Pug vs French Bulldog - Dog Breed Comparison

Let's start by saying that despite their many similarities, these two breeds are not related. The Pug is an ancient dog breed from China, thousands of years old, where they lived with royalty and were viewed as almost sacred animals. Pugs were brought to Europe somewhere around the 1600s. French Bulldogs are descendants of small toy Bulldogs from the United Kingdom that were brought to Normandy, France by lace workers. The history of the French Bulldog dates back to the 1800s, making it a much younger dog breed.

Now let's talk about the differences in appearance between the Pug and the Frenchie. One of the reasons why they look similar is that they are both brachycephalic dog breeds – which basically means that they have a short, pushed-in nose. The Pug has a slightly shorter muzzle than the Frenchie, but that is not the biggest difference in the facial area. The biggest difference would definitely be the ears. The Pug's ears sag down over its face and are velvety to touch, while the French Bulldog's ears are larger, distinctive, and erect. Additionally, the head shape is slightly different. The French Bulldog has a square-shaped head, while the Pug has a big, flat, round head. The last difference on the face is the wrinkles. Both breeds have them, but the Pug's wrinkles are deeper set and much more prevalent.

There are also significant differences in body type and size. The Frenchie typically looks more athletic compared to the Pug, which most often has a round body. It is important to note that both breeds are prone to overeating and obesity, so you should closely monitor your dog's diet.

And what about size? Well, the Pug is slightly smaller of the two. You can see the size comparison on the screen right now, but the size difference is not really that big. Both are small dog breeds.

The Pug and Frenchie have short coats, but that's the only similarity in their coat types. The Frenchie has a single-layered silky coat that sheds only minimally. The Pug has a smooth double coat that sheds like crazy and requires much more brushing to remove all the dead hair and minimize shedding.

Purebred Pugs can only be fawn or black. Fawn is by far the most common Pug color. On the other hand, Frenchies come in a variety of colors. You can find Frenchies in all kinds of plain colors like fawn, black, blue, or cream. Various shades of brindle, which is probably the most common Frenchie color pattern. French Bulldogs can also have differently colored spots on their coats, very typically dark, beige, or red spots on their chest, bottom, paws, or eyebrows.

The French Bulldog and the Pug also share a lot of similarities in their temperament and personality. Both are known to be excellent family companions with affectionate and friendly temperaments. They will trail after you everywhere you go and create a very strong bond with the family. These dogs crave attention and companionship.

The differences in their temperament are rather subtle, but the Pug is more clownish, more puppy-like, playful dog with mischievous antics. The adult French Bulldog tends to be more laid back, let's say "wiser" and relaxed.

The exercise needs of both breeds are minimal. A few daily walks combined with some playtime are enough for both dogs. But you must exercise them daily, so they stay happy, healthy, and fit.
Both breeds are pretty smart, but also independent and stubborn. From these two, it is most often the French Bulldog, who tends to be more stubborn and independent. However, both breeds are easily capable of learning all the basic obedience commands.

And last, but not least, let's talk about the health of both breeds. Since they both have brachycephalic face structure, they both can have troubles with respiratory complications. These problems are especially prevalent in hot and humid climates, and you should limit the exercise when your dog has breathing difficulties. These problems are significantly more serious for Pugs, as they're the more brachycephalic breed of the two.

Eye issues are another problem with both breeds, but again, they are much more common in Pugs. The bulgy eyes of Pugs are the source of many health issues. In addition to that, as I already mentioned before, both breeds are prone to obesity, and both breeds have histories of skin and autoimmune disorders.

​The average lifespan of a Pug is around 13 or 14 years, while the average lifespan of a French Bulldog is around 12 years.