According to the American Kennel Club a Bulldog's "disposition should be equable and kind, resolute and courageous (not vicious or aggressive), and demeanor should be pacific and dignified. These attributes should be countenanced by the expression and behavior."

Don't let the English bulldog's intimidating appearance deceive you; they are actually extremely gentle. Even still you can rely on an English bulldog to scare away any intruder, not many individuals are willing to bait a bull. Their inherent courage makes them excellent guard dogs. Usually bulldogs are very dependable. They are also generally affectionate and gentle with children. Bulldogs will often seek out human attention and one on one time. A fair amount of attention is required to ensure a bulldogs happiness.

Bulldogs are very persistent; they do not give up on a task easily. Some English Bulldogs can also exhibit dominating behavior. Bulldogs that display guarding behaviors, or are continually aggressive, do not have parents who are acting like a pack leader. This type of dominating behavior only happens if it is allowed by the pet owner. They will need an owner who understands alpha behavior and can display strong leadership to control the bulldog. Bulldogs are generally more content and happy in a home where there is a strong dominant human leader. It actually causes unnecessary stress for your pet if they feel they are the leader of the house and are responsible for the human pack. Most bulldogs however, understand their place in a human home and are nice and reliable with people. In fact some bulldogs become so attached to their home and family they will not venture out into the yard without a human companion.

Breeders have worked to breed aggression completely out of the English bulldog and because of this bulldogs are usually of a good temperament. However some bulldogs, particularly males, may not get along with visiting humans or foreign dogs. While bulldogs make great family dogs, you have to be careful with stranger canine's interacting with your pet. Your bulldog may feel threatened and as a result show dominance to prevent becoming a submissive follower to the other canine. If your bulldog is raised alongside another dog, they should develop a healthy relationship with each other. But again, adult males in particular tend to exhibit aggression towards other males. It is important to socialize your bulldog as early as possible to prevent this aggression later in adulthood. Despite their general laidback attitude Bulldogs also sometimes exhibit food aggression. Bulldogs are generally very protective over their food; they love to eat and do not want anyone to disturb their meal time. Children should be taught to always stay away from their Bulldog during meal times.

Bulldogs will have endless patience with children who consistently hug and climb on them. They are one of the most agreeable breeds, which make the English bulldog a great pet for a family with children. While puppies are almost always spirited and overly enthusiastic, adult Bulldogs mellow out quickly and prefer to spend the afternoon sleeping opposed to a long walk around the park. They often

snore very loudly. They are also known for having excess drool and slobber, which makes them messy eaters. Don't let their grumpy looking wrinkles fool you; English bulldogs are usually docile and obedient with pleasant temperaments. Overall bulldogs are social and extraverted, but occasionally willful. The popular saying "stubborn as a Bulldog" may have come about from observing a frustrated Bulldog.