Are you thinking of adding an English bulldog to your family? Congratulations! Your life is never going to be the same again, for all the very best reasons – but first thing’s first, you need to make the right doggo choice. We were recently asked the question: “Should I get a male or female English bulldog?” and we think it’s time to answer it.
Are male and female bulldogs really that different?
Some owners will tell you that there are no differences whatsoever between male and female English bulldogs. The breed tends to be mad as youngsters, slower and sleepier as adults, and riddled with health problems that are definitely a cause for concern before signing on the dotted adoption line, regardless of male or female.
Other bully parents, on the other hand, will confirm that there are differences, albeit subtle, between their male and female bullies.
A lot of the time, your bulldog’s personality and traits will heavily depend on you, how you discipline and train your four-legged friend, and the way you bring them up.
There is always the nature versus nurture debate, of course, but for the most part, well-mannered, properly educated bulldog owners tend to raise well-mannered, properly trained English bulldogs.
What are male English bulldogs like?
English bulldogs that have had both boy and girl bullies often describe boys (unsurprisingly) as the most boisterous of the two. Boy bulldog puppies often resist napping more than their female counterparts, and they are much messier in terms of getting every toy out, ripping things to shreds, etc.
Just like toddlers, male bulldog puppies can get super frustrated and cranky when they haven’t had enough sleep. Females do this, too – but less so, in several cases.
Parents of both bulldog sexes have described males as:
- The goofier gender
- Much clingier
- More demanding of love and attention
- Easier to entertain
- Louder/more vocal
- Easier going
- More compliant with training
- Leg-humpers
- More boisterous
What are female English bulldogs like?
Female English bulldogs tend to be a lot more independent than their male counterparts, needing more “alone” time. They’re just as loving as male bulldogs, but females often aren’t as clingy or as demanding. They’re also more likely to nap/sleep, according to some bully parents.
Owners that have had both male and female English bulldogs, describe females as the following:
- More mature
- Slightly more chilled out
- Calmer than boy bulldogs
- More independent
- More costly (particularly when it comes to pregnancy/spaying)
- Very stubborn
- Much more easily offended
- More sensitive
- Highly territorial
- Protective of owners/things/food
- Bitchier
- Smarter
- Moody
As a generalisation, dog owners (regardless of breed) often state that female dogs tend to dislike other female dogs more than males dislike males. If there is a relationship that doesn’t work between two female bulldogs, it can (at times) be impossible to fix.
(There’s that stubbornness!)
On the flip side, when a girl bully loves another girl bully, they’ll be the best of friends for the rest of time.
In one Reddit poll, a user asked bulldog parents with both male and female bulldogs (who have previously parented both sexes,) which was the cuddliest. There were 48 votes in total, 25 of which said their girl was the cuddliest.
17 of those votes said, both their boy and girl bulldogs were cuddly, and it all depended on the individual doggo.
Two bulldog owners said that their girl bullies preferred their space more than their boys, and four said that their boy bullies weren’t cuddly at all.
Should I get a male or female English bulldog?
Unfortunately, this isn’t a question that we (or anyone) can answer for you. It’s one that you must answer yourself – and it’s wise to bear in mind that every single dog is different. There are girl bulldogs that go against everything we’ve mentioned in this blog post today, and the same for boy bulldogs, too.
You should get the English bulldog that feels most like the newest addition to your family – the one that comes to you, loves you, clambers all over you, and seems to give you the most attention. It’s the dog that tugs on your heartstrings the most, or the one you lock eyes with first, or one that stands out to you for no reason at all.
That’s how you pick your English bulldog, friends: with love.