I’ve you’ve recently become accustomed to your french bulldog barking obsessively. I’m sorry to say that you’re one of the unlucky few.
Because while it’s fairly common for most breeds to have the odd barking fit at some time or another, Frenchies tend to be the exception to the rule.
This is a breed that is very easygoing, highly affectionate, and very eager to please. So if barking has recently become their favorite ‘go-to activity, then there’s a very good chance they’re doing it for a valid reason.
Having said that, no dog is completely immune from demonstrating behavioral issues. So it’s important to always keep an open mind no matter how seemingly placid they’re supposed to be.
The first step to dealing with unwanted barking? …figuring out the root cause.
Because if you can ultimately understand why they’re barking in the first place, you’ll be in a much better position to doing something about it.
Now, before we get into some of the more common reasons your Frenchie barks (but more importantly, how to stop it). I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out the Dog Calming Code from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Online Dog Trainer. (see video below)
While this program isn’t an overnight cure for fixing your Frenchies obsessive barking. The exercises Dan demonstrates will quickly teach your Frenchie how to dial down their emotions in any situation that may trigger it.
So watch the video, apply the training Dan recommends, and you should see a marked improvement in their ability to refrain from barking.
Here’s the video link to take a look: Click Here To Check Out The Dog Calming Code And Discover How To Finally Stop Your Frenchie’s Obsessive, Annoying Barking Habit… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
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Why Do French Bulldogs Bark?
Let me first start by saying that barking is a totally normal, natural behavior that ALL dogs exhibit from time to time.
It’s how they communicate, so the idea that you should aim to stop your dog barking completely isn’t going to be in the best interest of your dog. And in most cases will bring about other (more serious) issues that go way beyond the realm of persistent barking.
The idea here is to teach your dog to bark at the right things while leaving out the rest.
Because while your Frenchie might feel the need to alert you of anything and everything that comes within shouting distance of your home. You probably won’t take too kindly to being woken up a 2am to be informed that a leaf just flew past the window.
So take note of the following and see if anything strikes a chord…
Territorial Barking
Like the name suggests, territorial barking is just that. A bark that warns anything and everything that comes within close proximity to essentially ‘get off their turf.’
While this behavior might be a lifesaver in certain circumstances, like making an intruder think twice before attempting to break into your home. There are many cases where the behavior can do more harm than good…
…For example, the mailman approaching.
Fear/Anxiety
It might seem uncommon for a fearful or anxious dog to bark. But the truth is that this particular type of barking can often be the most problematic.
For instance, a French Bulldog suffering from a case of separation anxiety probably isn’t going to feel much better after a short 2-minutes barking fit.
In fact, in severe cases, it’s not uncommon for an anxious dog to bark constantly for hours on end from the overwhelming fear of being left alone.
Obviously, this is an extreme example, but you’d be surprised at how common it is, especially with dogs that have serious attention-seeking disorders.
What’s worse is that this isn’t a type of behavior that will just go away on its own. And if left unchecked, it can turn into an ordeal that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.
Overexcitement
A dog that oversteps the mark when you pull out the leash or worse still throws a 30-minute barking frenzy when you come home from work isn’t going to be appreciated before too long.
It can also be the driving force behind persistent barking on other occasions that don’t necessarily call for it.
Think about it…
Frenchies (and dogs in general) are highly motivated by positive associations.
And while giving your dog a much-needed belly rub when you walk through the door might seem innocent enough. What you’re essentially doing is reinforcing the barking by rewarding them with praise and attention.
Over time this can spell a recipe for disaster because, in your dog’s mind, they’re eventually going to put the pieces together and come to the conclusion that barking = attention. And they’ll do it regardless of whether you want them to or not.
Boredom Barking
If your idea of physical and mental stimulation for your Frenchie is a 10-minute walk around the block and a quick game of fetch. You’re going to need to rethink your gameplan.
Because while French Bulldogs aren’t the most active breed, they still require a bare minimum of at least one hour of physical exercise. Ideally broken down into a few short walks throughout the day.
In addition to this, Frenchies are highly alert and playful. So giving them a few interactive games to play with or, better still, expanding on their hidden intelligence through effective learning programs like Brain Training For Dogs is always going to go down a treat to keep them engaged and entertained.
Just remember, keep it fun, and keep it consistent. And you won’t go too far wrong.
Pain/Medical issues
Although it’s more prominent in senior dogs, never rule out any pain-related or medical issues when it comes to your Frenchie barking.
So if your dog has been acting out of sorts recently and there doesn’t appear to be a valid reason, book an appointment with your vet to put your mind at ease.
You might just find that has a medical issue that is hard to detect to the untrained eye.
