The French Bulldog: Advice and French Bulldog Training Tips

The French Bulldog is a small breed of domestic canine. They are commonly referred to as Frenchies or in their native home of France, the Bouledogue Francais͛. They are the result of crossbreeding that took place in the 1800s. The well-known British Bulldog was imported into France, and crossbred with the local Ratters of Paris. Did you know? In 2015, the French Bulldog was found to be the third most common registered dog for dog owners of the United Kingdom! So, they are obviously a really popular choice for their adorable looks and temperament! But, like all dogs, French Bulldog training is vital for living in harmony with your dog. So, if you love this cute breed, have one, or are considering adding one to the family, keep on reading to find out more about them and our top tips!

French Bulldogs are extremely active dogs. They are heavy-boned and muscular with a medium or small structure, so they can be described as compactly built. Like many other companion dog breeds, they require close contact with humans. They are known as being patient and affectionate dogs, and they can easily live in harmony with other breeds when the proper introductions are done.

Due to their body construction, most French Bulldogs are artificially inseminated and delivered by caesarean section. This then makes the breeding process more complicated and more expensive. Also, they can on occasion develop breathing problems or structural faults. This is only due to their genetic make-up. So, these are all things to bear in mind if you are considering getting one as a pet.

This article will cover all of the positives of becoming an owner or being an owner of a French Bulldog. This breed notorious for its cute squished together face. In fact, their cute faces are one of the main reasons for them being so popular in the UK. Their look is less intimidating for young children, as opposed to a larger breed such as a Doberman or German Shepherd. This means that they are more likely to be a pet that can be enjoyed by the whole of the family, instead of just the older children and adults.

These dogs are known to be a very quiet breed of dog. They really don’t tend to bark at all, even when they are around other dogs. In fact, they are very calm around other dogs. They only get really excited and have to tendency to bark when around visitors. This breed are absolute clowns, and have some of the funniest facial expression across all breeds of dogs! They are always making their owners laugh, even at the worst of times. As well as their funny faces they are known to do funny things throughout their 8-10 year lives, from chasing their own tails to falling over their own feet.

A French Bulldog also loves to have downtime, which makes them perfect partners to relax with after a long stressful day at work or school. Some people love excitable dogs but, a lot don’t, and find that they don’t fit in so well with their lives. If this is you, then the French Bulldog could be a good breed for you! They love to play with toys and games, yet don’t need that much exercise. So, this is perfect for an owner that wants a dog to play around with yet doesn’t have the time to carry out a much larger and more energetic dog’s regular exercise regime. But what about French Bulldog training? In the next part of the article, we will cover our tips for their training and general care that you should be aware of if you want to own one!

Top French Bulldog Tips

Regular health checks are essential

They require special attention regarding their health conditions. Unfortunately this breed is prone to a number of health conditions. These include hip dysplasia, allergies, Hemivertebrae, Patellar Luxation, and more. So, it’s vital that they are taken to the vet regularly for a health check-up. And, ensure that you are keeping an eye on them so that you can be on the watch for any possibly developing health problems.

Small space? No problem!

They are suitable for small environments and don’t require much space for accommodation. So, even if you live in an apartment, you can still happily have this breed! Just make sure that they do get to spend some time outdoors and on walks if they don’t have regular access to a garden. Also, keep an eye on their weight, but a couple of short walks each day should be enough to keep them trim.

The perfect family pet

They can live in harmony with children (especially female French Bulldogs). At the same time, they can easily live with other dogs no matter what’s the breed of the other dog(s). So, they’re really easy-going and make the perfect addition to your family if you already have other dogs.

French Bulldog training: what to consider

Bulldogs may be small, but they are definitely intelligent! This makes them really adaptable to training. They will love their training as long as you make it fun, as this breed adores playing games. They will happily learn all the training basics and some tricks. However, due to their size, they cannot cover intense canine sports like larger breeds can. So, if you’re looking for the perfect friend for canine agility and the like, the French Bulldog is probably not for you.

Thinking about breeding?

Breeding these dogs is a difficult and expensive process. So, they can be expensive to buy in the first place. It’s important to be prepared for this if you are considering buying one! An alternative is to find a rescue dog, however these can be quite hard to find because they are such a popular breed.

They adore attention

The French Bulldog is a really loving breed. They will become attached to their owners and really enjoy the attention that they are given. As a result, they don’t really enjoy being left alone for long periods of time. These dogs tend to enjoy the company of most people, including children, and will give back all the love they receive! They truly are one of the best companion pets out there, if that’s what you’re looking for from your furry friend.

Socialisation

Having said this, the breed can also sometimes get territorial and aggressive. So, socialisation needs to be a large part of your French Bulldog training from a young age. This involves exposing them to all sorts of sights, sounds and smells, people, other dogs, and anything else they may encounter on a day-to-day basis.

Be aware of Brachycephaly Syndrome

Finally, French Bulldogs are unfortunately in the category of dogs that can suffer from Brachycephaly Syndrome. It happens when their airways are obstructed and can lead to issues such as noisy and laboured breathing or the collapse of the airway completely. There are treatments available, but it is important to be aware of your dog’s breathing to keep an eye out for the signs, which can include snorts and sniffles.

What can good French Bulldog training look like?

Here at Royvon, we are passionate about training all kinds of dogs, including French Bulldogs! We’ve had many French Bulldogs through our doors over our 60 plus years in business. They have struggled with a range of issues. For example, they are commonly quite aggressive. However, we use our positive training methods to help them overcome their issues and create more harmony in their homes! Want to see what our training can help them do? Check out these videos! We also have plenty more videos on our YouTube channel about all sorts of breeds and dog training tips, so make sure to pay a visit there too!

Meet Louie!

Louie the French Bulldog came to us because he definitely struggled to control his excitement, causing a few problems for his owners! He had a few obedience issues when he came to Royvon, but our trainer Anna worked with him and quickly taught him that maintaining proper focus ensured he would be rewarded. This acts as the bedrock for a dog’s obedience throughout their life, and Louie made great progress in such little time! Great work Anna and Louie!

Meet Baby!

Baby is a French Bulldog puppy who came to Royvon for some puppy training! Baby joined us for some in-home training mainly focusing on her lead walking and toilet training. Her trainer Rhona also worked to improve her basic obedience and life skills as well as socialising her and improving her confidence outside. She made such good progress and quickly learned the basic skills she needed to be a lovely family pet!

If you need a little assistance with your French Bulldog training, or any other breed, Royvon is here to help! With a range of options, from puppy group sessions to residential training, we can help you and your dog overcome issues ranging from mild to severe. Please visit our website today to find out more about what we do, or get in touch to discuss your individual needs!

Want to learn more about different dogs? Read this post about Siberian Huskies next! Or, how about this one on Shiba Inus!