Are French Bulldogs Good With Other Dogs? With Humans?

Introduction: Are French Bulldogs good with other dogs?

Everyone these days seems to be interested in buying a French Bulldog, given their small size, easy-to-groom coat, and generally friendly temperament.

However, there are some dogs that simply don't mix well with other dogs, and they are best kept as the only dog in their household.

Is this the case with the French Bulldog? It will be helpful to first go through some of the particularities of French Bulldog temperament, before shifting gears and discussing whether the French Bulldog is able to do well in a household where there are other dogs around.

Generally speaking, while French Bulldogs are not unfriendly to other dogs, they prefer human companionship to make friends with other dogs.

Many French Bulldogs will be aloof towards other dogs, or in some cases will be territorial when it comes to their owners.

French Bulldogs have a stubborn and independent personality

As is the case with just about any dog breed, the general temperament of French Bulldogs goes a long way towards influencing whether they are able to handle being around other dogs.

While each dog will vary somewhat in terms of its personality, there are some easy generalizations to be made.

The French Bulldog Club of America and DogTime describe this dog breed as being lovable towards its owners but also note that they can be a bit difficult to train.

According to YourPureBredPuppy, This difficulty comes from the fact that they can be quite hardheaded and stubborn, which is discussed in detail hereby Your Purebred Puppy.

Though they can have strong personalities, it is also the case that French Bulldogs go out of their way to try to please their owners.

In many ways, these are the ultimate companion dogs. French Bulldogs do very poorly on their own for long periods of time, because they crave social stimulation.

Another fact that makes French Bulldogs both excellent companions and somewhat difficult to train is the fact that they are highly intelligent.

The French Bulldog is observant of its environment and catches onto things quickly. This means that they need a confident owner who will keep up with them.

The puppies, in particular, have a great deal of energy, and they will always be looking to play.

This starts to fade a bit over time, as the adults will start to calm down and not require quite so much activity. While French Bulldogs love sitting on laps, they also need to be regularly exercised.

One of the most important factors in how a dog breed generally does with other dogs is the question of aggressiveness, as explored by the Canna-Pet.

French Bulldogs are not known to be particularly aggressive, though they may nip when they are excited or stressed. Generally speaking, this is not a breed that is looking for a fight.

To sum up the French Bulldog personality, these are dogs that are highly intelligent, devoted to their owners, and very loving.

They are also known to be strong-willed and stubborn, and as such, they will need an owner that is conscientious and confident in training them.

French Bulldogs really prefer to be around people

So, are French Bulldogs good with other dogs? The key to this question really lies in the ways that French Bulldogs interact with people, more so than other dogs.

French Bulldogs are, in many ways, the ultimate companion dog. However, they are not always the friendliest when it comes to other dogs.

Because they are so focused on gaining the approval of people, French Bulldogs are typically not very interested in making friends with other dogs.

They seem to prefer an environment where they are the primary companion, and where they receive all of their owner's attention.

The fact that the French Bulldog can be so loving, or even needy, is part of what makes them so much fun to have as pets.

However, this could lead to issues if the household had more than one dog, as the French Bulldog would not be interested in sharing the affections of its owner.

The territorial nature of the French Bulldog also comes into play here, as Frenchies can be quite protective of both their owners and their homes.

They are probably not going to be very interested in sharing space and maybe unfriendly towards new dogs who are near their territory.

When out and about, most French Bulldog owners report that they do not have experiences with their dogs being outwardly hostile or unfriendly towards other dogs they see on the street or at a park. Rather, the Frenchie will just be uninterested in making friends and will prefer his own humans.

An owner might also run into difficulties if they wanted to have a Frenchie in a house with more than one dog.

Bringing in a new dog to space where a French Bulldog had already set his territory might be setting up the whole situation for failure. This is even more true for cats.

Much of this comes from the personality traits that are bred into the French Bulldog from the beginning. Loyal and stubborn, the Frenchie rarely has the kind of adaptable personality that would make it easier for it to become fast friends with other dogs.

While there are elements of the inherent personality of the French Bulldog that certainly come into play in this question, the way a dog is trained is at least as important for the way it behaves as its innate characteristics. This is also the case with French Bulldogs.

Because of their strong personalities and tendency to become attached to their immediate families, it is particularly important to socialize French Bulldogs well when they are still puppies.

This should involve making sure they meet lots of different people and dogs when they are still young.

Even the most independent French Bulldog is also going to react to his environment, and making sure that a young Frenchie is well socialized will go a long way towards helping him be more friendly around other dogs.

If he is used to being around other dogs, he may be more interested in making friends.

To an even greater extent than other dog breeds, French Bulldogs react strongly to the socialization they receive early in life.

A French Bulldog that was exposed to lots of different places, pets, and people as a youngster will probably have a totally different personality from a dog that didn't do the same.

Of course, every dog has a distinctive personality, and there is still a chance that a well-socialized French Bulldog will still simply prefer the company of his immediate family.

Making sure the dog is exposed to lots of people and other dogs early in life, though, may lead to greater comfort with strangers.

Listen to the advice of French Bulldog owners

It is always a good idea to hear from people who have actually owned a breed before buying one yourself.

It may be helpful to watch this video where an owner of a French Bulldog describes what it is actually like to have one of these dogs on a daily basis.

This Frenchie owner notes that while her dog generally gets along with other dogs, he is not exactly what you would call "dog-friendly."

That is, her French Bulldog is much more interested in getting human attention than playing with dogs, so he is largely indifferent to other dogs.

This holds true with the general consensus over how the French Bulldog temperament affects their interactions with other dogs: While they are not usually overtly unfriendly towards other dogs, they are much more interested in human companionship. This will also depend on each dog's own personality.

Conclusion

Most French Bulldog owners would probably tell you that while their pet is not particularly friendly with other dogs, they don't see their Frenchie become mean or aggressive when meeting a strange dog.

It is probably fair to say that French Bulldogs are ultimately neutral towards other dogs. It is not really that they like or dislike them, so much as that they don't care.

French Bulldogs are much more focused on getting attention from their owners than in making new friends with other dogs.

One potential area for caution is that French Bulldogs can be quite territorial. They may not like if their owners are spending a lot of time with other dogs.

It would also be very difficult to bring a new dog into a house where a French Bulldog already lived, and this may result in stress for the Frenchie.

The French Bulldog is probably best for a person, couple, or family who is looking for a devoted companion who can do well in a smaller space.

After all, French Bulldogs are great with both adults and children, and a Frenchie will likely become a dear member of the family.

It is likely, though, that this beloved family pet will not be very interested in making new friends at the dog park.