French Bulldog vs Pug, let’s take a look at the differences between these two breeds and if they are related. This information will help you find the right pet and a new addition to your family.
Both the Pug and the French Bulldog are intelligent breeds and will make great pets. Both have their own unique personalities, which can make them challenging to train. Studies show that the Frenchie is easier to train than the Pug, but costs a lot more to purchase.
Are Pugs And French Bulldogs Related?
If you’re a first-time dog owner, it’s easy to think that these breeds are related. They have a lot of similarities, which I discuss later on.
However, after doing some research, these breeds are not related. Both breeds are skyrocketing in popularity and it’s not hard to find cute French Bulldog videos or a Pug dressed in a hilarious costume online.
I’ve decided to compare both breeds to help you find the perfect wrinkly-faced pooch that you and your family will love for several years.
Find out about the Chihuahua Pug Mix Breed.
Pug vs French Bulldog Origins of Both
Frenchie
The French Bulldog (Frenchie) originated in England. They were extremely popular in England around the 1850s and 1860s, especially, among the lace-makers in Nottingham.
The Frenchie eventually fell out of favor with the English and were sent to France where they were crossbred with other dog breeds.
This breed resembles a bulldog in miniature, it is distinguished by their unique “bat ears,” which are their trademark feature.
They have a large square head with several wrinkles rolled above their nose. This breed has a short muscular body. Like the Pug, they are also Brachycephalic dogs, which can suffer from several health issues like the Pug.
The Frenchie is known as a charmer and affectionate dog that doesn’t bark excessively. They are known to make excellent watchdogs and can adapt to life with families, couples, or single households.
This breed does not require a lot of exercise and they are extremely sociable and will get along great with other animals and love human companionship.
You can read more about the history of them on this site.
Pugs
The Pug is thought to have originated in the Orient, namely China as early as 551BC. They were prized possessions of Emporers in China and lived in luxurious accommodations.
Black Pugs came into existence in the early 1700s. William Hogarth a Pug enthusiast portrayed a black Pug in several of his famous paintings.
As their popularity grew the breed spread throughout Europe and other countries. They eventually were referred called different names depending on where they were living.
- France – Carlin
- Spain – Dogullo
- Italy – Caganlino
Pugs were introduced to the United States after the Civil War and was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. They are still one of the favored domesticated pets for households in the United States.
French Bulldog vs Pug – Similarities
Both the French Bulldog and Pug are short and stocky in nature. They are a part of the Brachycephalic “short head” family of dogs. Both breeds have a lot of similar physical attributes which can make it challenging to differentiate between them.
I’ve personally never owned a Bulldog, but I lived with a black Pug for 16 years. I thought I would share some of the information I found to help you understand the differences and similarities between these two dogs.
French Bulldogs
- Known to become overweight
- Very playful
- Doesn’t drool a lot
- Very sociable and loves people
- Observant of their surroundings
- Low maintenance dogs
- Doesn’t require a lot of exercise
- Can be stubborn
- Make odd noises (snore, snort, and grunting)
- Not good swimmers
Pugs
- Known to become overweight
- Very playful
- Doesn’t drool a lot (find out how much they drool)
- Very sociable and loves people
- Observant of their surroundings
- Low maintenance dogs
- Doesn’t require a lot of exercise
- Can be stubborn
- Make odd noises (snore, snort, and grunting)
- Not good swimmers
Now let’s take a closer look at each one individually to see what makes them unique.
Bulldog vs Pug – Popularity
Both breeds are extremely popular breeds and make great pets. According to the AKC (American Dog Kennel) the French Bulldog is more popular than the Pugs.
In 2017, the French Bulldog was ranked #4 in the most popular dog breeds listing while the Pug was ranked #31, you can check that updated listing here.
Now let’s compare some of the characteristics of these breeds to help you decide which one is right for you. Read the English Bulldog vs Pug post to find out the similarities and differences.
Pug And French Bulldog Training – Which Is Easiest To Train?
Both dogs are known to be stubborn and will require patience to train. However, the Pug tends to be the most challenging of both breeds to train.
The Frenchie barks and howls more than the Pug, but are not known to be excessive barkers.
Both are intelligent breeds that can be trained and housebroken. It’s important to realize that you’re going to need to develop patience to work with both breeds.
A Closer Look At the Pug
Small, cute, cuddly, and stubborn are the 3 adjectives that describe this breed. They fall into the “toy dog” category and were bred to be lap dogs. They love human companionship and are extremely loyal, which makes them perfect as a family pet.
They are known for their sense of humor and are known as the clowns of the canine world. Now let’s dig deeper into this breed so you can decide if they are the right pet for you.
Typical Colors
Typical Pug colors are silver fawn, apricot fawn, black, and fawn. The fawn colored Pug is the most common colored dog owned by people.
