Are French Bulldogs and Pugs Related? DNA Testing Makes It Clear

At first glance, french bulldogs and pugs look very similar. So similar, in fact, that someone who is not very familiar with either breed will mistake one for the other quite easily and you can’t blame them.

With their small size, short snouts, their playful and friendly personalities, you may think that French Bulldogs and Pugs are related, but are they?

Are French Bulldogs and Pugs related? French Bulldogs and Pugs are not related and DNA tests prove this. French Bulldogs and Pugs are completely different breeds that originated in different parts of the world with hundreds if not thousands of years separating them, so there is no chance that Frenchies and pugs are related.

This also makes them very interesting, because how can two dogs that look and act this similar not be related? To understand, we have to dig deeper into the characteristics, personalities, and history of both breeds.

If you are comparing the two to make a decision, make sure to read till the conclusion part as you will definitely find it useful. Now, let’s see how both breeds compare and the ways in which they are similar, and the ways in which they are very different. Keep reading…

French Bulldogs vs Pugs

Although French Bulldogs and pugs may look similar from afar, I assure you that they are completely different dogs, although they do share some similarities that are worth mentioning before we get into the differences.

Before we discuss the differences, though, we should talk about their similarities for a bit.

10 Similarities of French Bulldogs and Pugs

Here are the 10 most obvious ways French Bulldogs and Pugs are indeed very similar:

They both look similar, with small bodies and short snouts, and both belong to th e” Brachycephalic head” family of dogs.
They both need very little exercise and can’t do any intense exercise
They both have breathing difficulties
Both dogs are susceptible to weight gain
Both are droolers and use it to cool off
They are both very playful and friendly dogs
They are both great family dogs that can live in small spaces and be around kids and people
They are both great with kids
Both dogs are also emotional and empathetic
They can sometimes be stubborn and strong-headed.

You can learn more about your Bulldog’s head and why it’s called that here.

Now that we’ve discussed their similarities, it’s time to get to all the ways that make them very different dogs that truly come from different worlds.

A Break Down The differences between of French Bulldogs VS Pugs

In order to understand truly how different these two dogs are, we need to look at each category on its own, so let’s break them down.

Lifespan

French Bulldogs can at the most ideal conditions live up to 18 years if they get the best care possible, but the average lifespan of French bulldogs is actually just 10 to 12 years old.

Pugs have a longer lifespan on average than French Bulldogs as the average lifespan of pugs is actually 12 to 15 years old, and the oldest recorded living pug lived to be 27 years old.

Weight and Height

The average healthy male french bulldog can weigh 20 to 28 pounds, and they normally stand at 11 to 13 inches tall. Female French Bulldogs can weigh about 17 to 24 pounds and stand at the same height as their male counterparts.

The average healthy Pug weighs 14 to 18 pounds for both males and females, and they stand at 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder.

This means that French Bulldogs are larger and heavier than Pugs by a good margin.

By the way, if you think your Frenchie doesn’t meet those averages, you can check out why your Frenchie may be taller than normal here.

Appearance

Although Frenchies and pugs may look similar from afar due to their small size and short snouts, they are easily distinguishable from closer. They both still have protruding eyes, but that’s where the similarities end.

You will notice that while pugs have floppy ears that are down, most Frenchies have what are called “bat ears” that stand up. Frenchies also come in more colors than pugs. Pugs come in fawn, apricot, black, and silver fawn colors, while Frenchies come in more than 16 colors including black, fawn, white, brindle, cream, and different combinations of all those colors.

As for the coats, Frenchies have a fine, fair, and short coat that doesn’t shed much, if at all, and has little to no odor. Pugs, on the other hand, have a double coat (like the one you find in winter breeds like Labs and Goldens) that sheds quite a lot, particularly in the summer.

However, both breeds are still very prone to cold and hot weather as their coats don’t provide the protection that the thick coats of other breeds provide them.

For the tails, Frenchies come with stumpy, small, and either straight or screwed tails that will sit low over their rectum. Pugs have small, tightly curled tails and don’t have as many tail issues as French Bulldogs do.

History and Origin

The reason I can tell you with confidence that French Bulldogs and Pugs are not related is because of their history which is very different.

French Bulldogs originated in England to be a toy-sized version of the bulldog, which was used as bait for bulls then as fighting dogs. French Bulldogs started their work as excellent ratters (rat hunters) then quickly became popular among the lace workers in Nottingham who took the dog with them to France when they moved to look for opportunities.

There, the French Bulldog got its name due to the instant and immense popularity it had in Paris and other French cities. Small business owners found the small dog to be fierce enough to work as guard dogs without being as cumbersome as it didn’t take much space or resources from the business to keep.

But the real popularity of Frenchies was with women of the night who absolutely loved the dog who kept them safe during their work at night while also being small enough that they can take with them everywhere they go.

The history of the pug is much different (and nobler) than that of the French Bulldog. Pugs originated in China, with historians claiming evidence of their existence as far as 400 B.C. They were the noble breed of wealthy families in the country.

The pug was imported in the 16th century to Europe where it became popular with the nobility and wealthy there as well, and it even went on to become a Queen Victoria royal family favorite.

Temperament

Both French Bulldogs and Pugs can be great companions and great family dogs, but their temperaments can be quite different.

While both dogs are friendly and laid back, French Bulldogs tend to be more stubborn and independent than Pugs. Pugs, on the other hand, are less stubborn but can also be quite needy and require more of your attention than Frenchies.

Grooming Requirements

French Bulldogs require minimal grooming, but the same can’t be said about Pugs. Pugs are heavy shedders, so you will need to brush them daily while this is not required for Frenchies. You will also need to deal with the Pug’s seasonal shedding which can be quite a lot, while Frenchies shed very little and don’t shed seasonally.

Overall, grooming a French Bulldog takes a lot less than grooming a Pug.

Conclusion: Should I get a French Bulldog or a Pug?

You should get a French Bulldog if you are looking for a dog that’s friendly and easy-going and don’t mind the expenses as Frenchies can be more expensive to get and take care of than Pugs. If you want a dog that is smaller than Frenchies and with fewer health problems and you don’t mind the shedding, the pug is the better dog for you.

Are French Bulldogs and Pugs Related? DNA Testing Makes It Clear

French Bulldogs vs Pugs

10 Similarities of French Bulldogs and Pugs