Are English Bulldogs Smart?
August 15, 2024 2024-08-18 10:07Are English Bulldogs Smart?
Andrea Thomas With their stocky bodies, wrinkly skin, and adorable smooshy faces, English Bulldogs are popular choices among dog owners. These sweet dogs are known for being lovable and affectionate. They have stubborn streaks and can be lazy sometimes, enjoying long naps on the couch. They also have different grooming and exercise needs than many other breeds. This dog is truly unique.
When it comes to intelligence, the English Bulldog may get an unfair label. They aren’t working dogs like Border Collies are German Shepherds. Working dogs have high levels of intelligence that make them ideal candidates for the jobs they do. English Bulldogs possess different levels of intelligence stemming back from the jobs they were bred to do.
English Bulldogs don’t have the same levels of intelligence as working dogs, but they are still smart dogs that can learn a great deal through proper training methods. Let’s find out more about them
Table of Contents
How Smart Are English Bulldogs?
In 1994, Stanley Coren, a professor of canine psychology, released a book called “The Intelligence of Dogs.” This book examines the intelligence levels of different breeds of dogs.
The book considers three types of intelligence in order to rank the breeds. Instinctive intelligence is the dog’s ability to perform the tasks they were bred to do, such as herding, hunting, or even companion dogs.
Adaptive intelligence is the dog’s ability to think through a problem on their own and solve it. Working and obedience intelligence is the dog’s ability to learn new things from people.
On Coren’s list of 130 breeds divided into six categories, the Border Collie comes in at number one. The list contains several ties, so there are 79 total rankings.
The English Bulldog comes in at 77 out of 79. The breed is said to understand new commands only after 80 or more repetitions. They only obey the first command they are given 25% of the time or less.
Does This Mean the English Bulldog is Stupid?
The English Bulldog is not a stupid dog, but they get a reputation for being “dumb dogs” because of their stubbornness. If they don’t follow commands, it’s not necessarily because they don’t know what the command is. It’s more likely they are thinking about doing it and deciding that they don’t want to.
Why Are English Bulldogs Hard to Train?
English Bulldogs are considered one of the least trainable breeds. But is this because they’re not smart? Not quite.
English Bulldogs are determined, self-sufficient, and confident. These are traits that have been bred into them since their days as bull-baiting dogs. They were bred to fight bulls originally, coming from a violent and bloody past. As such, they weren’t dogs that followed commands. They were dogs that had a purpose and had to figure out for themselves how to fulfill it.
This confidence makes English Bulldogs less likely to blindly follow commands without considering other possibilities first. They don’t usually feel the need to seek guidance from their owners like other breeds may.
Why Are English Bulldogs So Low on the Intelligence List?
When Coren was measuring intelligence in dogs, breeds that needed the fewest number of repetitions in order to learn a new command were considered more intelligent. After that, the success with which a dog obeyed a command on the first attempt also landed them higher on the list.
The English Bulldog did not perform well in these areas. Only two breeds, the Afghan Hound and the Basenji, performed worse.
This means that having to use over 80 repetitions to teach your English Bulldog a new command makes training go very slowly. Your dog may also lose interest after the 15th repetition and decide to leave the training session, essentially learning nothing at all.
Stubbornness can lead to the English Bulldog performing low on this list, but that doesn’t mean that the dog has low intelligence. Other dogs that came in low on the list also have higher levels of stubbornness.
The English Bulldogs aren’t eager to please their owners in the same ways that Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers are. While these working breeds are highly intelligent, they also carry an innate need to succeed and perform well. This leads to their easy trainability and success rate when it comes to following commands quickly.
English Bulldogs think for themselves and know what they want. Even if you want them to do something else, they can easily decide not to obey you. Their determination and stubbornness may lead you to wonder if they can even hear you saying commands to them.
They can hear you. They just have no interest in doing what you want at that time. So it’s no surprise that they rank so low on Coren’s list.
Can English Bulldogs Be Trained?
English Bulldogs are stubborn, but they can still learn new things. If you’re aware of their stubbornness and tendency to not follow commands quickly, you’ll be well prepared to deal with it. Training isn’t impossible but it may require different tactics than other breeds need to learn the same things.
Potty training can be especially challenging. A strict routine, positive reinforcement, and excessive praise will encourage them during this time, but it can still take several months before they stop having accidents in the house.
Frequent training sessions using positive reinforcement will be exciting for English Bulldogs and hold their interest. If you’re rewarding them with something they like, they’ll be more interested in knowing what they have to do to get that reward.
However, when your English Bulldog decides they don’t want to do something, no amount of coaxing can change their mind. This is seen more in older dogs who are more resistant to change.
