Struggling with Puppy Training? 50+ Real Frenchton Moments That'll Make You Feel Like a Normal Dog Mom

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Listen, if you're reading this at 2 AM after your Frenchton just ate your favorite slippers (again), demolished a roll of toilet paper, and somehow managed to poop behind the couch despite having JUST been outside, you're in the right place. I'm Shilo, and I live in rural Maine with two chaos agents named Tilly (9 months) and Tater (7 months). They're Frenchtons, which means they got the French Bulldog stubbornness and the Boston Terrier energy. Lucky me, right?

After months of "training" (and I use that term loosely), I've collected enough ridiculous moments to fill a sitcom. These are the real, unfiltered, "did that actually just happen?" moments that every dog mom experiences but nobody talks about in those perfect Instagram training videos.

The "I Thought I Had This Under Control" Moments

Moment #1: Tilly learned "sit" in one day. I felt like a dog training genius. The next day, she decided "sit" only applied when treats were visible and I was wearing my blue sweater.

Moment #2: Spent $40 on a "chew-proof" toy. Tater destroyed it in 11 minutes. I timed it.

Moment #3: Finally taught them not to jump on the couch. They started jumping on the coffee table instead. Technically, I never said anything about the coffee table.

Moment #4: Tilly mastered the command "drop it." Unfortunately, she also mastered picking things up the second I turned around. Bonus: My secret bribery weapon is this little training kit — clicker + treat pouch = a whole 12 seconds of focus (new record).

The Potty Training Chronicles (AKA My Personal Hell)

Moment #5: Took Tater outside 47 times one day. He pooped inside 5 minutes after each trip. Backup plan: we keep training pads by the door for those 'I swear I just went' moments.

Moment #6: Tilly learned to ring the bell to go outside. Now she rings it when she's bored, wants attention, or sees a squirrel through the window. We trained with this handy helper and at least now the bell rings before the chaos.

Moment #7: They both had accidents in their crates the same night. At 3 AM. During a thunderstorm. We upgraded to this crate with a divider and a washable tray—still gross at midnight, but way faster to clean.

Moment #8: Tater peed on my foot while I was praising him for pooping outside. Mixed signals, buddy.

Moment #9: Invested in waterproof mattress protectors. They found the ONE spot I missed.

Moment #10: Caught Tilly mid-poop in the living room. She made eye contact and kept going. The audacity.

The "Why Are You Like This?" Training Sessions

Moment #11: During a Zoom work call, Tilly decided to practice her "speak" command for 15 straight minutes.

Moment #12: Taught them "gentle" when taking treats. Tater now takes treats so gently it takes 3 minutes per treat.

Moment #13: Tilly knows exactly what "quiet" means. She also knows I can't make her do it.

Moment #14: Set up a beautiful training session with treats and clickers. Both dogs were more interested in the leaves blowing outside.

Moment #15: They perform every command perfectly... when no one else is watching.

The Great Escape Artists

Moment #16: Tater figured out how to open the baby gate. He doesn't go through it; he just opens it and stares at me.

Moment #17: Found Tilly on the kitchen counter. Still trying to figure out her route.

Moment #18: They tag-team escaped from the backyard. Tilly digs, Tater squeezes through first.

Moment #19: Came home to find them both in the master bedroom despite closing all doors. They're basically Houdini with paws.

Food-Related Chaos (There's a Lot)

Moment #20: Taught them to wait before eating. They now wait until I'm not looking, then inhale their food in 3 seconds.

Moment #21: Tilly learned to open the treat cabinet. This was not a command I taught her.

Moment #22: Fed them in separate rooms to prevent food stealing. They finished their food, then switched rooms.

Moment #23: Tater ate half a pizza while I was in the bathroom. He looked so proud.

Moment #24: They both know "leave it" means "eat it faster."

The Midnight Shenanigans

Moment #25: 2 AM zoomies through the house. Every. Single. Night. Our compromise: I hand them this chaos-busting chew and buy myself three minutes of peace.

Moment #26: Tilly's new hobby: reorganizing the shoes by the front door. At 3 AM.

Moment #27: Woke up to find Tater had moved every toy from the living room to my bed.

