How to train a French bulldog to sit is a critical concern among many owners of Frenchies. Keeping your French bulldog pet seated may not be that easy especially if your pet is still young and are naturally hyperactive. Nonetheless, there are tricks to this process that you may consider.
But before we go into the details, let us first examine why French bulldogs have become famous and how this might affect your decision to have a French bulldog as a pet for yourself.
French Bulldogs are one of the most popular dogs in the world as of today. And why not? They’re cute, obedient, and are small bundles of joy. But if you’re planning on getting yourself a French Bulldog to be your loyal and loving pet, consider a few factors first before you decide.
Things to Consider when Planning to Care for French Bulldog:
One of the factors you should keep in mind when deciding if you want to have a French Bulldog for a pet is their health.
If you decide you want to get one for yourself, your French Bulldog’s health is going to be your responsibility. According to a study conducted by the UK, they found that 1,612 of 2,228 French Bulldogs under their veterinary care have at least one or two health issues.
The UK study also recorded the most common diseases or health issues that French Bulldogs face, on the list are skin problems that made up for 17.9% of the health issues, ear infections that made up for 14%, diarrhea which made up for 7.5%, and conjunctivitis that made up for 3.2% of the health issues.
So in general, French Bulldogs may or may not experience a health issue in their lifetime; however, when they do, as the owner, you are fully responsible for assisting them to recovery.
While we’re on the topic of health, let’s also consider the most dangerous health issue that could threaten the lives of our French Bulldogs.
THE HEALTH INTEGRITY OF FRENCH BULLDOG French Bulldogs is born with a syndrome called “Brachycephalic Airway Obstructive Syndrome”. This syndrome was brought on by the results of the cross-breeding of various dog breeds to make French Bulldogs.
This syndrome makes it significantly harder for French Bulldogs to breathe. This is why it is noticeable that French Bulldogs get tired easily, snore loudly and pant even when they’ve only taken a few steps.
This condition however can be treated by a surgical procedure that would attempt to smoothen the airway of the dog by removing parts of its soft palate.
It is very simple and has shown that it makes breathing for French Bulldogs 60% easier.
- LIFESPAN OF FRENCH BULLDOG
Another factor you should consider is the lifespan of French Bulldogs.
If you’re one of those dog lovers who want to spend their whole lives with their canine companions, be prepared. French Bulldogs, compared to other dogs, have a shorter lifespan.
A survey conducted by the UK put the average lifespan of French Bulldogs at about 8 to 10 years based on 71 dog deaths. The UK Kennel Club however suggests that French Bulldogs have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. The “AKC” or “American Kennel Club” on the other hand. states that the breed has about 11 to 13 years in their lifespan. This doesn’t include the fact that French Bulldogs can get significant health issues that can shorten their lives even further.
- FRENCH BULLDOGS AND TRAVEL OPTIONS
You should also consider that you cannot exactly travel far with French Bulldogs. If you’re the type of person who likes to go on cross country vacations or like to trips to small islands by plane, a French Bulldog isn’t for you.
You see, French Bulldogs aren’t exactly suitable for air travel. A significant amount of French Bulldogs have died in the air mid-flight, this is because of their pre-existing brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome and their snub noses that make it harder for them to breathe while stressed.
The temperature inside of an airplane can be enough to kill a French Bulldog because of its problems regarding temperature regulation. French Bulldogs, unlike other dog breeds, have only a single short coat which if combined with their breathing issues, make it harder for them to regulate their temperature.
This means that a French Bulldog can be very prone to heat strokes and can get cold very easily.
So in general, French Bulldogs have quite the long lists of negative factors to be considered, but once these are considered, you should also think about the positive factors of having a French Bulldog.
French Bulldogs are very smart, affectionate, loyal, trusting, and incredibly cute, and adorable.
When deciding whether or not to get a French Bulldog, don’t just look at the con’s, look at the pros of having one as well. If treated right and taken care of well, your French Bulldog can live a full and satisfying life with you.
