Train Your French Bulldog to Listen Effectively

Teaching a French Bulldog to listen to you, can sometimes feel challenging. French Bulldogs are known for their charming personalities and unique character, but they can also be a bit head strong and this can often be mistaken for stubbornness! Training them to listen effectively requires understanding of their motivations, being patient, and applying positive reinforcement training.

If your dog simply doesn’t listen, you’re in the right place. I’m a dog trainer and behaviorist with 15 years of experience, and I’m also a Frenchie Mom! 

In this article I’ll get into understanding your Frenchie and what motivates them, how to get more of the behavior you want from them, and basic cues to teach them to make day to day life, easier. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you train your Frenchie to be an attentive and obedient companion.

Understanding Your French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are a popular dog breed due to their intelligence, sociability and need for human attention and interaction. They have their own distinct personalities, and the key to successful training lies in discovering what truly motivates them. Some Frenchies may be food-motivated, while others respond better to praise or playtime. 

Whether your French Bulldog is more motivated by toys, treats or even a fun game of chase, we need to understand this motivation and use it to our advantage during the training process. So take some time out to find what your Frenchies favorite things are to be rewarded with. 

Frenchie do what they get rewarded for

Teaching your Frenchie to listen to you, is going to boil down to simple learning theory ‘you get what you reward’ so start off by rewarding your French Bulldog for good behavior. Yep, reward your Frenchie for doing all the wonderful things they do, whether you have a Frenchie puppy or a senior dog, this style of training works for all. 

There is actually a system behind how to do this in a methodical way, Let’s look at the SMART 50 way of training your Frenchie. 

What is the SMART 50 Training Game?

The acronym SMART stands for See, Mark, And Reward Training. The SMART 50 training game is a way of teaching dogs that even simple tricks get treats. When you start training the SMART 50 way you proactively reward any desired behaviors from your Frenchie for making any good choice they make, that might be sitting, it might be waiting at doors, or might be coming when called in the house. 

This approach encourages you to refine your training techniques, observe your Bulldog closely and reward them for positive behaviors they exhibit throughout the day.

Key Components of SMART x50

• See: Actively observe your dog’s behavior to identify moments you want to reinforce.
• Mark: Use a clear marker, such as a clicker or a verbal cue like “yes,” to indicate the exact moment your dog performs the desired behavior.
• Reward: Provide a treat or another form of positive reinforcement immediately after marking the behavior.

The “x50” indicates that the trainer should aim to mark and reward behaviors at least 50 times per day. This frequency helps create a strong association between the behavior and the positive outcome, encouraging dogs to repeat those behaviors in the future, it also means your Frenchie will naturally start to listen to you more, because you build a strong relationship and reinforcement history.

Another way to teach your Frenchie to listen to you is to go back to basics with your training, this is particularly useful for Frenchie puppies who need reminding of what they’ve already learned.

Start with Basic Cues

Begin your training sessions with essential cues or commands like “Sit,” “Stay,” “Come,” and “Down”. These foundational cues can be easily reinforced and serve as building blocks for more advanced training.

Does your Frenchie know these cues already, no? Ok, here’s a few basics.

Teaching the “Sit” Cue

Hold a treat close to your Frenchie’s nose and slowly move your hand up towards your tummy, this will make them look up and cause their bottom to go down on the floor. Once they’re sitting, say “good,” or mark it with a clicker, then give them the treat. Now repeat! 

Mastering the “Come” Cue

In a cheerful tone, say “Come” while walking a few steps backwards. When they come to you, immediately reward them with their preferred reward, whether it’s a treat, praise, or a quick play session. This cue is crucial for your French Bulldog’s safety and should be practiced frequently in various environments. If your Frenchie isn’t listening to you, chances are they aren’t coming when you call them, right? 

The Importance of Early Training

Training should start as soon as you bring your Frenchie puppy home, whether it’s potty training, leash training, crate training or even teaching your puppy to be alone, all of those things will help build your relationship which in turn help your dog to listen to you.

You can start training your French Bulldog as early as 8 weeks old, in fact, breeders start training pups before they leave them. This makes the training process when they come to you much easier as they have already started training early.

Effective Listening Techniques

To enhance your French Bulldog’s listening skills, you can also consider the following training techniques:

1. Keep Training Sessions Short: French Bulldogs have short attention spans. Aim for 5-10 minute training sessions to maintain their focus and enthusiasm.
2. Use Positive Reinforcement: Always reward good behavior with your Frenchie’s favorite type. This encourages them to repeat desired behavior.
3. Be Consistent: Use the same commands and rewards consistently. This helps your French Bulldog understand what’s expected of them.
4. Keep your Frenchie Engaged: It’s tempting to let your Frenchie have complete freedom on walks, but ignoring them will make your life hard in the long term. Keep them interested with play and training, treats or toys out on walks. 
5. Practice in Different Environments: Gradually introduce distractions during training to help your Frenchie listen to you in various situations.
6. Incorporate Training into Daily Life: Use everyday situations as training opportunities. For example, ask your dog to “sit” before meals or “stay” while opening doors.

Advanced Listening Skills

Once your French Bulldog has mastered the basic commands and cues, and is beginning to become more engaged, you can move on to more advanced training:

Hand Targeting

Teach your Frenchie to touch your hand with their nose on cue. This can be useful for redirecting their attention and improving recall, they also tend to really love this too.

Impulse Control

Help your French Bulldog develop good self-control. Start by having them sit and wait for a treat, gradually increasing the waiting time, or teach them self-control around their food bowl.

Overcoming Challenges

Every French Bulldog is unique, so it’s important to remain patient and persistent. If your dog isn’t responding to a cue, or seems really distracted, then take a break and try again later with a different approach or a better reward. Remember, consistency is key you just have to find the right motivation, especially French Bulldogs.

Training your French Bulldog to listen effectively is a rewarding process that strengthens your bond and ensures a well-behaved dog. By using positive reinforcement, keeping training sessions short and fun, and being consistent with your commands, you’ll help your Frenchie become an attentive and obedient friend. Remember, every dog learns at their own pace, so be patient and enjoy the journey of training your French Bulldog.