French Bulldog vs Pug
Side by side
French Bulldog
Pug
Adult weight
Males 9–14 kg (20–31 lb); females 8–13 kg (18–29 lb)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
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
Breathing obstruction from a short muzzle (far more likely); Narrowed nostrils (far more likely)7
Breathing obstruction from a short muzzle (far more likely); Corneal ulcers (far more likely)8
Class
Companion
Lap dog
Which suits you
Size
The French Bulldog is a little larger on average: about 11 kg (24 lb) as an adult, against 9.1 kg (20 lb) for the Pug.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Pug lives longer: a median of 11.6 years, against 9.8 for the French Bulldog.
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
French Bulldog
Companion & toy · Small
In temperament the French Bulldog is affectionate, playful and alert, closely attached to its people and inclined to follow them from room to room.
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
French Bulldog
Pug
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Easy-going, simple routines
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
French Bulldog
Pug
Affection
A lap or leaning dog
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
French Bulldog
Pug
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The French Bulldog grows to the heavier adult, about 11 kg against the Pug's 9.2 kg.
French Bulldog
Pug
More comparisons
Compare the French Bulldog with
Sources
- 1The Kennel Club. French Bulldog breed standard. ↑
- 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
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- 9Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 10Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 11American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 12
Parts of this page were written by AI ·