Ready to Learn more on How to Train a French Bulldog to Sit?
ONE: UNDERSTAND YOUR DOG BETTER
French bulldogs feed on approval by their owners. Because of their natural desire to be loved, they are often focused on getting you to smile or get a pat at the back or a loving pat in the head. These reactions are considered as “positive reinforcements”.
When training your French bulldog to sit, remember that nothing happens automatically. Instead, you need to be patient enough to wait for your Frenchie to respond to your call and your command. Avoiding shouting and hitting as much as necessary is critical to the success of the training session you engage with your little, loving pet.
Instead, in every command that your Frenchie positively responds to, take now of the marks and take the chance to learn more about your pet. The better you understand your dog, the better you would be able to form a definitive connection with him that will help in easing out the tension of training him to settle and sit down.
TWO: French Bulldogs may be Quite Active One Minute and Completely Exhausted the Next
Like any other dog, especially French Bulldog puppies, have that playful attitude. However, compared to their counterparts, the extensive active attitude of your Frenchie might be lost out of exhaustion in a few minutes.
So when training your Frenchie to sit, be sure to consider this fact and know when to stop – given the level of energy that your Frenchie has at the moment. Give attention to the reactions of your pet French bulldog closely and respond accordingly. Understand that when frustration and exhaustion mix, it is most likely that you will not receive a positive response from them.
THREE: Get Enough Help from Using the Right Equipment
To avoid getting stressed when training your dog to sit down, make sure that you use the right training tools and equipment and set the right mood to help your Frenchie focus on what you are teaching.
The environment where you would train your dog to sit should be quiet and does not have distractions such as sounds, extra toys, or anyone else that might get their attention away from you and the training.
You also need to consider preparing quality treats to keep your pet French bulldog focused and interested in the task at hand.
Other owners of French bulldogs opt to use training tools such as clicker apps. This will help you get the attention of your Frenchie and be focused well on what he is being asked to do.
FOURTH: Persistence and Patience is what You Need to Survive the Training Period
As noted earlier, you must use positive reinforcement with your dog when you start training him to sit. To do this, you ought to calm down.
Set the schedule of your training and stick to it. Do not be late nor extend the time even when you feel that your dog is responding positively towards you.
Consistency is what will make it easier for your dog to respond effectively to you especially because they would learn to become more dedicated to the time and approach that you are using every training session.
Now, what do you do when you get too frustrated in the middle of the training session? Instead of pushing through, take time to pause a little. It helps to understand that when you get frustrated, this also affects the feeling and responsive attitude of your little dog. This is called mirroring. When your French bulldog senses that there is tension, he would likely respond to you negatively.
Taking a pause may take from between two to three minutes. Just enough to let you breathe through the tension and let go of your frustration and be able to face your little dog with full positivity again.
FIVE: Simple Commands Work Better than Complicated Instructions
When you give too many directions and explain extensively, your French Bulldog is more likely to get confused in the process. Take note that if you want to train your Frenchie to sit, focus on that first and not multitask to avoid confusion on the part of your pet.
The dedicated time to train your dog should just be that- dedicated.
To avoid getting frustrated, maybe you can make it as short as 20 minutes or as long as 30 minutes and try not to go any further. This will help your dog anticipate the time and understand that the schedule is dedicated and will certainly follow through with the routine. The more regular you make this, the more possible it will be that you will get the best results from this training process.
SIXTH: Leash Training as You Train Your Frenchie to Sit
Although you shouldn’t keep your French bulldog consistently on a leash because of the breathing problems that French bulldogs are most prone to develop, using a leash to make your dog follow is a common training practice among all different breeds of dogs. This also works with Frenchies.
However, when using this approach with your Frenchie, it is important to know your limits. Leash-based training as you train your Frenchie to sit should only be based on pressure sensed. Tug on the leash as needed- but not too hard, to get your dog to pay attention to what you are saying.
