Many netizens say their French Bulldogs are very dumb. When it comes to training them to urinate and defecate at a fixed spot, no matter how hard they try, the dog just cannot learn, which is really frustrating. Actually, there are no dogs that can’t be taught, only incorrect methods. Today, the editor from Boqi.com shares a netizen’s process of training their French Bulldog to urinate and defecate, so everyone can see how this person trained their French Bulldog.

I personally train my free-range French Bulldogs to use a designated bathroom spot. Actually, this training is not difficult. Here I share my training experience with everyone!

1. First, decide where you want your French Bulldog to go to the bathroom, and prepare a dog toilet, lining it with pee pads. The size should be comparable to the toilet. Or just use pee pads measuring about 45X60 cm. At the beginning, put a bit of its urine on the pad, not much, just a little, then place it at the spot where you want it to regularly go to the bathroom later. For example, a corner of your home or the bathroom.

Next, prepare a slightly larger fence to contain it (the size like in the pictures is best, so when no one is home later, it can still be kept inside this fence). Leave appropriate space, put the dog toilet or pee pad at one side inside the fenced area; the place should not be too large. Leave just enough room so the dog can’t wander everywhere.

2. French Bulldogs generally want to urinate or defecate within 5 to 20 minutes after eating. So every time the dog finishes a meal, put it into this fenced area. Once it urinates or defecates here, immediately reward it. I use Wangzai little buns with a strong milk fragrance that do not cause diarrhea, giving it 1 or 2 pieces. While giving the treat, praise it and pet its head. (This step 2 is important! Repeated many times, the dog will form a conditioned reflex and know that urinating and defecating in a fixed spot will earn the owner’s reward. The issue of random urination or defecation improves a lot.)

3. If it urinates or defecates on the pad, don’t remove the pad immediately because the urine has already been absorbed. You can reuse it two or three times before discarding because it retains its scent. The dog will slowly get familiar with this spot and will go here again next time to urinate or defecate.

If it defecates, pick up the feces right away. If not cleaned promptly, puppies sometimes step on the feces and play with it. However, leave a little bit of the feces scent on it. Leaving a faint odor is enough. The dog prefers cleanliness. If there is too much feces or urine on the pad, it will no longer want to go here.

4. Repeat step 2 a few more times. After meals, send the dog to this fenced area. Note: “send” not “hold”! If you hold it, it won’t go by itself. After about a week, it will know to go to this spot to urinate and defecate. If you open the gate, it will voluntarily run to the pee pad in this fenced area after meals. As long as it urinates here, immediately encourage it with a positive tone, give treats, pet its head, and praise it.

If it gets used to running into this fenced area after meals to relieve itself, then remove the fence, and the training is basically complete. Over time, no matter where you place the pee pad and dog toilet, it will generally go there to urinate and defecate.

5. If you see it occasionally relieving itself in other places, you should sternly tell it on the spot and clean up after it: "No urinating or defecating here!" At the same time, lightly tap its bottom with your hand or use rolled-up supermarket flyers (as these papers are a little hard; tapping the dog makes a slapping sound but does not hurt it) to frighten it as a warning. Then clean and remove the odor at the spot where it relieved itself; otherwise, the puppy will detect its own feces scent and continue to urinate and defecate there.

6. French Bulldogs are actually very smart. With repeated training and patience, in one or two weeks, or up to three to four weeks for slower learners, they will learn. You must persevere. Afterward, except when going out, the dog will usually relieve itself only at the designated spot.

However, a reminder for all dog owners: when dogs first arrive home, they are unfamiliar with the new environment and lack security. It’s best to let them adapt for about a week before starting training. Even if the French Bulldog learns later, it’s not guaranteed to be 100% accurate! Because puppies are still young, sometimes emotional issues arise, or their bladder muscles are less developed than bigger French Bulldogs, so they may not make it in time and relieve themselves somewhere randomly.

At such times, don’t get too angry. Once they grow a bit older, everything will be fine. The French Bulldog puppies that went to new homes were consciously guided to learn bathroom and behavior routines from when they were young at my house. After the new owners followed my method and reinforced a little, they basically learned to use the toilet properly.

Finally, the editor reminds you that during the fixed spot toilet training, if you find the dog can’t reach the spot in time and urinates elsewhere, do not scold excessively; stop appropriately. Still focus on positive rewards to establish correct behavior. Otherwise, some French Bulldogs are timid and might soil more due to being overly frightened. Lastly, wishing everyone success!