French Bulldog aggression

French Bulldog is a dog in the first place and like any other dog, he can be aggressive in certain occasions. After all, they still have the same genes as their wild ancestors and people domesticated them to protect them and their property, so it is more appropriate to say that dogs in general have the potential to be aggressive, but they are usually not. Even Pit Bulls who are recognized for their “aggressive reputation” are not aggressive unless they are trained to be, especially not to humans. It goes the same for all dogs. Now, Frenchies are also Bulldogs after all, which means they are big dogs in a small body, so they have that big dog attitude. They are also sweet, playful, clownish and well behaved. French Bulldogs are very attached to their owner and don’t like to be left alone for a long time.

According to our experience, French Bulldogs usually get along with each other just fine, but sometimes they can express some level of aggression towards dogs of the same sex. That is usually when they are provoked, jealous or they feel threatened, but it never escalates to more than barking and growling. They rarely physically attack other pets or animals and it can be avoided if they are put together at a very young age. They are great with children and there should not be any problems if they have to live in the same household with other animals, such as cats or birds, but it works better if you introduce them while they are young.

People often ask me what they can expect puppy to be when it grows up, but no one can answer that question no matter how long they are in breeding business. When you are choosing a puppy, you can never predict whether some dog is going to be more or less aggressive when he grows up. Let me give you one example. Can you predict what a child’s temper will be like when they are just a few months old? Well, it is the same with dogs! If you want to know for sure and you absolutely want to take no risk, you will have to get an adult dog! Also, don’t let the dog’s sex fool you! If you think the boys should naturally be more aggressive and territorial, you are wrong. I have seen many cases and litters where the girls are more disobedient, stubborn or even aggressive. Some breeders even claim that in their kennels, girls are troublemakers and boys are sweet and kind. Girls can also be a bit moodier and feistier. Of course, if you want to prevent bad temper and aggressive outbursts in male dogs, it is always wise to neuter them. After that, they are a lot easier to handle.

There is one characteristic of French Bulldogs that can be considered cute or even charming… Some of them like to think they are the boss in the house. They like to be pampered, they are attention addicts and love to be the center of the Universe! They also sometimes get territorial over their owner. It is normal and all dogs have those moments. Frenchies simply want to have all your attention, so they may growl when the other dog approaches you and wants to cuddle. It is not a sign he wants to fight, but more of a complaint directed at you or telling others to stay away. Although this may seem funny, you should definitely not reward that sort of behavior. On the contrary, you must let him know it is not acceptable. And it is always recommendable to teach your dog that you are the boss while he is young, so he wouldn’t get any ideas later, when it is harder to correct bad behavior.

That would pretty much be it and remember- every dog is unique and has his own dog personality, so you should approach each one of them individually. Your job is to be the leader of the pack and all dogs, no matter what race they are, need to know that human is the alpha. Some Frenchies have a tendency do try to be the boss, but it is up to you to put them back to their place. Typical French Bulldogs are perfect pets- loyal, obedient, playful and very loving, so you will most probably not have any trouble keeping them under control.