Once the training is done, make sure you release your Frenchie from the leash.
THE THINGS YOU SHOULD REMEMBER TO AVOID WHEN TRAINING YOUR FRENCHIE TO SIT
- Never train on frustration
Let’s say you saw a miniature French bulldog of a friend to appear very behaved and can sit upon command. Then you start comparing him with your dog. When your motivation is to match up the attitude of your pet with another, the results would be much less productive.
Most of the time, this motivation results in frustration which often ends up badly for both you and your pet Frenchie.
This is the reason why many owners of French Bulldog end up becoming more negative in the way they handle the training sessions which also results in giving up early on.
So how do you avoid frustration? Change your motivation behind the desire to train your French Bulldog to sit.
When you are motivated by your love and care for your Frenchie, you are likely going survive this process better and create a better connection and relationship with your pet at the end of the sessions. This way, when your French bulldog finally learns to sit down on his own upon command, it will be a great win for both of you and your pet and not for anyone else’s approval.
2. Avoid long training sessions
As mentioned earlier, miniature Frenchies do not sit well for long hours and get exhausted easily. Because of this long training sessions will not help nor would it make it easier for you to get the results necessary for you to achieve the results you want from the training.
Patience is key to the success of this approach to improving your French bulldog’s behavior. Alongside patience is the capacity to understand the condition of your dog and his willingness to go along with the process. Knowing when your dog is not in the condition or has the right mindset to go through the training gives you a chance to lessen the pressure on the process.
Instead of imposing long training sessions, it is best to handle them in short but regular sessions for at least three days during the first and second week. Lessen the sessions as your dog begins to catch up with the idea of sitting upon command both inside and outside the house.
3. Never use negative reinforcement
Shouting, hitting the dog, or pulling on the leash too much; all are considered negative reinforcements. Simply walking out on your dog without assuring him that you are just going to let off steam may also send mixed signals to your dog.
As mentioned earlier, if you are simply frustrated and exhausted, it is easier for you to be aggressive and switch from positive to negative reinforcement just like that.
This is also the reason why it is suggested earlier that you keep your training sessions short and stick to the dedicated schedule. This will help you, as the trainer, to keep your cool within a short period.
To avoid negative reinforcement, you need to develop a proper mindset and be focused on your goal with all the love and care that you could give to make sure that the training would create positive results for your pet and yourself as well.
4. Mind the temperature when you train
When it is too cold or too hot, it is most likely that the attention of your dog will be distracted and his body temperature will likely mess with his concentration. This way, your efforts might be compromised. When this happens, you might consider setting aside the schedule to avoid the unnecessary pressure that your dog may go through as the temperature adjusts accordingly.
5. Do not overfeed or over reward your dog for a job well done
Sure, miniature Frenches are cute. Somehow, when he gets to positively respond to your command, he may look more charming and you would of course love to reward him for that. While that is normal, overfeeding or over rewarding your French bulldog may not be helpful at all.
For a fact, feeding your miniature Frenchie so much will affect your dog’s process of thinking and physical health negatively. So even when you feel the urge, you should contain yourself and make sure you only give your French bulldog the right amount of nourishment and the right amount of treats that will not put his eating schedule in jeopardy.
Instead of overfeeding or over rewarding your dog with food and treats, give him a little pat on the back or a warm hug. Do not be too giddy and break the pattern of training through playing with your dog as a reward. This can be used as a reward when the training session is already over.
Key Takeaways
A well-behaved pet French bulldog is certainly a keeper.
However, getting there is not as easy as it may seem. Nonetheless, with the right mindset, you can be able to train your French bulldog to sit. In all these procedures, the connection and relationship that you share with your pet dog do a lot to ease out the pressure that might emerge during the training process.
At the end of it all, once you get your French bulldog to sit still and follow through with your commands, the win will surely be something to celebrate about. It will be a training that will never go to waste- instead, it will be the basis of a better relationship between you and your dog from this point forward.
