Potty training your Frenchie entails teaching them the routine of understanding when they need to use the bathroom and toilet. No matter what you choose for your dog’s potty time, the location, routine, and incentive matter the most.
Repeating the training techniques consistently on your Frenchie will help them learn what to do and signal you when they are ready to use the bathroom or toilet.
If you set and stick to a training schedule, your Frenchie will be up to date with their training in no time, as this dog breed loves being clean and tries to avoid having accidents.
The 5 Steps and Potty-Training Schedule
You’ll need to set a consistent schedule to enable your Frenchie to anticipate their potty time adequately.
Choose the Appropriate Time To Begin Potty Training
When considering the ideal time to toilet train your French Bulldog, timing is crucial. The sooner you begin, the more successful it will be. It’s important to start potty training your Frenchie while they are still puppies, as they can understand the process easily.
You’ll need to be consistent in your training. Teach your dog to go outside and use the washroom at every opportunity. This will make it easy for it to comprehend your expectations. You must choose a convenient time for you and your dog and stick to the routine. If you make it part of your daily routine, you will get quickly accustomed to this pattern.
Structure a Set Routine
Come up with a regular schedule for your Frenchie’s potty time. You should take it out at regular intervals throughout the day.
You can take your dog outside, for instance, first thing in the morning, after a meal or drink, after spending some time in their room or crate, and just before bed. As a result, your Frenchie will become accustomed to this routine and will know what to anticipate from each day.
You’ll need consistency when starting a new routine, following some rules and regulations. With consistency, this habit will get ingrained in your Frenchie’s mind.
Crate Training Your Frenchie
Crate training will make potty training your Frenchie much simpler. It helps your dog distinguish between bed and bathroom areas. Locking your puppy in a crate will make it understand that it needs to hold its pee. As a naturally hygienic dog breed, your Frenchie will not want to urinate in your bed. Instead, it will hold the pee until it’s released outside again.
You’ll need to train your Frenchie whenever you cannot go with them. You’ll also need to take your dog out to use the washroom before leaving. However, ensure you know how long your Frenchie can hold its pee before anxiety creeps in. This will help you avoid unwanted accidents in your house.
Set up a potty area
You’ll need to create a potty space for your Frenchie in the house before you begin potty training it. This should be as close as possible to your dog’s sleeping area. This is where your Frenchie will go whenever it needs to use the washroom. If your dog uses a crate as its sleeping space, set up the potty area close to it.
Depending on your dog’s age and size, get a potty box or put some pee pads on the floor. A potty box can help your puppy learn to use the washroom more quickly and easily. Placing a few pads inside the box will make it easier for your Frenchie to identify this as its washroom area in the house.
Utilize puppy pee pads.
Toilet accidents are inevitable during the potty training period. If your puppy needs to relieve themselves at a time other than the scheduled one, puppy pee pads will provide a spot for them.
Using puppy pads will help your Frenchie differentiate between the furniture and the floor and understand this is where they need to go for their washroom needs. These pads prevent urine from penetrating your carpet and floor and keep the smell away from your home. Additionally, pee pads can help your Frenchie puppy learn how long it can hold its pee.
Items You Will Need for Potty Training
Having the following items will make training your French Bulldog easier.
- Puppy pads: They provide a spot for your puppy to relieve themselves and help keep the odor from your house.
- Dog leash: This helps walk your dog to the right toilet location in an unsecured outdoor area
- Dog treats: Treats are used as rewards to reinforce your dog for doing well in potty training.
- Puppy crate: This is important in helping your dog learn to hold its pee.
- Consistency and patience
- Time
What not to do during French Bulldog potty training
The following are some of the mistakes you should avoid while potty training your Frenchie.
Punishing Your dog for improper behavior: Accidents are bound to happen during training. Your Frenchie may have an accident inside your house or relieve themselves on your furniture. However, avoid yelling or screaming at your dog when this happens, as this is counteractive.
You should also never rub your dog’s nose or face in a mess as a form of punishment, as this will frighten them and break the trust that’s essential in the training process.
