Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Bulldogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Bulldogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Bulldogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Bulldogs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Bulldogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Bulldogs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Bulldogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Bulldogs Easy to Train?
- Do Bulldogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Bulldogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Bulldogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Bulldogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Bulldogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bulldogs
- Conclusion on Bulldog Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Bulldog
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the 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 Bulldog based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Bulldog breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of 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 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 Bulldog for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Bulldog.
The summary table below shows the score of the Bulldog for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Prey Drive | 7.5 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 45.5 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 42.1 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 42.0 percent |
| Stubbornness | 41.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 39.4 percent |
| Excitability | 37.2 percent |
| Energy Level | 32.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 27.2 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 23.6 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 23.1 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 21.4 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 15.6 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 15.3 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Bulldog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your 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 Bulldog.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are 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.
Bulldogs are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Bulldog ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Bulldog ranks number 109 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 15.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 16.3 % |
| 107 | Chinook | 16.0 % |
| 108 | Newfoundland | 15.8 % |
| 109 | Bulldog | 15.6 % |
| 110 | English Setter | 15.1 % |
| 111 | French Bulldog | 14.4 % |
| 112 | Bearded Collie | 14.2 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Bulldog ranks high for aggression towards its owner.
The Bulldog ranks number 39 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has an owner-directed-aggression score of 23.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 25.7 % |
| 37 | Chow Chow | 24.3 % |
| 38 | Afghan Hound | 24.1 % |
| 39 | Bulldog | 23.1 % |
| 40 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 22.8 % |
| 41 | Saint Bernard | 22.6 % |
| 42 | Chinese Crested | 22.1 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Bulldog ranks number 75 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a dog-directed aggression score of 39.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Papillon | 40.3 % |
| 73 | Gordon Setter | 40.2 % |
| 74 | Great Dane | 39.8 % |
| 75 | Bulldog | 39.4 % |
| 76 | Vizsla | 38.3 % |
| 77 | American Bulldog | 37.3 % |
| 78 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 37.1 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for fear of strangers.
The Bulldog ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a stranger-directed-fear score of 15.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Bouvier des Flandres | 16.4 % |
| 91 | Akita | 15.8 % |
| 92 | Gordon Setter | 15.7 % |
| 93 | Bulldog | 15.3 % |
| 94 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
| 95 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 14.9 % |
| 96 | Kuvasz | 14.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are 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.
Bulldogs are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Bulldog ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Bulldog ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a dog-directed-fear score of 42.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | West Highland White Terrier | 42.9 % |
| 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 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Bulldog ranks average for non-social fear.
The Bulldog ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a nonsocial-fear score of 27.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Great Pyrenees | 29.7 % |
| 68 | Whippet | 29.6 % |
| 69 | Great Dane | 28.4 % |
| 70 | Bulldog | 27.2 % |
| 71 | Belgian Tervuren | 26.1 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 26.0 % |
| 73 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 26.0 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Bulldog ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Bulldog ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a dog-rivalry score of 42.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 43.1 % |
| 54 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 42.8 % |
| 55 | English Springer Spaniel | 42.7 % |
| 56 | Bulldog | 42.1 % |
| 57 | Ibizan Hound | 42.0 % |
| 58 | Basset Hound | 40.2 % |
| 59 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 39.1 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit easy to train.
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for trainability.
The Bulldog ranks number 84 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the trainability of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a trainability score of 58.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Keeshond | 59.1 % |
| 82 | Miniature Schnauzer | 58.6 % |
| 83 | Pomeranian | 58.6 % |
| 84 | Bulldog | 58.3 % |
| 85 | Ibizan Hound | 58.1 % |
| 86 | Pit Bull mix | 57.5 % |
| 87 | Scottish Terrier | 56.8 % |
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 Bulldog is and how the intelligence of the Bulldog affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Bulldog is.
Do 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.
Bulldogs are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Bulldog ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Bulldog ranks number 123 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a chasing score of 7.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | Great Pyrenees | 14.3 % |
| 121 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 11.3 % |
| 122 | Shih Tzu | 10.7 % |
| 123 | Bulldog | 7.5 % |
| 124 | Pug | 0.0 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Bulldog ranks number 79 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 45.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Redbone Coonhound | 47.8 % |
| 77 | Labrador Retriever | 47.2 % |
| 78 | Shetland Sheepdog | 46.9 % |
| 79 | Bulldog | 45.5 % |
| 80 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 45.4 % |
| 81 | Beagle | 44.9 % |
| 82 | Papillon | 44.2 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Bulldog ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Bulldog ranks number 101 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a separation anxiety score of 23.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 25.1 % |
| 99 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 24.9 % |
| 100 | Keeshond | 23.7 % |
| 101 | Bulldog | 23.6 % |
| 102 | Belgian Tervuren | 23.3 % |
| 103 | Gordon Setter | 23.1 % |
| 104 | Airedale Terrier | 23.0 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for touch sensitivity.
The Bulldog ranks number 93 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has a touch-sensitivity score of 21.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit touch-sensitive just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 21.8 % |
| 91 | Bullmastiff | 21.6 % |
| 92 | Italian Greyhound | 21.4 % |
| 93 | Bulldog | 21.4 % |
| 94 | Siberian Husky | 21.3 % |
| 95 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 20.5 % |
| 96 | Great Pyrenees | 20.2 % |
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 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.
Bulldogs are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Bulldog ranks low for excitability.
The Bulldog ranks number 89 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has an excitability score of 37.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Portuguese Water Dog | 38.2 % |
| 87 | Scottish Terrier | 37.6 % |
| 88 | Border Terrier | 37.4 % |
| 89 | Bulldog | 37.2 % |
| 90 | Alaskan Malamute | 36.8 % |
| 91 | Golden Retriever | 36.4 % |
| 92 | Whippet | 36.2 % |
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 Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bulldogs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Bulldogs are not energetic.
This is because the Bulldog ranks very low for energy level.
The Bulldog ranks number 105 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 32 Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bulldog has an energy-level score of 32.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not energetic just like the Bulldog are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 33.8 % |
| 103 | Alaskan Malamute | 32.9 % |
| 104 | Basenji | 32.4 % |
| 105 | Bulldog | 32.1 % |
| 106 | Standard Schnauzer | 31.9 % |
| 107 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 30.5 % |
| 108 | Tibetan Terrier | 30.0 % |
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 Bulldog Temperament
The temperament of your Bulldog comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Bulldog is exposed to.
You cannot change your Bulldog`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Bulldog to.
Exposing your Bulldog to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Bulldog to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your 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 Bulldog.
If you think the Bulldog is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Bulldogs cost and Bulldog puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Bulldog breeders in the United States and the prices of their Bulldog puppies.