Moment #28: They invented a game called "pass the squeaky toy" at midnight. I was not invited to play, just forced to listen.

Walking Adventures (Loosely Defined)

Moment #29: Spent 30 minutes walking them around the block. Covered approximately 50 feet.

Moment #30: Tilly refuses to walk if it's raining, snowing, too sunny, or if she sees a leaf moving.

Moment #31: They're perfectly leash-trained until they see another dog, a squirrel, or literally any other living creature. Swapping to a sturdier harness made walks slightly less like waterskiing behind a squirrel.

Moment #32: Tater learned to wrap his leash around every possible object during a walk. It's like he's crocheting.

The Destruction Department

Moment #33: Came home to find they'd redesigned the living room. Everything was in the center of the room.

Moment #34: They ate the corner of the couch. Not chewed, ate. It's gone.

Moment #35: Discovered they can open cabinet doors. Said goodbye to my childhood dish set.

Moment #36: Tilly chewed through the phone charger while I was using it. Technology rejection?

Moment #37: Found my favorite book with exactly 12 pages remaining. Thanks, Tater.

The "I Can't Even" Moments

Moment #38: Tilly learned to fake a limp to get out of training. Oscar-worthy performance.

Moment #39: They both know how to open doors but haven't figured out how to close them.

Moment #40: Tater stole my sock while I was putting it on. Persistence level: expert.

Moment #41: Set up a perfect photo shoot. Got 47 blurry pictures of their butts.

Moment #42: They only follow commands when I'm holding their favorite toy, wearing specific clothes, and standing in the exact right spot.

What Actually Works (Plot Twist!)

Here's the thing, between all these chaotic moments, there are victories. Small ones, but victories nonetheless.

The Real Win: Tilly now sits before crossing thresholds. It took 3 months, but she does it.

Tater's Achievement: He comes when called... if I'm holding cheese.

Joint Success: They've learned that certain toys are off-limits. Took destroying 6 pairs of shoes to get there.

Best Discovery: High-value treats (freeze-dried liver) can make them forget they ever learned to be stubborn.

The Truth About Frenchton Training

Living with these two has taught me that training isn't about having perfect dogs, it's about finding what works for YOUR chaos agents. Some days, "training" means everyone survived without eating anything toxic. Other days, we nail a 5-minute session where they actually listen.

The internet makes puppy training look neat and tidy. Reality is dog hair on everything, chewed-up remotes, and learning that "trained" is more of a suggestion than a permanent state.

What I've Learned:

• Consistency matters, but so does flexibility

• Frenchtons are smart enough to train you while you think you're training them

• Every small win deserves celebration (yes, even peeing outside after 73 accidents)

• Your expectations need adjustment every few days

• They'll never be the dogs in the training videos, and that's perfectly fine

You're Not Alone in This

If your Frenchton makes you question every life choice that led to pet ownership, you're normal. If you've googled "is my dog broken?" at 2 AM, welcome to the club. If you've apologized to your neighbors for the barking, the digging, or that one time your dog escaped and "helped" with their gardening: you're in good company.

Training Tilly and Tater is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall while riding a unicycle. Some days, we're training rockstars. Other days, we're just trying to keep everyone alive and the house somewhat intact.

The beautiful mess of puppy training is exactly that: a mess. But it's OUR mess, and somehow, in between the chaos and destroyed shoes, these little troublemakers become the best parts of our days.

Tomorrow, Tilly will probably forget everything she learned today, and Tater will find a new way to turn training time into chaos hour. And somehow, I'll still think they're perfect.

Because at the end of the day, when they're finally tired out and sleeping peacefully (on my bed, naturally), I remember why we do this crazy dance called dog training. It's not about perfect behavior: it's about building a relationship with these ridiculous, loveable, stubborn little personalities who make life infinitely more interesting.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go see what they're destroying upstairs. That level of quiet can only mean trouble.

Shop Our Puppy Survival Kit

• Shop pick #1 — House-saving training pads for indoor "oops" moments between the door and the grass.

• Shop pick #2 — Training kit with clicker + treat pouch; bribe like a professional.

• Shop pick #3 — Right-sized crate with divider and washable tray; stormy-night safe zone.

• Shop pick #4 — Zoomies breaker; something they can chew that isn't my shoe.