Why Are French Bulldogs So Stubborn? What Owners Learn First
Updated: 5 days ago
By Nick, co-founder of Doggy Styles Inc and owner of Bruno, a rescued French Bulldog. Last updated 11 October 2026.
Quick Answer
French Bulldogs seem stubborn because they're clever, companion-bred dogs that weigh up what you're asking before they do it. They aren't working dogs, bred to take instruction all day. If the reward is worth it, they'll cooperate. If it isn't, they'll sit, stare and wait you out. Short, rewarding training works. Pressure doesn't.
Key takeaways
Battersea's verdict on the breed is "stubborn but intelligent". The two go together.
A Frenchie refusing to move isn't always stubbornness. Check heat and breathing first.
Reward-based training works best with Frenchies. Pushing harder usually makes them dig in.
If you're still understanding the breed properly, start here:
👉 FRENCH BULLDOG GUIDE — Full Behaviour, Personality & Ownership Breakdown
Are French Bulldogs stubborn dogs? The common misconception
The usual assumption is that a stubborn dog doesn't understand you, or is trying to be the boss. With a Frenchie, it's usually neither. They understood perfectly. They've just thought about it, and decided they'd rather not.
That's what makes it so maddening, and so funny. A Frenchie doesn't refuse in a panic. It refuses calmly, sometimes while maintaining eye contact.
The first "no"
He's sitting on the sofa, in your spot. You say "off" in your firmest voice. He looks at you. He looks at the floor. He looks back at you, rearranges himself slightly, and closes his eyes. He knows the word. He just doesn't think it applies to him.
Why your Frenchie is "being stubborn": a quick guide
What happens | What's probably going on | What to try |
Lies down or stops on a walk, panting hard or breathing noisily | Overheating or breathing trouble, not attitude | Stop, shade, water, vet if it doesn't settle |
Sits down on a walk, breathing normally | Tired, bored, or heading home is more appealing | Shorter walks, change the route, reward moving on |
Ignores a cue they know | The reward isn't worth it, or there's something better going on | Better treats, fewer distractions, shorter sessions |
Won't get off the sofa or bed | Comfort beats compliance | Reward "off" generously and give them their own soft spot |
Refuses to go out in the rain | Most Frenchies dislike rain | A quick garden visit, a coat, or patience |
Goes limp when picked up or led | A well-practised protest | Stay calm, wait, reward the moment they cooperate |
Owners know the look. The pause before the sit. The sigh as they get off the sofa you've asked them off three times. The slow blink that says "we'll see". It's maddening, and it's a big part of why people fall for them.
That's what Doggy Styles Inc is built around: real dogs, with real opinions.
👉 Shop French Bulldog t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies
👉 or explore the full FRENCH BULLDOG COLLECTION
Why are French Bulldogs so stubborn?
Companions, not working dogs
Gundogs and herding dogs were bred for centuries to watch a person and respond to direction. The French Bulldog wasn't. Its ancestors were small Bulldogs, kept as companions by Nottingham lace makers who took them to France in the mid-1800s. A Frenchie's job has always been to be with you, not to take orders from you. They'll do plenty for you. They'll just want to know what's in it for them.
Why are bulldogs so stubborn?
The question people search most is about bulldogs in general, French and English. Both descend from the old English Bulldog, and both have a reputation for determination. Whether that heritage still shapes behaviour today is hard to prove. What owners describe is consistent, though: bulldogs don't respond well to being pushed, and they respond very well to being persuaded.
What the research says
In a Royal Veterinary College survey of more than 2,000 Pug, French Bulldog and Bulldog owners, stubbornness was one of the reasons owners gave for not recommending their breed, alongside neediness and snoring (Packer and colleagues, 2020). One Frenchie owner put it bluntly: "They're stubborn. Training needs to be a hard daily thing." Yet 93% said they'd choose the same breed again. Stubbornness, it seems, is a price owners are happy to pay.