Training will need to consist of positive methods, encouragement, praise, rewards, and, above all else, patience. Stick to a consistent schedule for the best results. English Bulldogs are intelligent and capable of learning. They just learn in ways that are different from some other breeds.
Why Are English Bulldogs So Lazy?
English Bulldogs have a reputation for being lazy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy — or need — some exercise. To keep your dog healthy, they require around 30 minutes of exercise a day. This burns some calories to keep them from gaining extra weight, too.
If your English Bulldog is in the mood, they may want to chase a ball or play with toys. Encourage this behavior! Any time they want to be active, engage with them and keep it going. The more exercise they get, the healthier and happier they’ll be.
Unfortunately, you need to be careful to make sure your English Bulldog doesn’t overexert themselves. One reason they are deemed lazy is that they physically can’t overdo it when it comes to exercise. As a brachycephalic breed, they have breathing problems.
Brachycephalic means “short-headed.” English Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers are examples of dogs that have short muzzles. These muzzles result in shortened or flattened throats and nasal passages.
If your dog can’t breathe well, they can’t exercise aggressively. Some laziness is natural in the English Bulldog, but some is because they can’t breathe if they move too much.
Always make sure your dog is taking breaks from exercise and not overdoing it. If they are outside in the heat, don’t let them exercise much at all. Bring them inside to cool off after a few minutes. Heat can make their breathing problems worse.
Why Should I Get an English Bulldog?
English Bulldogs are loyal members of the family. They get along well with kids, are protective of their owners, and love spending time with people.
These dogs are clowns. They like attention and they do silly things to get it. This is a fun dog to have in your home, especially on days when you’re feeling down. English Bulldogs are full of personality.
They may be stubborn, but they’re also friendly, patient, and kind. They like to form bonds with their owners and even other animals in the house. They get along well with other pets, especially if they were raised together.
Since they don’t need much longer than a 30-minute walk per day, they’re an ideal choice for people who aren’t very active themselves. If you enjoy weekend movie marathons, this dog is your match.
Finally, they’re adorable. Those faces are hard to resist.
Why Should I Not Get an English Bulldog?
We’ve already mentioned how stubborn the English Bulldog can be. In addition to that, these dogs are slow to mature. They reach adulthood at around 30 months of age, and they start to age as young as 5 years old.
Their lifespans are short. These dogs usually live between 8–10 years and can suffer a myriad of health problems. Skin infections, allergies, and breathing difficulties are common with this breed. It’s important to keep their skin folds clean to prevent any buildup of yeast and bacteria that lead to infections.
Training may take some time, and before that, the English Bulldog may not have any manners at all. They snore. They pass gas. And they’re expensive. You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,000 for a purebred puppy from a breeder.
If you still have your heart set on owning one of these remarkable dogs, it can be an amazing experience if you know what to expect.
If you want an active dog that is easy to train, obeys commands perfectly and has impeccable manners, this is not the breed for you.
English Bulldog Training Timeline
Proper socialization will help your English Bulldog enjoy their time spent with people and other animals. This is an important step in training and should not be overlooked. Between 8–16 weeks of age, your puppy should be socialized as often as possible and be starting to learn some manners. Take your dog to a socialization class or contact a trainer to work with to make sure your dog is on the right path.
This breed requires grooming, especially cleaning between their skin folds. If this isn’t done, your dog can develop skin infections. From day one, start getting your dog used to grooming. They should be learning to get used to being touched and wiped down. Take a damp cloth and wipe their skin folds daily so that this becomes a habit for them.
Potty training should begin as early as possible. This can be difficult with English Bulldogs, but if you stick to a routine, they will get the hang of it.
By 6 months of age, your dog can learn commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come.”
By 1 year of age, your English Bulldog should understand basic obedience commands and be used to their daily routines.
It’s not impossible to train your dog if you’re consistent and accepting of the fact that they won’t always do a perfect job.
The bottom line
The English Bulldog may come in low on the list of intelligent breeds, but that doesn’t mean that this dog is not smart. They are stubborn and can be lazy, but they are also capable of learning new things. Patience and consistency are important when training any dog, but especially when training the English Bulldog.
There are many pros and cons to owning this dog. If you’re aware of what you’re getting into, you’ll be able to meet the dog’s needs and enjoy them. If you’re expecting something this dog is not capable of giving, then this isn’t the breed for you.
It’s important that whatever dog you choose has a temperament and personality that fits in well with you and your family. Instead of choosing a dog simply based on where they rank in an intelligence list, choose one that is the right fit for you.
English Bulldogs act and are motivated differently than other breeds. If you can provide what the dog needs, you’ll have a happy addition to your household. There’s a reason they are popular choices for pets, and they can certainly provide many years of love and affection.
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