Are Bulldogs Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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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:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. 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:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Bulldog

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:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

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:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Bulldog

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:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

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:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Bulldog a good pet

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:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

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:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Bulldog. Is it aggressive?

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:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

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:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Bulldog

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:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

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:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Bulldog

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:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

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:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Bulldog

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:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

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.