How to Train a Dog with French Commands

Maybe you speak French or maybe you’d just like your dog to speak, or rather know, French. Either way, if you teach your dog the same commands you know in English in the French language, you’ll have a fabulously fun bilingual dog.

Imagine going to the dog parks and having your dog perform for other dogs and owners while you give only French commands.

‘Ohh-la-la,’ others will say. ‘You know French.’

‘My dog does. He knows French and English.’

Once your pup has mastered simple obedience commands in French, you can teach him fun tricks in French and put on a show. Your audience may not know what to expect unless they speak your dog’s new language as well.

Training commands in another language like French isn’t much different than teaching commands in your native language. You will repeat the commands, get your pup into position or performing a trick, and then reward when he is successful. If your little guy already knows commands in English or another language, you will need to work with each command in the language he knows already as well as in French. After working with both languages, you will transition over time to only French so he knows he can perform that command with words other than the ones he knew before.

You can train any dog at any age commands in French. Just make sure the commands you use are consistent. A puppy is a quick student while an older dog, especially one who has only learned commands in one language, may take a bit more time to adjust to learning new commands for old tricks.

You will need some delicious treats and scheduled time to teach these new commands. Since some of these tricks may be new to your dog, work with one command at a time. Plan your sessions in a quiet room free of distractions. This way your pup can focus on you and learning his new language.