Walking your French Bulldog is a fun and healthy bonding experience. However, it can quickly become a frustrating experience if your Frenchie pulls and tugs on the leash. Since our dogs are like kids, we can make progress only with patience and consistent training. In this article, we’ll give you practical tips and techniques for how to train your French Bulldog to walk on the leash, and we’ll share a personal story of how we trained our own Frenchie to walk on the leash in just 7 days!
How to train a French bulldog to walk on a leash? Tips to know
Start Slow and Stay Positive
The first thing to remember when training your French Bulldog to walk on the leash is to take it slow and be positive. You want to create a positive association with the leash and walking in general, so use plenty of treats, praise, and affection to reinforce good behavior. Start by putting the leash on your Frenchie for short periods of time while you’re indoors, and let them get used to the feeling of it around their neck. Reward them with treats and praise for wearing the leash calmly and without fuss.
Use a Proper French Bulldog Harness
One of the most important things to consider when training your French Bulldog to walk on the leash is the type of harness you use. Frenchies have short snouts and flat faces, which can make traditional collars uncomfortable and even harmful. Instead, use a properly fitted harness that sits on their chest, such as a no-pull harness or a front-clip harness. French bulldog harnesses provide better support to the body and keep a dog more comfortable during walks. No-pull harnesses will give you more control over your Frenchie’s movements and prevent them from pulling on the leash.
Choose the Right Leash for Your Frenchie
Besides choosing the right Frenchie harness, finding the right leash is also important when training your French Bulldog to walk on the leash. A short leash will give you more control over your Frenchie’s movements, while a retractable leash can encourage pulling and make it harder to train them. Stick to a 4-6 foot leash made of durable material, such as nylon or leather, that’s comfortable for you to hold and won’t hurt your Frenchie’s sensitive skin. Leashes made of chain can plush the dog’s hair and make his feel uncomfortable during strolls.
Teach Your Frenchie to Follow Your Lead
To teach your French Bulldog to walk on the leash, start by getting them to follow your lead. This means you should take the lead and walk in front of your Frenchie, rather than letting them lead the way. To live with an obedient pet, it’s essential to teach your pet who’s the boss in the house. In other words, you should become your Frenchie’s leader of the pack and guide the strolls.
Use treats and praise to encourage your Frenchie to walk with you, and stop and reward them when they walk calmly and without pulling. If your Frenchie starts to pull or tug on the leash, stop walking and wait for them to calm down before continuing. You can also use a word command and say it a bit loudly so he/she can figure out that he’s doing something bad.
Be Consistent and extremely patient
The key to successful leash training is consistency. Make sure to train your French Bulldog regularly, and stick to a routine that works for both you and your Frenchie. Every training should be performed on a daily basis in order to get the best results.
We recommend you use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, to reinforce good behavior, and be patient when your Frenchie makes mistakes. Remember that training takes time, and it may take several weeks or even months for your Frenchie to learn how to walk on the leash properly.
Our Personal Story: How We Trained Our Frenchie to Walk on the Leash in 7 Days
When we first brought our Frenchie home, he was a bundle of energy and excitement. However, walking him on the leash was a challenge, as he would pull and tug on the leash, making it hard to control him. We knew we had to do something to train him to walk properly, so we started by following the tips we’ve outlined above.
We started by putting the leash on our Frenchie indoors for short periods of time, letting him get used to the feeling of it around his neck. We used treats and praise to encourage him to wear the leash calmly and without fuss, and we gradually increased the amount of time he spent wearing it.
Once he was comfortable wearing the leash, we moved on to the next step: choosing the right harness. We found a front-clip harness that fit him comfortably and didn’t put pressure on his neck or throat, which helped to reduce his pulling behavior.
Next, we started teaching him to follow our lead. We made sure to walk in front of him, rather than letting him lead the way, and we used treats and praise to encourage him to walk with us. Whenever he pulled or tugged on the leash, we stopped walking and waited for him to calm down before continuing. We also rewarded him with treats and praise whenever he walked calmly and without pulling.
By day 4 of training, our Frenchie was already making progress. He was starting to walk with us more calmly and was pulling less on the leash. However, we knew we still had a long way to go.
We continued with our training routine, being consistent and patient with our Frenchie. By day 7, we were amazed at how much progress he had made. He was walking on the leash like a pro, following our lead and walking calmly by our side. We were so proud of him!
Why is it important to teach your Frenchie to walk on the leash?
Besides keeping your dog safe, obedience lessons will help you keep your Frenchie calm when walking in front of other animals.
Just imagine the scene of your Frenchie running for a squirrel or a cat when you take him for a walk. Frenchies may have a tendency to wander off or get overly excited, which can put them in dangerous situations. By teaching your Frenchie to walk on a leash, you can ensure that they stay close to you and don’t run into any hazards.
Another thing to keep in mind is the importance of socialization of your Frenchie. Every dog should be properly socialized and know how to behave when walking outside. By taking them on strolls, they will encounter other dogs and people, which can help them become more comfortable in social situations. This can help prevent behavioral issues and make your Frenchie a well-adjusted, happy dog.
Wrapping up: Teaching a French bulldog to walk on a leash
In conclusion, training your French Bulldog to walk on a leash may take time and patience, but with the right techniques and consistent training, it’s definitely possible. Remember to start slow and positive, use a proper harness and leash, teach your Frenchie to follow your lead, and be consistent with your training. And don’t forget to use plenty of treats and praise to reinforce good behavior. With these tips and a little bit of dedication, you can teach your French Bulldog to walk on the leash like a pro!