Ignoring bigger bathroom problems:
- As you continue to potty train your Frenchie, look for signs indicating a bigger bathroom issue that needs veterinary attention.
- Look for signs of urinary incontinence, such as frequent leakages or bed wetting after naps.
- Take note of any change in the pooping habits as this could indicate a bigger problem.
Leaving behind signs and smells of bathroom accidents: Do not leave traces of bathroom accidents in your house. Leaving behind any poop or urine odors may lead to your dog marking and returning to the spot to relieve themselves again and again. Utilize a dog solution that’s designed to get rid of the smell.
Further Potty Training Tips for Frenchies
These tips can help you in your potty training process:
Be attentive to potty signs
When you begin potty training, you’ll be unable to tell the precise time or frequency your Frenchie needs to go. However, as you develop a routine, you can quickly bring them to the potty area.
Pay attention to the warning signs indicating your dog needs to go to the washroom and take it out immediately. Look out for the following signs to avoid any bathroom accidents:
- Barking at you
- Whining
- Pacing unnecessarily
- Running in circles
- Sniffing around the floor
- Staring at you
Clean accidents up quickly
If your dog messes inside the house, ensure you clean it right away. A dog solution or an odor neutralizer eliminates poop or urine smell. Cleaning the mess immediately will help your dog understand this differs from the appropriate bathroom area. If you clean it up immediately, your dog is less likely to return to the mess.
Use a simple phrase to command
To make it easier for your Frenchie to comprehend what exactly you want them to do and when use straightforward and easy words in your training. You can command them by saying “Go potty” or “Go toilet” whenever you want them to go to their potty spot. Keep repeating the phrase when taking them out, as it will help them learn to identify the phrase with the potty area.
Be sure to utter the phrase when they begin their business and praise them once they finish. The aim is to link the command to the action so your dog will act when you issue the command. Teaching a new command is hard; thus, you should start as early as possible.
Consistency is key
Like any other kind of training, potty training can be a bit hard initially. However, your training efforts will pay off quickly if you remain consistent and follow the routine. It’s important to be always present to guide your dog throughout the process. Ensure you follow your Frenchie’s new routine consistently, as this will eventually become its habit.
Give it time (patience)
It may take some time for your dog to be fully potty trained. You’ll thus need to be patient and give your puppy time to learn. Don’t rush or get mad, even if your puppy seems to be regressing for some time. Remember that they are still learning, and you must ensure they get there. Keep practicing; the more you practice, the easier the process will become. Remember, each dog is different; thus, don’t be too rigid with your schedule. Don’t shout or yell at your Frenchie when it seems like they are not catching up but rather give them time to grasp the concept fully.
How long does it take to potty train a French bulldog?
Each dog is different, and thus it’s difficult to state with certainty how long it will take to potty train a French bulldog. While some may take a short time, others might take much longer, even up to 6 months, to get fully potty trained.
How long can a French bulldog hold its pee?
This depends on the age of your dog. An adult French Bulldog can hold its pee for 8-10 hours, while puppies can only hold it for 4 hours.
My French Bulldog still needs to be toilet trained.
If your adult French Bulldog is not yet toilet-trained and can’t hold its pee or stop messing indoors, you’ll need to exercise patience and continue potty training. Don’t use negative reinforcement or punish it for bathroom accidents. Use rewards to enforce good behavior. If nothing is changing, seek the help of a pet behavior specialist.
Are French Bulldog puppies easy to potty train?
Potty training a French Bulldog puppy is a challenging process. It’s hard and takes time. You’ll thus need to be consistent, patient, and committed to fully potty-train your Frenchie.
Wrap It Up
Potty training a French Bulldog can be a hard task. While they are highly intelligent, Frenchies also have independent minds and can be stubborn, making training them a bit difficult. However, with patience and consistency, your Bulldog will grasp this with time.
To make the learning process easier:
- Start potty training your puppy as soon as possible.
- Establish a routine and ensure you stick to it to help your dog develop a habit.
- Remember not to use force but rather use positive reinforcement during the training.
Well, there’s all you need to know about potty training a French Bulldog. Follow these tips to make the process easier.
