French Bulldog Temperament

Overall, French Bulldogs are well-tempered, friendly animals whose worst temperamental flaw is that they can have a stubborn streak. They’re affable by nature, and they’re not quick to aggression, and their separation anxiety comes exclusively from just how much they love their owners.

Similar to their personality, French Bulldogs’ temperament largely depends on their early youth, how they were bred, and that of their parents. Let’s start by pointing out the good. First, Frenchies are relatively docile, meaning their easy dogs to train. While they do have extremely short attention spans, by in large they’re capable of learning quickly, and they have the capacity to be calm throughout their puppy years.

They’re not an aggressive breed, although they do tend to nip, and instead, like to outpour affection rather than hold a reservation or suspicion of the world. This means that they’re good with children. They are constantly seeking validation, but not in an unhealthy or obsessive way.

With that being said, these dogs crave affection to the point that, although being commonly known as the perfectly adaptable home dog, they can often become anxious or depressed if they’re left at home for too long. They’re by and large confident animals, but that doesn’t make them impervious to becoming extremely dependent on the presence of their owners. This makes them a poor fit for an owner that is constantly away from their home, and a better fit for an owner with more time on their hands.

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Not only that, but a Frenchie can become destructive in a home without proper guidance. They are ‘rough players’ for their size, and they love to chew through things, play tug-of-war against inanimate objects, and dig if the environment permits it. While your Frenchie might be the most dignified and confident couch potato you’ve ever seen, that doesn’t mean you should leave him alone for long periods of time, as he may be particularly prone to have extreme separation anxiety.

Where the French Bulldog temperament becomes a problem is often when it comes to their stubbornness. As they age, they become strikingly more stubborn, and if this isn’t treated with care then it becomes a problem. They can be stubborn to the point that they simply refuse to learn or follow the rules set before them, in which case they can also become aggressive. If this stubbornness isn’t managed early on, it manifests into poor behavior in other facets of their temperament.