and consistency from the owner. At the age of 4-5 months, puppies are still easily distracted and may not immediately follow commands. It is important to adhere to a clear structure and systematically continue to reinforce already familiar commands and skills so that the puppy learns them faster. Using positive training methods – rewards, praise – helps the puppy understand what is expected of him and makes the learning process more enjoyable.

Patience is also necessary when your puppy makes mistakes or doesn’t remember commands right away. Mistakes are a normal part of the learning process, and it’s important to stay calm rather than get annoyed. Consistent actions build trust between you and your puppy, which will lead to more effective training and a stronger relationship.

Physical activity

Physical activity for a 4-5 month old French Bulldog puppy is extremely important for developing his strength and coordination. Walking, running, playing outdoors help strengthen muscles and develop motor skills. However, the exercises should not be too intense so as not to overload the puppy, as his joints and bones are still developing. Activities such as chasing a ball or playing tug-of-war will help keep the puppy in good shape.

Necessary commands in 4 months

What commands are trained in a French Bulldog puppy at 4 months:

• Calm movement next to the owner with and without a leash, with a sitting position when stopping, with a change of pace and direction of movement
• Returning to you on command
• Holding in a free or specific position (sitting, lying, standing)
• Indifference to treats scattered on the ground
• A prohibiting command to stop unwanted actions
• Performing a set of commands “sit”, “lie down”, “stand” at a distance and near the leg, when giving commands by voice and gestures

Training from 6 months

At this age, your puppy is beginning to reach puberty and may be showing more independence. Your puppy will be testing boundaries again, sometimes ignoring your commands to see how you will respond. It is important to remain calm and consistent in your actions so that your puppy does not become confused and continues to understand that following commands is still mandatory.

At this stage of the French Bulldog puppy’s growth, all the shortcomings made in the previous stages, which were smoothed out by his young age, become clearly visible in training. And if they have appeared, it’s time to correct them. Regular training will help him confidently follow commands. It also helps him adapt to different situations and develops self-confidence.

This will prepare your puppy for new challenges, and the physical and mental stimulation will help him stay active and healthy. Your work during the puppy’s first year of life will lay the foundation for many happy years together.

Typical mistakes owners make when raising a puppy

One of the most common mistakes is inconsistency in requirements. If you allow your puppy to do something one time and then forbid it another time, it will confuse the dog and slow down the learning process. Consistency is the key to successful training.

The second common mistake is emotional reactions that may be incomprehensible to the puppy. The owner plays a key role in the process of raising and training the puppy. Your behavior and emotional state directly affect the dog. It is important to remain calm and consistent, even if the puppy does not immediately follow commands. Your task is to become a reliable mentor for the dog, to whom it will listen and trust.

The owner’s emotional stability is one of the key factors for successful training. If you are nervous or irritated, the puppy can sense this and react to your emotions. Therefore, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and be patient during the training process.

Another mistake is being too strict. Dogs, especially at an early age, are very sensitive to punishment. Constant shouting and physical punishment can cause the puppy to become fearful or aggressive. Use positive reinforcement techniques to shape the correct behavior in the dog.

French Bulldog puppy training at the Caesar center

When you seek help in training a French Bulldog puppy at our canine center, you can be sure that a canine psychologist with experience working with this breed will come to you and conduct training at the proper level.

• A dog handler will come to your home at a time convenient for you.
• Classes are held 1-2 times a week , depending on the program.
• Instructors work from 10:00 to 20:00 , including weekends
• The training program is drawn up at the first lesson, taking into account the breed, age, personal characteristics of the dog and your wishes for training.
• Some classes take place at home , some outside , depending on the topic of the class.
• Puppy age from 2 months
  Our Center employs dog handlers – zoopsychologists who have experience working with French bulldog puppies and training adult dogs from 10 to 35 years old, who know all the nuances of their behavior and the peculiarities of training at each stage of the dog’s maturation. Therefore, your pet is guaranteed to learn to follow your commands the first time in any conditions, and will become your faithful and reliable companion.