The same sharp mind that makes them stubborn is often mistaken for a lack of intelligence. It isn't.
👉 ARE FRENCH BULLDOGS SMART? — Understanding French Bulldog Intelligence
The stubbornness loop: how "no" becomes a habit
Every time a Frenchie ignores a cue and nothing happens, or holds out and you give up, they learn that waiting works. Every time you repeat a command five times, they learn the first four don't count.
It isn't defiance. It's a dog doing exactly what's worked before.
The five-times sit
You notice it at the vet's. You ask for a sit. Nothing. You ask again, louder. Nothing. By the fifth "sit", said through gritted teeth, he sits, and the receptionist laughs. You realise he's been doing this for months. He's not ignoring you. He's waiting for the version he knows you mean.
They watch you closely enough to know exactly which version that is.
👉 WHY DO FRENCH BULLDOGS STARE AT YOU SO MUCH? — Eye Contact, Attention & What It Means
Living with a stubborn Frenchie
Day to day, it's mostly comedy. The sofa negotiations. The selective deafness when you say "bath". The flawless recall when a crisp packet opens three rooms away.
A Frenchie probably isn't a good fit if:
you want a dog that obeys instantly, every time;
you enjoy formal obedience training or competitive sports;
you're likely to get frustrated and raise your voice.
The lamppost standoff
It's raining, you're late, and he's decided he's not walking another step. He lies down on the pavement, all four legs out, and becomes what the American Kennel Club fondly calls "200-pound dead weight". People are watching. You try pleading. You try pulling, which makes it worse. In the end you carry him home, both of you damp, and only one of you embarrassed.
Before you blame the attitude, though, check the body. A Frenchie that stops on a walk may be hot or struggling to breathe. How much exercise they need, and how to spot when they've had enough, is covered here.
👉 FRENCH BULLDOG EXERCISE NEEDS — How Much, How Far & What's Safe
What stubbornness turns into over time
Handled with patience, it stays charming. Handled with pressure, it can harden. Frenchies are sensitive dogs, and a dog that's shouted at or dragged is more likely to shut down or dig in than to cooperate. Over months, that shows up as a dog that's harder to walk, harder to handle and more anxious about being handled at all.
Their sensitivity is also why they struggle when they're left out.
👉 CAN FRENCH BULLDOGS BE LEFT ALONE? — Separation, Attachment & What Helps
How to train a stubborn French Bulldog
What works
Bruno knows full well he's not allowed on the bed or the sofa. Tell him "no" and he understands. But the moment your eyes are elsewhere, he's up in a flash. And "off" rarely works, at least not the first time. What does work, in our house, is firm but not angry: a calm, clear voice, never a raised one. Shouting at a stubborn Frenchie just gets you a stubborn Frenchie who's now also sulking.
Short sessions. Battersea recommends short, positive training sessions for the breed (Battersea). Five minutes beats twenty.
Better rewards. Find the treat they'd cross a room for. For a Frenchie, that's usually not dry biscuit.
Say it once. Give the cue once, wait, and reward the moment they do it. Repeating it teaches them to wait for the repeat.
Make it their idea. Reward the behaviour you want whenever it happens naturally, such as lying on their own bed or walking nicely beside you.
What the evidence says about pressure
In a University of Bristol study of 364 dogs, those trained with rewards were more obedient, and for no task was punishment the most effective method. Dogs trained with more punishment also had more behaviour problems (Hiby and colleagues, 2004, summarised by Stanley Coren). With a breed that already likes to dig in, pushing harder rarely ends well.
The cheese deal
You change one thing: you stop asking him to get off the sofa and start asking him to come to his own bed, with a piece of cheese waiting. The first night it takes ages. The second night, less. By the end of the week, you say "bed" and he hops down, trots over and looks at you expectantly. He's not obeying. He's negotiating. You've both decided you're happy with the terms.
