Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are French Bulldogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are French Bulldogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are French Bulldogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are French Bulldogs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are French Bulldogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do French Bulldogs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do French Bulldogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are French Bulldogs Easy to Train?
- Do French Bulldogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do French Bulldogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do French Bulldogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are French Bulldogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are French Bulldogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are French Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of French Bulldogs
- Conclusion on French Bulldog Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the French Bulldog
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the French 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 French Bulldog based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the French Bulldog breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of French 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 French 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 French Bulldog for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the French Bulldog.
The summary table below shows the score of the French Bulldog for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Dog Rivalry | 90.6 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 7.7 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 59.6 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 56.2 percent |
Excitability | 54.7 percent |
Stubbornness | 54.6 percent |
Energy Level | 52.3 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 48.7 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 47.7 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 41.9 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 32.8 percent |
Prey Drive | 25.1 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 20.9 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 14.4 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your French Bulldog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your French 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 French Bulldog.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are French 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.
French Bulldogs are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The French Bulldog ranks number 111 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 14.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
108 | Newfoundland | 15.8 % |
109 | Bulldog | 15.6 % |
110 | English Setter | 15.1 % |
111 | French Bulldog | 14.4 % |
112 | Bearded Collie | 14.2 % |
113 | Golden Retriever | 13.1 % |
114 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 12.5 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The French Bulldog ranks number 7 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has an owner-directed-aggression score of 56.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
4 | Lhasa Apso | 64.0 % |
5 | Alaskan Husky | 60.1 % |
6 | Standard Schnauzer | 58.1 % |
7 | French Bulldog | 56.2 % |
8 | American Eskimo Dog | 55.9 % |
9 | Alaskan Malamute | 53.2 % |
10 | Poodle (Toy) | 48.9 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The French Bulldog ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a dog-directed aggression score of 41.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
67 | Kuvasz | 42.2 % |
68 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 42.0 % |
69 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 41.9 % |
70 | French Bulldog | 41.9 % |
71 | Poodle (Miniature) | 41.1 % |
72 | Papillon | 40.3 % |
73 | Gordon Setter | 40.2 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are not fearful of strangers.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very low for fear of strangers.
The French Bulldog ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a stranger-directed-fear score of 7.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
115 | Portuguese Water Dog | 8.2 % |
116 | Keeshond | 7.7 % |
117 | Scottish Terrier | 7.7 % |
118 | French Bulldog | 7.7 % |
119 | Newfoundland | 6.6 % |
120 | Giant Schnauzer | 5.7 % |
121 | Siberian Husky | 4.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are French 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.
French Bulldogs are very much fearful of other dogs.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very high for fear of other dogs.
The French Bulldog ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a dog-directed-fear score of 59.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
14 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 60.7 % |
15 | Tibetan Terrier | 60.3 % |
16 | Shih Tzu | 60.0 % |
17 | French Bulldog | 59.6 % |
18 | Poodle (Miniature) | 59.5 % |
19 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 59.1 % |
20 | American Eskimo Dog | 58.8 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks low for non-social fear.
The French Bulldog ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a nonsocial-fear score of 20.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
83 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 21.4 % |
84 | Australian Cattle Dog | 21.2 % |
85 | Poodle (Standard) | 21.0 % |
86 | French Bulldog | 20.9 % |
87 | Havanese | 20.7 % |
88 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 20.2 % |
89 | Scottish Terrier | 19.9 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very high on dog rivalry.
The French Bulldog ranks number 4 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a dog-rivalry score of 90.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Miniature Pinscher | 100.0 % |
2 | Parson Russell Terrier | 92.8 % |
3 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 90.9 % |
4 | French Bulldog | 90.6 % |
5 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 89.3 % |
6 | Lhasa Apso | 85.6 % |
7 | Pekingese | 85.0 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are not easy to train.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very low for trainability.
The French Bulldog ranks number 108 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the trainability of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a trainability score of 45.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
105 | Dachshund | 46.6 % |
106 | Saint Bernard | 46.5 % |
107 | Pug | 45.9 % |
108 | French Bulldog | 45.4 % |
109 | Beagle | 45.3 % |
110 | Yorkshire Terrier | 45.1 % |
111 | Greyhound | 44.9 % |
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 French Bulldog is and how the intelligence of the French Bulldog affects its trainability in this article on how smart the French Bulldog is.
Do French 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.
French Bulldogs are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The French Bulldog ranks number 112 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a chasing score of 25.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
109 | Saint Bernard | 27.0 % |
110 | Chihuahua | 26.5 % |
111 | Chinese Crested | 26.2 % |
112 | French Bulldog | 25.1 % |
113 | English Bulldog | 24.0 % |
114 | Collie | 23.9 % |
115 | Samoyed | 19.8 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The French Bulldog ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 48.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
70 | Brittany | 49.1 % |
71 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 48.8 % |
72 | French Bulldog | 48.7 % |
73 | Whippet | 48.6 % |
74 | Pointer | 48.1 % |
75 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 47.9 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The French Bulldog ranks number 42 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a separation anxiety score of 47.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
39 | Whippet | 49.0 % |
40 | Samoyed | 48.0 % |
41 | Pug | 47.8 % |
42 | French Bulldog | 47.7 % |
43 | Shih Tzu | 47.5 % |
44 | English Bulldog | 47.1 % |
45 | Pomeranian | 47.0 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The French Bulldog ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has a touch-sensitivity score of 32.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
46 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 34.5 % |
47 | Border Collie | 34.5 % |
48 | Redbone Coonhound | 33.1 % |
49 | French Bulldog | 32.8 % |
50 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 32.7 % |
51 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 32.5 % |
52 | Dalmatian | 32.5 % |
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 French 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.
French Bulldogs are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the French Bulldog ranks high for excitability.
The French Bulldog ranks number 30 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has an excitability score of 54.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
27 | Pomeranian | 56.2 % |
28 | Pug | 55.2 % |
29 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 54.9 % |
30 | French Bulldog | 54.7 % |
31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 54.0 % |
32 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 53.9 % |
33 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.7 % |
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 French Bulldogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of French Bulldogs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
French Bulldogs are a little bit energetic.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks low for energy level.
The French Bulldog ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 16 French Bulldog owners reported on the temperament of their French Bulldog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the French Bulldog has an energy-level score of 52.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the French Bulldog are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
73 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.4 % |
74 | English Springer Spaniel | 53.4 % |
75 | Scottish Terrier | 52.3 % |
76 | French Bulldog | 52.3 % |
77 | Border Terrier | 52.0 % |
78 | Bichon Frise | 51.9 % |
79 | Golden Retriever | 51.5 % |
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 French Bulldog Temperament
The temperament of your French Bulldog comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your French Bulldog is exposed to.
You cannot change your French Bulldog`s gene but you can change the things you expose your French Bulldog to.
Exposing your French Bulldog to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your French Bulldog to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your French 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 French Bulldog.
If you think the French Bulldog is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much French Bulldogs cost and French Bulldog puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable French Bulldog breeders in the United States and the prices of their French Bulldog puppies.