This breed has distinctive markings which include the black mask on their muzzle. The mask is more noticeable on the light colored breed. Some dogs have a black line that runs the back of their coat.
Because of their wrinkled skin, their skin usually has black markings that are within the skin wrinkle on their forehead, which is known as a circular thumbprint.
A Pug is known to shed year round, so you’ll need to make sure you have grooming brushes to help you maintain their healthy coat. This brush will help you control the huge shedding problem.
Size
The Pug should weight between 14-18 pounds and measures 10 to 14 inches in height. Their small size makes both breeds great breeds for apartment living.
Friendliness and Activity Level
This is an extremely friendly dog that loves being around people. They get along well with children and other pets. Mindy loved meeting new people and she never once showed any signs of aggression towards other animals.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Pug does not require a lot of vigorous exercises to stay in shape. You want to make sure they are getting at least 30 minutes of daily exercise to help them stay healthy.
You’ll want to avoid taking them on walks in the middle of the day, during the heat. Brachycephalic breeds have a short nose, which makes it difficult for them to breathe, especially, in the heat.
Every dog is unique and some will enjoy swimming, while others will not. Mindy loved being around water and enjoyed getting in the pool every once in a while.
Adaptability and Health
An extremely adaptable dog that does well in any type of dwelling. Unfortunately, this breed does have a lot of health problems due to them being a part of the Brachycephalic breed.
I’ve written an article that explains some of the common health issues that can affect this breed here.
You may want to invest in pet insurance to ensure you can properly care for them and take them to the vet for routine checkups.
If they are properly cared for this breed has an average lifespan of 12-15 years old. We had Mindy our black Pug for 16 years.
A Closer Look At The French Bulldog
Like the Pug, this breed is extremely friendly and has their own unique temperament and personality. Their best qualities are their charm, adaptability, and quiet attentiveness.
They are usually friendly with everyone and other animals. Like the Pug, they can do well as a lapdog and don’t require a lot of exercise.
This breed makes a better watchdog than the Pug. Now let’s take a closer look at the Frenchie.
Typical Colors
Both breeds come in different colors. A Frenchie’s coat can be brindle, brindle and white, cream-colored, fawn and white, white, and cream, white, black, blue-fawn, and chocolate.
They also have various distinct markings such as brindle, black masks, black shadings, white markings, and piebald.
Their coat is short, smooth, fine, and shiny. The skin is loose and wrinkled, especially, at the shoulders and the head.
While they don’t shed as much as Pugs, they are considered average shed.
Size
The bulldog should not weigh more than 28 pounds measuring between 11 to 14 inches. The Frenchie is stockier than the Pug and is the larger canine of the two breeds.
Friendliness and Activity Level
This breed makes a great domesticated dog and does really well with other animals as well as people. Frenchies have a tendency to play on the destructive side, make sure you have plenty of toys available.
Mindy loved this Kong ball which is extremely durable and can withstand pretty much anything.
Like a Pug, they love human companionship and will follow their people from room to room. Don’t be surprised if they tap with you with their paw, it just means they want attention.
This breed doesn’t require any type of vigorous exercise. You’ll want to make sure that you play with them outdoors or take them for short walks to keep them in shape and prevent them from becoming bored.
The Frenchie is a part of the Brachycephalic breed and should never be allowed to overexert themselves in hot or humid weather.
If they are properly cared for a Frenchie can live for 12-15 years.
Adaptability and Health
This breed can adapt to any lifestyle and will do well with children and other animals. You may have to train them as they have a disposition of being rowdy.
They make great watchdogs and alert you if someone is around.
Due to their front-heavy structure, this breed cannot swim and should never be left alone near a body of water, tub or pool. Due to their flat-face, they too suffer from breathing problems.
They are also known to have occasional eye conditions such as entropion, juvenile cataracts, cherry eye, as well as other skin disorders.
Pet owners should take them to the vet for regular checkups and make sure that they are healthy.
Compare The Pug To Other Breeds
Conclusion
Both dogs are perfect for first-time dog owners. These dogs will do great with children of all ages, just make sure that you introduce them slowly to ensure no one is hurt.
The costs of acquiring a bulldog are much higher than that of a Pug. You can expect to pay between $1400 – $2000 for this breed, depending on where you purchase the dog.
A Pug will cost you anywhere from $350 – $1600 depending on where you live. Every pet owner should be aware of other pet expenses.
The French Bulldog has fewer health issues than a Pug, which makes it the perfect companion for anyone on a budget.
As I mentioned the Pug sheds a lot more than the Frenchie, due to their double layer coat. You can’t go wrong with either one, they will bring you and your family years of joy and companionship.
Both dogs will require your attention as they crave affection. They are NOT high maintenance dogs and will do fine if you just feel like cuddling up on the couch with a book or watching television.