How to Train a Dog with French Commands

If your little guy is just starting to train and doesn’t yet know basic obedience commands in any language, you can start him off on the right foot by using French commands only.

The French command to teach your pup to sit will be ‘Assis’ (Ah-see). Hold a treat over his nose and say the French command. Then slowly move the treat back behind his head to the back of his body. When he sits, give him the treat. Practice a lot and begin to use only the command without luring with the treat.

The French command to teach your dog to lie down will be ‘Couché’ (Koo-shay). Once your bud has mastered the 'sit' or 'Assis' command, have him lie down using the 'Couché' command. While he is sitting, hold a treat on the ground and pull it away from his body. This should lure him down. Once his tummy touches the ground, say the command and give him the treat. Practice and reward often.

The French command for come is ‘Ici’ (Ih-see). From a sitting or 'down' position, step away from your pup and use the command, ‘Ici.’ Hold a treat out letting him know if he comes to you, he can earn the treat. When he moves toward you, say the command and give him the treat. As with all other commands, practice often.

There are two French commands for the stay position. One is ‘Reste’ (rest), and another is ‘Pas Bougé’ (pah boo-jey), meaning 'not move'. Either is acceptable to teach your dog with the expectation to stay put. From a 'sit' position, take a step away from your pooch and give the command. Do not show a treat. Take another step away. Go back and give the treat. Repeat increasing the distance from him.

If your pup knows his basic obedience commands already and you'd like to teach those same commands in French, you will simply need to repeat the commands in both languages and have him work toward responding to both.

Have some tasty treats ready for your dog to earn. Pick a quiet place for training so you have his attention as this may be confusing at first.

Start by giving your pup a command he knows well such as ‘sit.’

Once your pup performs the command, use the French word for the same command before giving him the treat.

Keep this up using only one command until you are only saying it in French and not the English command he learned first.

Be sure you are still giving your pup rewards for a job well done, but wait until he completes the command. As he learns the French command, wait until he does it upon hearing the French version.

You will need to know the commands you’d like to teach your dog in the French language.

Whether your dog knows these commands in English or not at all, you can use treats to lure him into positions and to do tricks.

Use treats to lure him up or down or to do a trick you’d like to teach him to do in French.

With the treat lure in place, get your pup into the position you’d like to see him in and say the command in French.

Once your dog is performing the treat or hits the position, give him a treat.

Be sure you practice one command at a time several times before moving onto the next command. Always reward your pup for a job well done as he hits each new trick.