Are French bulldogs easy to potty train? It is not easy to potty train French bulldogs. It will take a lot of time to potty train them. With enough perseverance, it can be done quickly. However, it can take up to a few months to get your French Bulldog completely potty trained!
French Bulldogs And Potty Training Them
The French Bulldog is known for being a fantastic companion dog. These cute creatures were first created in England as miniature bulldogs. These mini bulldogs then accompanied English lacemakers to France, where they obtained the name “French Bulldog.” Once upon a time, they were phenomenal ratters besides being companions. Now, they are family-friendly and are their companions. They are also used in the show business. Show an immense amount of affection towards their owners and are so friendly with kids. They are about 12 inches tall and weigh between 16 to 28 pounds. French Bulldogs have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years.
How To Potty Train Your French Bulldog
The French Bulldog needs to be trained like how you would train a child. It involves teaching them the routine of understanding when they need to use the potty to finish their business. It does not matter whether you will train them to use the outdoors or a potty mat; the steps are the same. The steps involve choosing a location, sticking to the routine, and rewarding them for following the routine.
Once these steps are repeated several times, the French bulldogs will automatically know what to do when they need to relieve themselves.
One of the most extraordinary things about French Bulldog is that they are a clean breed. They give their best and try not to have any accidents. If you have a training schedule, you and your Frenchie can stick to it. This will help your dog be entirely trained in a couple of weeks.
Here are some of the essential steps which are required to get your French Bulldog correctly potty trained.
1. Potty Breaks to be scheduled regularly and consistently
When you wake up in the morning, you should immediately take your Frenchie outside for them to relieve themselves. After playing for long hours, having their dinner, and drinking plenty of water before sleeping, it is necessary for your French Bulldog to poop or pee first thing in the morning. This schedule gets incorporated into your French Bulldog’s head. They will know what to do daily.
If you have a dog flap on your door, your work gets minimized. Your pet can go out, do their business, and come back in.
Observe the signs which they show when they have to go to the toilet
Your French bulldogs will show you some signs that their bladder is full or that they want to poop urgently. Observe these signs and take note.
Some of the common signs that dogs exhibit are running around the house in circles, running between rooms, looking at you intently, whining, barking, sniffing, or scratching the door.
- Escort them outside or to the potty-training pads
If any of the above signs are observed, you need to take your French Bulldog outside or to their potty-training pads. At that moment, helping them do their business should be your top priority. If you live in a place where you can’t often access the outdoors, you need to find a spot in your house where they can go. The potty training pads are used here.
- Start using phrases that your dog will learn to identify
An owner’s most used phrase to ask their dog to do their business is “go potty.”
As soon as your French Bulldog starts pooping or peeing, say the phrase. This will help them understand that the phrase is related to the action that they are doing. By doing so, you can train your Frenchie in a couple of weeks.
- Provide them with rewards when they do it
As soon as your French Bulldog is done with his business, provide a treat as a reward for his or her obedient behavior. This will affirm the puppy that he or she did a good job.
After following this schedule and training, when you say “go toilet,” your French Bulldog will immediately know what to do.
How To Potty Train An Older French Bulldog?
Training a French bulldog puppy is in itself tough; imagine potty training an older Frenchie. It is super tough. This is because they have been allowed to defecate and pee anywhere they liked for months or years. But lets, not panic; it is not impossible. If you feel that your French Bulldog is having trouble holding his urine and peeing while running around, take him to a vet and get him or her checked for urinary tract infections.
Ensure that you properly reinforce the schedule with your old Frenchie. This process will take longer than it takes for puppies, so patience is the key. Learn to manage a situation effectively. Your old Frenchie is bound to have accidents because he or she wasn’t trained for months together. Take responsibility for their accident and don’t blame the dog. Make sure you remain quiet when your Frenchie does his or her business.
Always keep your old Frenchie under supervision. When you observe the signals or feel that it’s time for them to relieve themselves, get on your feet and take them to their spot.
Items You Might Require For The Purpose Of Potty Training
There are certain things available in the market that can aid you while potty training your puppy.
- Pet training pad
These pet training pads are scented and can encourage your puppies to relieve themselves on the pad. Many Frenchie owners place these training pads inside their dog’s crate. This pet training pad comes in handy when you live in an apartment and can’t access outdoors often.
- A dog leash
This is a mandatory item that is required by every dog owner to possess. The dog leash is required for taking your French Bulldog for walks so that they can poop and pee. You do not need to use a leash if you allow your Frenchie to wander in your garden or backyard.
