The Bulldog Personality

Getting to know your dog’s personality will make subsequent work and training much easier.

Bulldog Stubbornness

The bulldog is very stubborn by nature, and selective deafness is a prominent trait. Bulldogs are one of those “show me” breeds – they tend to need to know there’s something in it for them if you want them to do something, and they also need to know you’re going to get what you want if it’s reasonable. The description of bulldogs as 3-year old toddlers in dog suits can be both accurate and appropriate.

Vexing though this can be, it’s also a huge part of what makes them lovable. The most important element of the relationship is authority; you must be in charge, and bulldogs need to know where they can and can’t go, when play is too rough, and so on.

Bulldog Sulking

Yes, bulldogs sulk. A bulldog that feels he’s been hard done will literally sit staring at the floor or the wall, and interrupting the sulk is near on impossible. They love to be the center of attention, which is quite endearing when they’re puppies, but our amusement can also encourage the behavior, so it’s important to understand the pluses and minuses that come with the sulk.

Bulldog Communication

Bulldogs like to talk to their people, and sometimes this can be misunderstood as growling, especially if they have a toy, because bulldogs will also growl to invite you to play. Consider it part of the lingo; bulldogs growl at each other when they play and they shout if they don’t like what you’ve done to them, so it’s very important you don’t misunderstand this behavior as aggressive.

On the plus side, bulldogs are very quick learners, and in some instances, they remember things for years. There are times when you’ll see behaviors you wouldn’t believe was possible from a dog unless you’d seen them yourself.

Having noted all this, the bulldog’s people-like personality is what makes them so lovable. They’re rarely nasty, and they’ll put up with an awful lot from their humans. Bulldogs are also happy simply to be part of the family, they’re consummate listeners. Bulldogs also have exquisite radar; it’s not unusual for them to know when you need a hug or you’re just feeling low and miserable.

Bulldog Companionship and Need for Love

One of the most important things to remember about your bulldog is the need for human companionship. They’re hardcore house dogs that adore furniture, particularly when given their own, as some bulldog owners are wont to do.

Bulldog Aggression

Aggression toward people is relatively rare for bulldogs, but not unheard of. As the aggression hasn’t progressed too far they tend to exercise remarkable restraint in this area, partly because of their nature, and partly because biting is mostly defensive in almost all dogs.

Bulldogs were originally bred and trained to fight and protect, and the differences in their jaw and facial structure can make their expressions harder than usual for other dogs to read. When a bulldog gets in a “fight or flight” scenario with another dog, having the bulldog choose the fight option can be a very nasty piece of business. And the danger potential is compounded by the bulldog’s superb memory; bad experiences with other dogs tend to get imprinted into the memory circuitry for a very long time.

Bulldog Jealousy

Jealousy is a closely related issue. Bulldogs will fight over human attention, food and toys, so it’s important to watch multiple bulldogs carefully in situations where this is a potential issue.

It’s important to never leave any dog unattended with a child, especially small children who push a dog’s boundaries and stress threshold more than most adults because they don’t realize the consequences. It’s easy for a screaming child to confuse a dog, for instance, so it’s important to teach kids as soon as possible NOT to treat the bulldog like the cuddly stuffed animals they appear to be.

Peaks of Energy

The bulldog also has a very unique way of releasing energy. It usually occurs in the evening and comes out of the clear blue when your bulldog takes off like he has a rocket up his backside, literally bouncing off the furniture, running around the table and in and out the door. It’s usually wise to step back and stand still when this occurs to keep from getting flipped upside down or otherwise injured.

The Cutest Things About Bulldogs

Finally, no exploration of the bulldog personality would be complete without a brief reminder of one of their most prominent and cutest traits. Their strongest “drive” and characteristic may be their ability to unconditionally love everyone they come in contact with; there’s nothing more enjoyable, endearing and heartwarming than a bulldog trying so hard to wag his or her tail that the entire back end wiggles along with it.

Return to Top

Home