Brussels Griffon vs Pug
Side by side
Brussels Griffon
Pug
Adult weight
3.5–6 kg (7.7–13 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 8.8–11.1 kg (19–24 lb); females 7.3–9.3 kg (16–21 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 1,009, middle 50%)2
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Breathing obstruction from a short muzzle (far more likely); Corneal ulcers (far more likely)7
Class
Lap dog
Lap dog
Which suits you
Size
The Pug is much larger: about 9.1 kg (20 lb) as an adult, against 4.8 kg (10 lb) for the Brussels Griffon.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Brussels Griffon lives longer: a median of 13.3 years, against 11.6 for the Pug.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Brussels Griffon holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Pug sheds through the year.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Brussels Griffon: sticks close to its people; Pug: bonded to its family) and on intelligence (Brussels Griffon: learns readily, likes games; Pug: easy-going, simple routines).
Alike
Both are rated the same on affection: a lap or leaning dog.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Brussels Griffon
Companion & toy · Toy
In temperament it is a confident, self-important little dog. It attaches itself closely to its owner and is often reserved with strangers.
Pug
Companion & toy · Small
By temperament the Pug is good-natured, sociable and playful. It likes to stay close to its people and often follows them about the house.
Breed traits
Day to day
Brussels Griffon
Pug
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Brussels Griffon
Pug
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Brussels Griffon
Pug
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Pug grows to the heavier adult, about 9.2 kg against the Brussels Griffon's 4.8 kg.
Brussels Griffon
Pug
More comparisons
Compare the Brussels Griffon with
Sources
- 1American Kennel Club. Brussels Griffon breed page. ↑
- 2VetCompass UK. Primary-care veterinary records. ↑
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 9Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 10American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 11
Parts of this page were written by AI ·