Penrith weren't at their clinical best but did enough to get past Canterbury and maintain the unbeaten start to their NRL premiership defence with a 32-12 win.
Ivan Cleary's side started strongly in front of 11,157 fans at Commbank Stadium but slipped back into second gear after getting out to a comfortable lead on Sunday evening.
The loss was the fourth straight for Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett, who has tasted just two wins in his last 17 games in charge of Canterbury.
There were three Panthers players from last year's premiership-winning squad in the Bulldogs side - Matt Burton at five-eighth, Tevita Pangai in the pack and Brent Naden on the wing - but even that inside knowledge couldn't help the Dogs
The intrigue was not centred on those reunions but more on the return of Burton's halves partner Kyle Flanagan to first grade for the first time since round 13 last year.
Flanagan was deployed, Barrett said, to take the pressure off Burton and allow the Bulldogs' attack - which has now averaged eight points from the opening five rounds - to flourish.
Barrett was brought to Canterbury after masterminding Penrith's attack in 2020, but their sole first-half try came from a speculative Flanagan kick rather than intricate build-up play.
Jarome Luai, who has made a habit of winding up the Bulldogs halfback in previous encounters, dropped an in-goal chipkick and Pangai dived on the loose ball.
Apart from that it was one-way traffic with Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Taylan May crossing for Penrith as Nathan Cleary converted all three and added a penalty to give the Panthers a 20-6 lead at half-time.
Prop Spencer Leniu went over after the break.
Canterbury could have thrown up the white flag but when fullback Matt Dufty wasn't dropping bombs - he had four errors - they went toe to toe with the Panthers.
With captain Isaah Yeo given an early mark ahead of a five-day turnaround, Penrith became sloppier.
The Dogs took advantage when Josh Addo-Carr finally received some early ball in space and was able to tee up a supporting Joe Stimson for their second try to make it 26-12 with 17 minutes left.
Any hopes of a comeback were shortlived, however, when Mitch Kenny burrowed his way over for the Panthers.
