Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are American Bulldogs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are American Bulldogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do American Bulldogs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do American Bulldogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are American Bulldogs Easy to Train?
- Do American Bulldogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do American Bulldogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do American Bulldogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are American Bulldogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are American Bulldogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are American Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Bulldogs
- Conclusion on American Bulldog Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the American Bulldog
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the American Bulldog out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the American Bulldog based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the American Bulldog breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of American Bulldog by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the American Bulldog.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the American Bulldog for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the American Bulldog.
The summary table below shows the score of the American Bulldog for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Owner Directed Aggression | 8.6 percent |
Energy Level | 65.2 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 62.7 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 61.4 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 54.4 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 50.4 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 49.9 percent |
Excitability | 49.3 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 41.9 percent |
Prey Drive | 38.8 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 37.3 percent |
Stubbornness | 36.9 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 36.3 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 29.8 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your American Bulldog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your American Bulldog, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Bulldog.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
American Bulldogs are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks average for aggression towards strangers.
The American Bulldog ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 36.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
48 | Rottweiler | 36.8 % |
49 | Afghan Hound | 36.5 % |
50 | Bull Terrier | 36.5 % |
51 | American Bulldog | 36.3 % |
52 | Great Pyrenees | 36.0 % |
53 | Border Collie | 35.2 % |
54 | Great Dane | 34.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
American Bulldogs are a little bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks low for aggression towards its owner.
The American Bulldog ranks number 92 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has an owner-directed-aggression score of 8.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit owner-aggressive just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
89 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 9.1 % |
90 | Ibizan Hound | 8.7 % |
91 | Gordon Setter | 8.6 % |
92 | American Bulldog | 8.6 % |
93 | Boxer | 8.5 % |
94 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 8.4 % |
95 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 8.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Bulldogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
American Bulldogs are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The American Bulldog ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a dog-directed aggression score of 37.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
74 | Great Dane | 39.8 % |
75 | Bulldog | 39.4 % |
76 | Vizsla | 38.3 % |
77 | American Bulldog | 37.3 % |
78 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 37.1 % |
79 | Rottweiler | 36.9 % |
80 | Redbone Coonhound | 36.8 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are American Bulldogs Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
American Bulldogs are very much fearful of strangers.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks very high for fear of strangers.
The American Bulldog ranks number 10 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a stranger-directed-fear score of 61.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
7 | Dingo | 68.9 % |
8 | Rat Terrier | 64.5 % |
9 | Dachshund | 62.5 % |
10 | American Bulldog | 61.4 % |
11 | Parson Russell Terrier | 61.3 % |
12 | Basenji | 61.1 % |
13 | Australian Silky Terrier | 59.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are American Bulldogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
American Bulldogs are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The American Bulldog ranks number 50 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a dog-directed-fear score of 41.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
47 | Whippet | 42.6 % |
48 | Havanese | 42.5 % |
49 | Bulldog | 42.0 % |
50 | American Bulldog | 41.9 % |
51 | Samoyed | 41.6 % |
52 | Shetland Sheepdog | 40.8 % |
53 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 40.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do American Bulldogs Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
American Bulldogs are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks very high for non-social fear.
The American Bulldog ranks number 9 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a nonsocial-fear score of 62.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
6 | Chihuahua | 65.0 % |
7 | Parson Russell Terrier | 64.0 % |
8 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 63.9 % |
9 | American Bulldog | 62.7 % |
10 | Rat Terrier | 61.6 % |
11 | Redbone Coonhound | 59.3 % |
12 | Chinese Crested | 57.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do American Bulldogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
American Bulldogs are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks high on dog rivalry.
The American Bulldog ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a dog-rivalry score of 54.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
27 | Schipperke | 55.7 % |
28 | Dingo | 55.6 % |
29 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 55.4 % |
30 | American Bulldog | 54.4 % |
31 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 54.4 % |
32 | Pointer | 54.3 % |
33 | Belgian Malinois | 54.2 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are American Bulldogs Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
American Bulldogs are somewhat easy to train.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks average for trainability.
The American Bulldog ranks number 67 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the trainability of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a trainability score of 63.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat easy to train just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
64 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 65.3 % |
65 | Chow Chow | 64.4 % |
66 | West Highland White Terrier | 63.9 % |
67 | American Bulldog | 63.1 % |
68 | Chinese Crested | 62.7 % |
69 | Akita | 62.5 % |
70 | Kuvasz | 62.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the American Bulldog is and how the intelligence of the American Bulldog affects its trainability in this article on how smart the American Bulldog is.
Do American Bulldogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
American Bulldogs are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The American Bulldog ranks number 89 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a chasing score of 38.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 39.8 % |
87 | Chow Chow | 39.6 % |
88 | Havanese | 38.9 % |
89 | American Bulldog | 38.8 % |
90 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 38.4 % |
91 | Australian Kelpie | 35.7 % |
92 | Poodle (Toy) | 34.4 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do American Bulldogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
American Bulldogs are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The American Bulldog ranks number 68 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 50.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.6 % |
66 | Bearded Collie | 51.5 % |
67 | Border Terrier | 50.7 % |
68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
70 | Brittany | 49.1 % |
71 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 48.8 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do American Bulldogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
American Bulldogs are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The American Bulldog ranks number 36 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a separation anxiety score of 49.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
33 | Basset Hound | 51.0 % |
34 | Jack Russell Terrier | 50.8 % |
35 | Bichon Frise | 50.7 % |
36 | American Bulldog | 49.9 % |
37 | Belgian Malinois | 49.1 % |
38 | Miniature Schnauzer | 49.1 % |
39 | Whippet | 49.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are American Bulldogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
American Bulldogs are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The American Bulldog ranks number 55 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has a touch-sensitivity score of 29.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
52 | Dalmatian | 32.5 % |
53 | Standard Schnauzer | 31.0 % |
54 | Pomeranian | 30.6 % |
55 | American Bulldog | 29.8 % |
56 | Bull Terrier | 29.7 % |
57 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 29.3 % |
58 | Brittany | 28.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are American Bulldogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
American Bulldogs are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the American Bulldog ranks high for excitability.
The American Bulldog ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has an excitability score of 49.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
45 | Beagle | 50.7 % |
46 | Giant Schnauzer | 50.6 % |
47 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 50.2 % |
48 | American Bulldog | 49.3 % |
49 | Weimaraner | 49.2 % |
50 | Pointer | 49.0 % |
51 | Australian Shepherd | 47.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are American Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of American Bulldogs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
American Bulldogs are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the American Bulldog ranks high for energy level.
The American Bulldog ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 19 American Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their American Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the American Bulldog has an energy-level score of 65.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the American Bulldog are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
39 | Pit Bull | 67.2 % |
40 | West Highland White Terrier | 65.5 % |
41 | Belgian Sheepdog | 65.3 % |
42 | American Bulldog | 65.2 % |
43 | Alaskan Husky | 65.2 % |
44 | Boston Terrier | 64.5 % |
45 | Schipperke | 64.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on American Bulldog Temperament
The temperament of your American Bulldog comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your American Bulldog is exposed to.
You cannot change your American Bulldog`s gene but you can change the things you expose your American Bulldog to.
Exposing your American Bulldog to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your American Bulldog to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your American Bulldog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your American Bulldog.
If you think the American Bulldog is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much American Bulldogs cost and American Bulldog puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable American Bulldog breeders in the United States and the prices of their American Bulldog puppies.