How much do French Bulldogs bark (and what do to if they bark a lot)?

French Bulldogs are not known to be frequent barkers, which is one of the many reasons puppy parents love them. Still, this can vary, and some pups are louder than others, read below how to train them not to bark or how to stop them from barking once started.

How much do French Bulldogs bark?

Frenchies are smart dogs who are aware and alert of their surroundings, so there’s usually a reason why they bark. Finding this out is key to helping stem the action or prevent it from happening altogether. 

The top reasons why your Frenchie barks:

• Territorial: seeing or being around other dogs and unfamiliar people can make your pup uncomfortable and alarmed – they may see them as a threat to themselves and to you (always looking out for their beloved parents!)
• A new/foreign object: a new item in the house can make your Frenchie feel suspicious, which they may also want to vocalize …and so the barking begins
• Boredom! Sometimes your Frenchie is just bored and may want to play or roam in the garden or park

Training your little one to a command such as ‘quiet’ can take time, but in the long run, it will be a success for both of you.

Do’s and Don’ts – Top tips for reducing your Frenchie’s barking

DO:

• Stay indifferent: with unfamiliar people and objects, your Frenchie may go on a barking session. Ignoring their bark and remaining indifferent until it’s over can help them realize you are not threatened and are at ease with the situation. This will help them react in the same way.
• Repeat a phrase in a calm voice such as ‘quiet’ with a treat in sight, wait for a few seconds, and if they stay quiet for a short period – e.g. 10 seconds – feed them the treat and slowly extend the time between commands. This will eventually train your pup to stay quiet and be rewarded at the end. If they continue to bark – keep the treat but wave it by their nose so that they understand they need to give you their silent attention before earning the reward.
• Use the trigger to your benefit: if you know what your pup is barking at then you can use this trigger along with treats to ease them into feeling less aggravated – start by having the trigger further away and slowly edge it closer, with treats at hand to make your little one more comfortable.
• Reverse the barking by asking your dog to react in the opposite way – asking them to ‘lay down’ or ‘sit’ and then reward them with a treat for doing so.

DON’T…:

• …give up! Consistency and lots of practice is key to keeping the command in their minds
• …yell at your baby – positive, conversational tones are best for normalizing your command.
• …keep them always inside – Frenchies love to be playful and active, so letting them run free can help alleviate barking and keep their minds active on exploring the outdoors!

Try to put these tips into action and you’ll see your results very soon: your Frenchie will be calmer and more attentive to your commands…and treats! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

The article was written based on the experience and the services of the TomKings Puppies Team. TomKings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for 12 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and show a puppy from their breed.  Check available puppies here, or if you have any questions, let us know in the comments below.