The Lions took the early ascendency as they romped to a 13.2 (80) to 4.6 (30) half-time lead.
The Lions were flying high after Dayne Zorko's second consecutive running goal - and his side's fifth straight major - blew the deficit out to 57 points in the second term before settling for 50 by the main break.
Remarkably, the Lions would only kick 2.8 for the rest of the game as the Bulldogs came roaring back.
At one stage, the visitors kicked eight out of nine goals to reduce the deficit to just 10 points in the final term.
Lions tagger Andrew Raines appeared to boot a settling major for the hosts to blow the lead back out to 16.
But the Bulldogs' Luke Dahlhaus made up for a point-blank shank by kicking truly for a major moments later before Daniel Giansiracusa received a dubious 50m penalty to make it a five-point game in the dying moments.
Somehow the 20,130-strong Gabba faithful willed the Lions to the gripping win - their sixth straight home victory of the year.
Tom Rockliff (33 disposals) and Matthew Leuenberger (17 touches, 22 hitouts, two goals) were outstanding for the home side while Luke Dahlhaus (20 disposals, three goals) and Matthew Boyd (27 touches) were among the Dogs' best.
The Lions' sixth win in eight games avenged their surprise 68-point opening round loss to the Bulldogs.
The home side had won only five first quarters in 2013 - the equal-fewest of any side.
However, the Lions jumped out of the blocks to lead 7.1 (43) to 2.5 (17) at the first break thanks to back-to-back goals to Daniel Merrett.
But the tide started turning after Merrett was carried off on a stretcher early in the third term with a suspected ankle complaint.
BRISBANE LIONS 7.1 13.2 14.3 15.10 (100)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.5 4.6 8.11 13.15 (93)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Merrett 2, Rich 2, Green 2, Staker 2, Raines 2, Zorko 2, Leuenberger 2, Bewick
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 3, Addison 2, Giansiracusa 2, Wallis, Murphy, Minson, Griffen, Dickson, Campbell
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Leuenberger, Patfull, Rockliff, Lester, Zorko, Redden
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Griffen, Liberatore, Minson, Boyd, Picken
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Merrett (ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Cooney (illness) replaced in selected side by Addison;
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Marco Paparone replaced Daniel Merrett (ankle) in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Jason Tutt replaced Koby Stevens in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Leppard, Schmitt, Fisher
Official crowd: 20,130 at the Gabba