- Dog treats as a reward
You will also be required to purchase dog treats, which are to be given right after doing their business in the correct spot. Even toys can be given to them, which will let them know that they did a good job.
Some dog owners keep their puppies in the dog crate at night during the initial stages of potty training. The crate will also have training pads in one half of the crate and a dog bed in the other half of the crate. It is essential to buy a big crate so that as your puppy grows older and bigger, they can still fit in the crate and move around freely. Also, keep some rags of cloth and enzymatic cleaner handy for removing foul odor.
Extra Tips On Potty Training
It is essential to understand your little Frenchie’s mindset and connect with them on a personal level. For doing so, you will require time.
Some French bulldogs love staying outdoors. In that case, you should not bring them back home immediately after they defecate and urinate. It would be best if you let them enjoy the outdoors and take them for a small run. The Frenchie puppy will understand that if he or she can hold their poop for a longer time, it means more outdoor time. If you ignore this and still bring your French bulldog home, they will end up relieving themselves inside the house.
Restrict Area During The Day
If you are a dog owner who is not at home during the potty training phase, you must put your French bulldog puppy in a restricted area so that they will know their place. Simultaneously, take care to provide them with enough room to move around freely and comfortably.
If you feel putting your Frenchie in a crate is something you are not comfortable with, you can leave them inside a blocked off area. This will provide ample space and ensure that they are restricted to a particular site.
French bulldogs are generally clean
French bulldogs are known to be a “clean breed.” This means that they will do their best to avoid defecating certain areas, like the place where they nap. They do not find it entertaining to cause a foul odor in your house.
If you notice that your Frenchie has had an accident, don’t forget to clean that place and get the smell off thoroughly. On the assumption that your French Bulldog continues to smell that spot, he or she will think that it is okay to poop or pee in that area.
On the condition that your French Bulldog has defecated in your home, ensure that you collect the poop in a small bag and leave it out in the particular area of the yard where you want your dog to poop. They will smell this area, and their instincts will make them do their business in that particular area of the yard.
Once your French Bulldog learns that the particular area of the yard is acceptable for defecating, you can move on to the next area. Your French Bulldog will keep in mind all the acceptable regions for them to do their business.
How Often Do French Bulldogs Poop?
This depends on several factors, one of them being your Frenchie’s age. Young French bulldogs tend to defecate frequently, even up to 4 to 5 times a day. The other factor is its appetite. The more quantity of food your Frenchie eats, the more he or she will poop. The fiber content in their food also plays a significant role. Higher the fiber content, the higher the amount of poop.
Similarly, when it comes to urination, it depends on age too. A fully grown mature French bulldog can hold its pee for around 9 to 10 hours, but the French bulldog puppies with their tiny bladders can go up to 4 hours without peeing. It is entirely normal for the puppy to pee inside your house initially.
How Long Can French Bulldogs Hold Their Poop?
This depends entirely on the Frenchie’s age. A puppy that is just 6 to 8 weeks old will poop about 5 to 6 times a day. As your French Bulldog grows older, the time that he can go without pooping or peeing increases. When the puppy crosses seven months, it can hold pee for 12 hours straight and require to poop a maximum of 3 times a day. This also depends on how you potty train your French Bulldog. It is essential to understand that all dogs are different. One schedule meant for one dog might not work for another dog.
While potty training your French Bulldog, the nights can be pretty exhausting. As days go by, you will find that your Frenchie is getting used to the schedule, and you can go back to sleeping until morning.
Some adult French bulldogs are not potty trained. If it is difficult for you to make your old Frenchie hold their pee, you must seek professional support from a pet behavioral specialist.
French Bulldog Potty-Training Signals
It might be very inconvenient, but it is necessary to get up in the middle of the night and let your Frenchie go outside to do their business. You must be well aware of the signals they are showing. Especially when you bring your new French bulldog home, you need to make sure that he or she sleeps next to you, or you relocate to sleep next to your dog. This will help you keep an eye on them and know what they want.
You can use an alarm to wake yourself up in the middle of the night. By doing so, you can check on your Frenchie and help them relieve themselves. Keep checking on them at frequent intervals because they are in a new home.
In Conclusion
Accidents are bound to happen with a new French bulldog. Patience is the key to train them well. If you spot your French Bulldog doing their business inside your house, lift and place them outdoors. Also, don’t forget to treat them! You can easily clean the defecated area with hot water, and you can also neutralize the smell with vinegar or an odor eliminator (for pets). This will also prevent your French Bulldog from using that spot again for their business.