When to see a vet: a Frenchie that suddenly refuses to walk, jump or climb, yelps when picked up, or seems stiff or wobbly may be in pain rather than being stubborn. French Bulldogs are at high risk of back problems (IVDD), so get any sudden change checked promptly. This post isn't veterinary advice.
Are French Bulldogs harder to train than other breeds?
Compared with a Labrador or Poodle, yes: those breeds were built to work with people and tend to want to please. Compared with an English Bulldog or a Pug, it's much the same story: companion breeds that like a good reason. A Dachshund, bred to make its own decisions underground, can be every bit as single-minded.
If you're deciding whether a Frenchie suits a busy family home, training is a big part of it.
👉 ARE FRENCH BULLDOGS GOOD FAMILY DOGS? — What Owners Need to Know
What owners realise after a few months
Most owners stop fighting it. They learn that a Frenchie will do almost anything for the right reason, and almost nothing without one. Training becomes a conversation rather than a command. And the stubbornness, once it stops being a battle, turns out to be one of the funniest things about them.
The deal that sticks
A year on. You pick up the lead and say his name once. He gets up from the sofa, stretches, wanders over and sits to have it clipped on, because he knows there's a treat in your pocket and a hedge at the end of the road he's been meaning to inspect. It isn't obedience. It's better than that. He's decided he wants to come.
The verdict
Why are French Bulldogs so stubborn? Because they're clever companion dogs who think before they act, and don't see why they should do something without a good reason. Give them one, keep it short, keep it kind, and check their body before you blame their attitude. You'll never have a robot. You'll have a partner with opinions, which is better company anyway.
If you're still getting to know the breed, the guide covers the full picture.
👉 Explore French Bulldog unisex t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies
👉 or shop the full FRENCH BULLDOG COLLECTION
Got a Frenchie who understood you perfectly and decided no? Show us. Tag @doggystylesinc on Instagram or find us on Facebook at Doggy Styles Inc, and your dog could feature in a future post.
Continue Understanding the French Bulldog Breed
FAQs
Are Frenchies stubborn dogs?
Yes, many are. Battersea describes the breed as "stubborn but intelligent". Frenchies usually understand what you want but need a good reason to do it, so reward-based training works far better than repetition or pressure.
Are French Bulldogs hard to train?
They're harder than breeds bred to work with people, such as Labradors or Poodles, but very trainable with short, positive sessions and good rewards. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Why does my French Bulldog ignore me?
Usually because something else is more rewarding at that moment, or because they've learned the first cue doesn't count. Say it once, reduce distractions, and make the reward worth their while.
Why does my French Bulldog lie down on walks?
Check heat and breathing first: they may be overheating or tired. If they're breathing normally, they may simply have decided the walk is over. Shorter walks and rewarding them for moving on usually help.
Why does my Frenchie go limp when I pick them up?
It's a well-known Frenchie protest. They make themselves heavy to avoid being moved. Stay calm and avoid rewarding it. If they also yelp, flinch or seem stiff, see a vet in case of back pain.
How do you discipline a French Bulldog?
You don't need punishment. Reward what you want, ignore or interrupt what you don't, and manage the environment so mistakes are harder. Research links punishment-based training with more behaviour problems, not fewer.
Do French Bulldogs come when called?
Many have unreliable recall, especially outdoors with distractions. Practise in quiet places first, use high-value treats, and keep them on a long line until it's dependable.
Do French Bulldogs get less stubborn with age?
Many become easier as they mature and settle into routines, especially with consistent, reward-based training. Their independent streak usually stays, but the battles become fewer.
Why won't my French Bulldog go out in the rain?
Most Frenchies dislike rain and cold. Short garden trips, a coat, and waiting for a dry spell usually work better than forcing a walk.
What treats work best for training a French Bulldog?
Small, soft, strong-smelling treats they love, such as tiny pieces of cooked chicken or cheese, broken from their daily food allowance so they don't gain weight.
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