TRAIN YOUR FRENCHIE

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In order to ensure success and to go about effectively teaching your Frenchie basic dog commands, it helps you follow the following rules.

• Short Sessions: The training sessions must be short. It is better to have six five-minute sessions per day than one half-hour session. This is to ensure that they’re able to stay focused and successful. This is especially important for puppies.
• Pleasant Moods Only: We all learn (and teach) better when everyone is happy, right? It is highly likely that your session will be more productive if you go into it in a pleasant mood. Not having a good day? No worries, try again tomorrow.
• No Distractions: First, remove all objects that may distract your dog. Be clear and accurate in what you wish to teach him and choose a calm environment..

Teaching your French Bulldog to come to you when you ask (calling) is probably one of the most important basic dog commands for him to know and follow. Calling your dog to you when he is running on could save your sweet baby’s life. You definitely want your Frenchie to know this command.

“Come!” is also good for having your dog come back when playing with friends. Doggy playdates are important and can also be taught through training, read on that here

During this training exercise, you will need to be accompanied by a friend or family member.

1. Start by asking the person accompanying you to stand and hold your Frenchie on a leash.
2. You will sit a short distance opposite from your Frenchie and enthusiastically call him to you by calling his name, followed by a “come!”
3. As the person walks your pup on the leash towards you, open your arms very wide as if you want to give him a big hug. You want your pup to see you full of joy when they come to you.
4. Of course, have a treat ready to give to your accomplished pup.

Many small dogs can be difficult to potty train and the French bulldog is no exception. Frenchies are smart dogs who form habits very quickly. So potty training should begin the minute you bring your new dog home.

Frenchies have a small bladder, so they need to relieve themselves more frequently than other breeds. So as an owner, you need to be very attentive and aware of when your dog needs to go potty. Allowing accidents to happen will only extend the time it takes to complete your dog’s training.

It is best to buy a crate for your puppy and to put him in it when you can’t be there to supervise him. Like other breeds, Frenchie's like to have a safe confined space to retreat to. Put some treats inside the crate and let your puppy go in and explore it on his own before closing him inside. Don’t leave immediately – spend a little time sitting with your dog while he is inside the crate. If your puppy whines or cries, ignore it. Your Frenchie will instinctively avoid peeing in his sleeping area while in the crate. After taking your French bulldog out of his crate immediately put on his leash and say “Let’s go potty! Take him outside and reward him with positive praise for doing his business. Soon your puppy will develop a system of cues to tell you when he needs to go potty, like standing up in his crate or whimpering. When your puppy is out of the crate and needs to go potty, he may learn to stand by the door and whimper.

• Anytime your Frenchie does anything you want to see repeated, praise and rewards are key to see wanted behaviors. This goes for your training session, too. The session should definitely be accompanied by a reward: a treat, a toy, cuddles, etc. and verbal praise is great, as well.
• Positivity: Make sure to always end the training session with positivity. Have your dog do an exercise that he can easily perform. This way you always end the session on a positive and victorious note.

 This command tells your Frenchie to lie down flat. Don’t confuse your dog by telling him to “lie down” when he needs to get off the couch! In this case, you choose “down”. Teaching “lie down” is easier after your dog knows how to sit, as they can typically do this better once sitting.

1. Have a treat in hand so that your pup can see it.
2. Again, it’s best to teach this if your dog has learned “sit.” Have your dog sit.
3. With a treat in hand, put your hand on the floor about a foot in front of your pup (enough room for them to lie).
4. When your pup lies down, give the treat and lots of praise.

Continue the exercise a few times. When your Frenchie understands that your hand on the floor means that he must lie down, give the verbal command “lie down” every time he performs this action so that he understands the word and the action correlates.

Sit is usually the first and foremost command pet owners teach their pups.

1. Take a treat and show it to your dog.
2. The dog is interested and he will follow you with his head to try and get hold of it.
3. Hold the treat above your dog’s head so that he has to look up.
4. Hold it behind his snout so that he has to put his head back to get it.
5. To grab the treat, your Frenchie will put his abdomen on the floor.
6. The moment he is in a sitting position, give him the treat and verbally praise. 

 Repeat these steps a few times. After a few attempts, your dog will understand how he can earn his treat and he will respond by moving faster and faster.