Temperament & Training

Personality Traits

• Affectionate — Frenchies are true companion dogs. They want to be with their people at all times — on your lap, by your feet, in your bed.
• Playful — Bursts of energy and clownish behavior. They love making you laugh.
• Adaptable — Equally happy in a city apartment or a house with a yard. They adjust to your lifestyle.
• Stubborn — Intelligent but independent-minded. They understand what you want — they just decide if it's worth their effort.
• Alert watchdog — They rarely bark without reason, but they'll alert you to strangers or unusual sounds.
• Not excessive barkers — One of the quieter breeds. They communicate more with snorts, grunts, and "talking."
• Loyal — Sometimes to the point of being possessive or overly protective of their favorite person.
• Patient with children — Generally tolerant and gentle with kids, though always supervise interactions.

With Children

French Bulldogs are generally excellent with children. They're sturdy enough to handle gentle play, patient with noise and commotion, and rarely aggressive. However:

• Always supervise — No dog should be left unsupervised with young children
• Teach children how to approach and touch dogs gently
• Respect the dog's space — Every dog needs a safe retreat from chaos
• Watch for resource guarding — Some Frenchies can be possessive of food or toys
• Avoid face-level encounters — Young kids at face height can accidentally startle or hurt a Frenchie's prominent eyes

With Other Pets

Other Dogs

Most Frenchies get along well with other dogs, especially if socialized early. Some same-sex pairs can develop rivalry. Introduce new dogs gradually on neutral territory.

Cats

Generally fine with cats, especially if raised together. Some Frenchies have a prey drive that may cause them to chase — introductions should be slow and supervised.

Small Pets

Caution with rabbits, hamsters, and birds. Frenchies have some terrier ancestry and may have prey instincts toward small animals. Always supervise.

Separation Anxiety

This is one of the most common behavioral issues in French Bulldogs. They were bred to be companion dogs — being alone goes against their nature.

Signs

• Destructive behavior when left alone (chewing furniture, doors, items)
• Excessive barking, whining, or howling
• House accidents despite being housetrained
• Pacing, drooling, or trembling before you leave
• Following you from room to room obsessively
• Escape attempts (scratching at doors, crates)

Management Strategies

• Desensitization — Practice leaving for very short periods (10-20 seconds), gradually increasing over weeks
• Keep departures boring — No dramatic goodbyes. Pick up keys, walk out calmly.
• Keep arrivals boring — Don't make a big fuss when you return. Wait until they're calm to greet them.
• Enrichment when alone — Frozen Kong, puzzle feeder, snuffle mat. Create a positive association with alone time.
• Crate training — A properly crate-trained Frenchie feels safe in their crate
• Background noise — Leave TV or radio on for comfort
• Exercise before leaving — A tired Frenchie is a calmer Frenchie
• Consider a second pet — Some Frenchies do better with a companion (but not all!)
• Severe cases — Consult a veterinary behaviorist. Medication (fluoxetine, trazodone) combined with behavior modification can help.

Training Your French Bulldog

The Frenchie Mindset

French Bulldogs are intelligent — they rank around average in obedience intelligence (58th per Stanley Coren's ranking), but that number is misleading. They're smart enough to learn anything; they're just selectively obedient. They'll do what you ask if they see the benefit.

Training Rules for Frenchies

1. Positive reinforcement ONLY — Treats, praise, play. Frenchies completely shut down with punishment, yelling, or harsh corrections. They become fearful or more stubborn.
2. Keep sessions short — 5-10 minutes maximum. Multiple short sessions beat one long one.
3. Make it fun — If training feels like a game, they'll love it. If it feels like work, they'll ignore you.
4. Be consistent — Same commands, same rules, every time, from everyone in the household.
5. Use high-value treats — Regular kibble won't motivate a stubborn Frenchie. Use small pieces of chicken, cheese, or commercial training treats.
6. End on success — Always end the session with something easy they can succeed at. Builds confidence.

Essential Commands

• Sit — The foundation. Teach first.
• Stay — Important for safety (especially near doors and roads)
• Come (recall) — Can be lifesaving. Practice in safe, enclosed areas.
• Leave it — Critical for a breed that will eat anything off the ground
• Drop it — Essential safety command
• Wait — At doors, before meals, before crossing streets
• Settle/Place — Go to your bed and relax. Helps with separation anxiety.

Common Behavioral Issues