The truth is that the French Bulldog ranks very low on Stanley Coren’s list of most intelligent dogs. With a ranking of 109 (out of 138 breeds), you would think that this breed is not smart. However, this does not seem to be the case as they are consistently in the top 5 most popular dog breeds in the US.
So how does a dog that is in the bottom 22% of intelligence make it to the top 4% of popularity? The fact is that even though they are bad at learning trick, they are highly adaptable, so they have “street smarts.”
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Are Frenchies Just Stubborn?
Dog intelligence gets measured by the number of repetitions it takes to learn a new task, and if the dog retains that command once learned. These tasks tend to be quickly absorbed by working breeds (such as the Labrador), but no so soon by other breeds.
The Frenchies lack of interest in learning such tasks gets attributed to stubbornness. They will learn what makes you happy and can get trained if you are consistent and have a lot of their favorite treats.
What are French Bulldogs Good At?
French Bulldogs make good guard dogs. They are not a breed that is known for excessive barking. However, they will announce when a stranger comes near. They are also known to be protective of their owners. Even though they are small, they do not back down easily.
They are excellent dogs if you have limited space, like an apartment. As they don’t require a lot of exercise, they are happy just to mope around the house with you. A short walk is all the daily activities they need.
What are French Bulldogs Not Good At?
With their low scores on the standard doggy intelligence tests, they do struggle to learn basic tasks. Like a lot of small dog breeds, they can be difficult to house train. House Training can often be a battle of wills that you need to win.
They are also terrible swimmers. If your dog is around a swimming pool or at the beach, you need to keep a close eye on them. Because of their small, stocky build, they are prone to drowning.
How to Teach Your French Bulldog
Consistent training using a food reward system will help bring out your Frenchies’ hidden intelligence. Making a game of training will also help balance with these dogs inbuilt stubbornness.
Programs like “Brain Traning For Dogs” can work wonders with these dogs, bringing out their natural street smarts.
Even though the French Bulldog are not rated as highly intelligent, they do have the ability to learn and become obedient little friends. If you have or have ever been lucky enough to own a Frenchie, let us know your experiences in the comment section below.
