Are French Bulldogs Easy to Train? My 2025 Success Guide

I’ve coached over 400 Frenchie owners in the past decade, and the first question is always the same: “Are French Bulldogs easy to train, or am I doomed?” The honest answer is somewhere in the middle. These clowns aren’t Border Collies, but they’re far from untrainable. Below I’ll show you the exact playbook I hand to clients who want a well-mannered frog-dog without losing their sanity.

Why French Bulldogs Get the “Stubborn” Label

Let’s call a spade a spade. Frenchies were bred to sit on laps and keep factory workers company in Nottingham. Nobody asked them to herd sheep or retrieve ducks. That companion-dog DNA shows up as independence and a proud “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Once you realize they’re negotiators, not slaves, training gets easier.

Trait	Effect on Training	Quick Fix
Short attention span	Checks out after 3–5 min	Micro-sessions, 3 reps max
Food motivation	Works only for high-value pay	Stinkier treats, skip kibble
Brachycephalic anatomy	Overheats fast, pants=distraction	Train on cool floor, AC on
Sensitive feelings	Shuts down if scolded	Mark and reward, no yelling

“The magic number is five—five minutes, five treats, five repetitions. Go longer and you’re just rehearsing frustration.”
—Sarah Mitchell, CPDT-KA, French Bulldog Specialty Trainer, Austin TX

Phase 1: Puppy Kindergarten (8–16 Weeks)

This is the golden window. Your Frenchie pup is a sponge, but bladder control is nil and teething hurts. Focus on name response, sit, down, come, and potty routine. Pair every correct move with a marker word (“YES!”) followed by a pea-sized treat within one second—timing matters more than the treat size.

Sample 5-Minute Puppy Lesson

1. 00:00–00:30: Let pup sniff, say name, mark & treat x5
2. 00:30–02:00: Lure into sit, mark & treat x5
3. 02:00–03:00: Lure into down, mark & treat x5
4. 03:00–04:00: Walk backward, say «Rover, come!», mark & treat x5
5. 04:00–05:00: Scatter-feed kibble on floor for cooldown

Need more puppy specifics? Check my deep-dive on Frenchie puppy training tricks next.

Phase 2: Adolescent Diplomacy (4–12 Months)

Welcome to the selective-hearing phase. Testosterone and estrogen skyrocket, and every leaf is more interesting than you. Keep sessions gamified and layer in focus exercises. I rotate three games:

• Hand-target—nose bump to my palm equals treat. Great for leash walking.
• Spin both directions-burns energy and builds body awareness.
• Leave-it jackpot-skip a treat on floor, reward from other hand with five tiny cheese cubes.

Age	Minutes per Day	Sessions	Priority Skill
4–6 mo	15	3×5 min	Loose-leash foundation
6–9 mo	20	4×5 min	Recall outdoors
9–12 mo	25	5×5 min	Boundary manners (door, couch, crate)

Phase 3: Adult Refinement (1–8 Years)

Your Frenchie finally grows a brain. Now we polish reliability. I proof behaviors in three locations—living room, backyard, pet-friendly store—before I call anything «trained.» Add training aids like a clicker or slip-leash only after verbal cues are solid.

Proofing Checklist for «Sit»

• ☐ On carpet with no distractions
• ☐ On tile while I bounce a tennis ball
• ☐ At the park 10 ft from a squirrel
• ☐ Before meal release
• ☐ While I’m holding a pizza box

Adolescence still biting your ankles? Peek at my mouthing reduction guide—most adult nipping is leftover puppy etiquette.

Troubleshooting the Top 4 Frenchie Training Headaches

1. Selective Hearing Outside

Lower the gradient. Start in a boring garage, move to quiet sidewalk, then busy street. Keep a long line so freedom is an earned privilege, not a gift.

2. Couch Ruler Syndrome

It’s not dominance; it’s comfort. Teach «up» and «off» as separate cues. Reward four paws on floor with the same enthusiasm you give Instagram likes.

3. Potty Accidents at 10 Months

Rule out UTI first. Then audit your schedule—adults still need 3–4 potty breaks daily. Reward outside *elimination* like they just won the lottery.

4. Mid-Walk Tantrums (Flopping, Barking)

Usually heat or harness pain. Switch to early morning walks and use a Y-shaped harness. Carry treats and jackpot-move forward the moment the leash softens.

My Go-To Reward Menu (Frenchie-Approved 2025)

• Freeze-dried beef liver crumbs—cheap, crumbly, high smell
• String cheese torn into rice-sized bits
• Boiled chicken hearts—nutrient-dense, smelly
• Ziwi Peak air-dried lamb (pricy but worth it for jackpots)

Rotate proteins to avoid boredom-based refusal. If your vet okays it, skip one meal and train with that kibble—suddenly boring becomes interesting.

Training Versus Lifestyle: Remember the Other 23 Hours

Six minutes of drills won’t fix 23 hours of unmanaged freedom. Gate off rooms, use crates and playpens, schedule sniff walks, and feed from puzzle toys. A tired Frenchie isn’t always a physically panting one—mental fatigue is gold. Browse my list of mental stimulation toys if you need fresh ideas.

“The best-trained French Bulldog I ever met belonged to a flight attendant. She turned every airport layover into scent-work games. Lifestyle training beats formal obedience every time.”
—Dr. Carlos Ramírez, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, Dallas TX

Senior Dogs: It’s Never Too Late

Older Frenchies learn more slowly but love the attention. Swap jumping tricks for stationary skills—chin rest, paw target, scent work. Keep sessions to three minutes to protect aging joints. Check the senior care guide for adjusting rewards when calories count.

Putting It All Together

French Bulldogs aren’t Labradors in clown suits, but they’re far from untrainable. Work with their foodie nature, respect their physical limits, and keep things shorter than a TikTok clip. Do that, and you’ll join the hundreds of clients who stopped asking, “Are French Bulldogs easy to train?” and started bragging, “Look what my Frenchie can do!”

Questions or wins to share? Drop them below—I answer every comment. And if you want a printable cheat-sheet with the five-minute lesson planner, grab it when you subscribe to the FrenchyFab newsletter. Happy training!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are French Bulldogs easy to potty train?

Yes—if you stick to a strict schedule and reward outdoor elimination within a second. Most pups are reliable by 5–6 months with zero punishment.

2. How long does it take to train a French Bulldog basic obedience?

With daily five-minute sessions, expect reliable «sit-down-come» in 4–6 weeks. Proofing around distractions can add another month.

3. Can I train my Frenchie without treats?

You *can*, but I wouldn’t. Food is currency to them; once the behavior is fluent, fade treats to random jackpot schedule instead of removing outright.

4. My Frenchie only listens to me, not my partner. Why?

Split feeding and walking duties 50/50 for one week, and have your partner conduct two short training sessions daily. Dogs follow the giver of good stuff.

5. Is crate training necessary?

For safety and bladder control, yes. A crate accelerates potty progress and prevents destructive chewing when you’re distracted. See my complete crate protocol for a stress-free setup.