Hearing loss, dementia, cognitive dysfunction. These are all very serious illnesses that can strike your dog down at any time in their life.
So do yourself (and your beloved Frenchie) a favor by seeking a professional opinion.
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How To Stop Your French Bulldog Barking
Now you’ve established a few reasons why your Frenchie barks, it’s time to buckle down and do something about it.
Again, your aim here isn’t to eliminate barking completely. It’s to figure out why they’re doing it in the first place and putting measures in place to address it.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at how to get this done…
Figure Out The Root Cause
First and foremost… figure out why your Frenchie loves to bark.
More often than not, there could be a very simple explanation that’s causing them to bark.
And by zoning in on this and (more importantly) removing the motivation behind it. You’re going to be in a much better position to keep the noise under control…
So take a minute to consider the following…
- Does your Frenchie bark at specific times of the day? (like first thing in the morning or before naptime)
- Is there a particular person or object that sets them off? (for instance, the mailman approaching or the sight of you getting the leash out)
When you really think about it, there are practically unlimited reasons dogs tend to bark. But by narrowing down the possible causes, you’re going to have a much easier time getting to grips with the whole situation.
Remove The Motivation To Bark
Once you’ve discovered your dog’s motivation to bark, the next logical step is to remove any motivation.
…Mailman approaching? …shut the blinds to block their view.
…Can’t stop barking at the neighbor’s dog? …limit access to their view of the neighbor’s yard or get rid of any pent-up energy by taking them for a quick walk around the block.
There are literally dozens of preventative measures you can put in place to demotivate your Frenchie to bark.
And although it’s not a permanent solution for fixing the issues at hand. It can be very good at reducing it to a bare minimum so you can get a little peace and quiet.
Related Post: How To Stop Your Dog Barking At Neighbors – The Quick & Easy Way
Don’t Encourage It
This stems back to the point I was making earlier, but it’s important nonetheless.
Most of the time (and probably without even realizing it), you may be motivating the behavior by creating a positive environment when your dog’s bark.
I know it can be hard to reign in the excitement, especially if you haven’t seen your beloved pooch all day. But by playing, praising, or even interacting with your dog when they bark isn’t going to do you any favors in the long run.
So here’s what I recommend instead…
The next time your Frenchie bark, be it because they haven’t seen you all day, or they’re just trying to get your attention, don’t react…
…Don’t even look at them until the barking stops.
If you have to, leave the room for a minute or two and only re-enter when they’ve stopped barking.
If they proceed to bark when you re-enter the room, leave again and repeat the process.
It can take several attempts for your dog to get the message but being the bright, eager to please creatures that they are. Your Frenchie will eventually start to get the message that barking gets them nowhere.
Distract
If you know that there’s a particular scenario when your Frenchie tends to bark. A simple distraction can go a long way to redistributing their attention away from the culprit.
For instance, if your Frenchie tends to bark at other dogs when you head out for your daily walk, doing something simple like giving them a stick or tennis ball to hold can be a great way to distract them.
This kind of reverts back to the whole boredom barking I was talking about earlier.
Basically, if a dog has nothing to keep their attention, chances are they’ll make their own entertainment. One of which can be obsessively barking over the most insignificant things.
Do double down on this; you could even take it one step further by rewarding your Frenchie when they don’t react to certain situations that would usually cause them to bark.
It’s an effective counterconditioning technique that ‘when done right’ can help maintain peace both in and around the home.
Teach Them Emotional Control
If there’s one thing that’s proven, it’s that dogs can quickly become prey to their emotions on a regular basis.
This goes for all dogs as well (Frenchies included), as it’s a natural fight or flight response that stems back hundreds of years when dogs were forced to fend for themselves.
But here’s the thing…
Even though dogs have become domesticated over the years, this natural instinct is still present. Worse still, it can and will manifest when your dog senses what they feel is a potential threat.
The solution? …teach your dog a little emotional control.
By applying the techniques taught in The Dog Calming Code, I can almost guarantee that you’ll see a marked improvement in your Frenchie barking habits for the better.
Wrapping Things Up
When it comes right down to it, barking can be a huge pain in the proverbial if left unchecked.
But by following some of the simple steps above, I have no doubt that you’ll be able to get your Frenchies barking under control sooner rather than later.
To quickly recap, here are a few things you can do to manage the situation effectively…
- Figure out the root cause
- Remove the motivation to bark
- Don’t encourage it
- Distract
- Teach them emotional control
At the end of the day, you need to remember that barking is completely normal behavior. And it’s not something you should aim to eliminate completely.
But with time, patience, and the right strategy, you can eventually teach your Frenchie good habits that will last a lifetime.
