Did you know that owning a dog can improve your mental health?
There’s never been a better time to add a new member to your family. One of the best breeds for companionship is the French Bulldog.
Getting a new puppy is exciting, but it also takes some work. Fortunately, with the right advice, potty training your Frenchie can be a breeze. Keep reading to learn more about how to potty train your new Frenchie to help you prepare for pet parenthood.
Get Started Right Away
When it comes to potty training any dog, prevention is worth more than a cure.
This is true for French Bulldog puppies. You want to teach your French Bulldog that it’s only acceptable to go potty outside – never in the house. If you can prevent them from having any accidents in the house, they won’t consider inside your home as a place to eliminate.
This is why it’s so important to continue the potty training process as soon as you get your new puppy home.
Invest in Pee Pads
Dog parents have been using newspapers to potty train their puppies for years.
These days, you can buy training pads, also called pee pads, that are designed for this purpose. Pee pads teach puppies to go potty in the same spot and prevent them from having accidents in inconvenient places. Pee pads should be placed around the house, particularly near doors that lead outside.
Pee pads aren’t for everyone, as they are still encouraging your puppy to eliminate inside your home. However, for many owners, pee pads are a good solution for protecting their carpets, rugs, and beds while their new puppy is being trained. Also works great for people who live in high rise condos.
Consider a Crate
Crate training is another option to help potty train your new French Bulldog.
Crates come in handy by offering your dog a safe space of their own when you can’t give them your undivided attention. Placing your puppy in a crate or kennel when you can’t watch them, such as while you work, cook, or sleep, can keep them safe and help potty train them.
Your dog won’t want to eliminate in their crate, giving you more control over potty training.
Your puppy’s crate should only be big enough for them to stand, turn, and stretch comfortably. Many crates come with dividers that you can use to adjust the size of the crate as your puppy grows. It’s important to crate train your puppy properly to help them learn to love their special space.
Be Vigilant
The most important tip for potty training your Frenchie puppy is to pay attention. Of course, you should keep an eye on your puppy at all times for their safety. But watching your pup closely and learning to spot the signs that they might need to go potty can speed up the potty training process.
Signs that your puppy might need to potty include sniffing around, circling in one spot, and leaving your line of sight after a meal or a nap.
You might find it helpful to tether your new puppy to you. This ensures you always know what they are doing and keeps them out of trouble. It also gives you a chance to quickly get them outside if you suspect your dog needs to go potty.
Act Fast
When your puppy needs to potty, you have to act quickly.
Take your puppy outside on a leash right away. Choose a spot outside that you want to be the official “potty spot.” Doing this can help your dog distinguish potty trips from playtime outside.
As soon as your dog eliminates, praise them and give them a high-value treat.
Teach a Command
Many Frenchie owners find it helpful to teach their new puppy a command for going potty. This could be as simple as “go potty,” but the choice is yours.
When you take your puppy to the spot where you want them to eliminate, give them the command to go potty and reward them when they go. You can also teach your dog to ring a bell when they need to go outside by using the “touch it” command.
Set a Schedule
Starting the day you bring your new puppy home, you should get them on a schedule. Dogs love routines and feel more secure when they know what to expect from each day.
Feed your puppy at the same times each day. Expect them to need to go potty after meals and after waking up in the morning and after naps. While fresh water should be available throughout the day, it can be helpful to pick up the water bowl before bedtime.
Take your puppy outside to go potty regularly, even if they don’t show signs of needing to go. This will help them learn to do their business outside.
Because Frenchies are a small breed, they will need to use the bathroom more often than large breeds. As your puppy develops and learns to control its bladder and bowel muscles, it will be able to hold it for longer periods of time.
When you first bring your puppy home, you should take them out at least every 2 hours, including overnight. As you get to know your new dog, you will get a better idea of its natural schedule.
Stay Focused
You want to teach your dog the difference between going outside to play and going outside to go potty. To achieve this, designate certain trips outside as potty breaks only.
Walk your dog to the potty spot and give them the potty command. Stand still and only give your dog the length of the leash to sniff around. Once they go potty, reward them and go back inside.
As your dog learns to potty on command, you can teach them that it’s okay to potty in more than one place outside on the grass.
What to Do When Accidents Happen
Most new Frenchie owners will experience accidents. Your puppy is just a baby and is in a new and unfamiliar place.
If an accident occurs, never punish your puppy.
If you catch them in the act, interrupt them and take them outside immediately. Clean up accidents with a cleaner that contains special enzymes. These will get rid of any scents and stains that can lead to puppies going in the same spot again.
Patience and persistence are key.
Are You Looking to Add a Frenchie to Your Family?
While potty training is one of the less fun aspects of pet parenthood, it doesn’t last forever. As your puppy grows and learns the ropes, you will have a new best friend.
Frenchies are one of the best breeds you can choose. If you’re interested in adding a new member to your family, we are here to help.
Click here to contact us today and learn more about our puppies.