My French Bulldog has aggression and is biting

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Does your French Bulldog sometimes act aggressively? ¹

French Bulldogs have seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years and for good reason. They’re sweet, fun, smart, and they make for great companion dogs.

As sweet as they are though, they can sometimes be a bit of a handful to manage if they aren’t taken care of properly and these problems include signs of aggression and biting. Here we will talk about some of the potential answers to a few of the commonly encountered problems with Frenchies.

Are French Bulldogs normally aggressive and do they bite people?

The French Bulldog is a wonderful companion to have around the home, but as with any dog, they come with their own challenges. For the most part, French Bulldogs are not particularly aggressive by nature, although they can be highly boisterous at times. They typically have very playful attitudes and bring a lot of joy to their owners.

Like with any other dog, your Frenchie’s aggression levels will be determined by how it is raised. If brought up correctly, they should have just the right amount of exuberance without it becoming a problem.

While they are generally a very warm-hearted and loyal breed, there are a few factors that can cause them to act out and become unruly. If this type of behaviour isn’t spotted and dealt with early on, it will become increasingly difficult to ensure that your beloved rascals don’t turn into tiny terrors.

3 reasons that Frenchie’s are aggressive

Fear

is a common cause for any animal to display aggression. If your dog feels threatened, their natural response is to become defensive, and a dog’s main defense is obviously their bite. It’s important to do your best to make your Frenchie feel safe and secure. Forming a strong bond with them will slowly build a trusting relationship that should allow them to remain calm when they’re in unpredictable or stressful situations.

As with many dogs of this size, the French Bulldog is often prone to the doggy equivalent of “small man syndrome”. He or she might be little but they can carry a large attitude with them to make up for being both vertically and horizontally challenged. Again, the only real way to curb this type of aggression is to make them feel as secure as possible. You want to make your dogs feel loved without turning them into spoiled brats.

Over Excitement

Sometimes French Bulldogs can just get too excited

Getting them over-excited can also sometimes result in random moments of what you might call aggression. Playing too roughly can exhaust them or make them feel agitated and cause erratic behaviour. You need to learn how to read your dog’s emotions so you can identify when enough is enough. Unfortunately there is such a thing as too much fun.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is another common cause that can account for a French Bulldog’s aggressive behaviour. Once a dog has taken a particular liking to a certain member of the family, they’ll associate that person with the normality of daily life.

That person’s absence can disrupt the Frenchie’s sense of comfort and put them on edge, causing them to lash out. They may end up peeing or pooping in unusual places, howling and barking seemingly at nothing, chewing on anything they can find in their path, or they might even attempt to run away. In this case, your worked up pooch should return to normal when their special human is back in their presence once more. If that isn’t an option, then you’re going to have to work really hard to re-establish that bond with another member of the household.

My French Bulldog puppy keeps biting me? 2 ways to stop it

Puppies bite to explore the world

Puppies bite and use their mouths to explore ³

There are of course other elements to consider which may explain why your Frenchie is acting up. It’s rather normal for puppies to explore the world around them, and part of that exploration involves a lot of biting. To them, everything needs to be tested so they can learn what it is. Without hands, sniffing and chewing are their only real options.

Teething will also be partly responsible for your pup’s inclination to munch on whatever it can get a hold of. This is natural behaviour for most young hounds. However, if they don’t grow out of these habits it can become troublesome. If this continues, there are a few methods that can help to get your French Bulldog to stop biting.

Try Screaming!

Dogs are intelligent creatures that have a profound sense of sympathy in their nature. Have you ever pretended to cry in front of your dog? If you have then it’s likely they would’ve come to comfort you and check that you’re not hurt. In a similar fashion, making a high-pitched squeal or a cry can deter your Frenchie from biting. By doing this every time they nip at you, it should teach them to be more cautious, especially when playing.

You might be encouraging it

It’s wise to be aware of your response to a bite from your dog. If you push them away or run from them, they’ll probably think that you’re just being playful and will most likely continue to bite. One technique is to create discomfort for your dog in these moments by using your finger and thumb to hold underneath their tongue. Alternatively you can put on gloves and apply something that taste bad so that when your dog bites your hand, it will associate biting with the unpleasant taste and hopefully be discouraged from biting again.

My French Bulldog is biting my feet. 3 ways to stop it

There have been many reports of French Bulldogs nipping at people’s feet, which makes sense if you think about it. At their height, a Frenchie sees your feet as moving targets that are always shifting about in front of them. If they aren’t taught otherwise, your feet will appear to be a pair of exciting toys that are always willing to be chased.

If your Frenchie is biting your feet, this is a common problem ⁴

Say “no”

You need to redirect your dog’s brain when this occurs. A loud clap or distinctly and sternly saying “no!” should jolt your dog’s attention away from your feet. It’s unrealistic to expect you or your family to watch every step that’s made in an effort to stop your dog from hunting for your toes.

Use Alternatives

Another good move is to supply a lot of chew toys for your Frenchie so that there’s always something appropriate for them to bite. It’s good practice to train your dog to make the connection that only their toys are acceptable for biting.

Use Praise

Also, remember to reward your pooch when they display the behaviour that you want from them. Positive reinforcement works fairly well, even on humans.

My French Bulldog biting my child. How do I stop it?

If your French Bulldog is biting one of your children,
you should try and stop this behaviour ASAP ⁵

One of the more worrisome parts of dealing a difficult dog is making sure they’re okay with children. Kids are usually very animated and can excite or startle your dog very easily. Ideally you want to raise your Frenchie from a pup to get used to being around children so that they don’t overreact when the kids get too rowdy.

This will condition your pup to handle your children’s shenanigans as they grow up together. Similarly, you need to teach your kids how to act around your dog so they know how to behave appropriately. Sometimes teasing and being playful is perfectly fine, but they need to learn that line of when it becomes too much.

There’s a good chance that your French Bulldog will develop into a protective little companion, which might sound great, but it comes with its own issues. The act of being protective can quickly turn into being possessive, which might lead to your dog becoming aggressive when friends or family members come into your space or do something unpredictable around you. Socializing your Frenchie is a very important part of raising a well-adjusted four-legged friend.

How much force does a French Bulldog bite with?

They may be small but it would be a mistake to underestimate the bite of a French Bulldog. It’s not easy to get a precise measurement of how much force there is behind the bite of your Frenchie, but it’s presumed to be around 180 to 230 PSI. To put that into context, an American Pitbull has a bite force of around 235 PSI. Frenchie’s often like to put that strength to use when playing tug of war. As one of the more gentler breeds, French Bulldogs rarely put their bite into anything else aside from their toys, or if there are a lack of toys, perhaps a couch leg, a cushion, or a pair of shoes.

Closing thoughts

Your dog is a highly impressionable individual. Just like with humans, who they become as they grow up is heavily influenced by the environment they’re raised in. An upbringing balanced between abundant love and reasonable discipline is what you want to be aiming for. Also remember that violence won’t teach your dog anything other than to be afraid of you. This will not earn their respect or their trust. If you’re patient, you should form a cherished relationship with your dog that will last you many years.

Photo Credits

¹ Photo by Mladen Scekic on Unsplash

² Photo by Abhi Bakshi on Unsplash

³ Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash

⁴ Photo by CJ Infantino on Unsplash

⁵ Photo by Tinuke Bernard on Unsplash

James