Boston Terrier vs Pug
Compare the Boston Terrier to the Pug. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Boston Terriers and Pugs.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Boston Terrier is an excellent choice for new/inexperienced owners. The Pug is okay for new owners, but may not be as easy as the Boston Terrier.
- Children - Both the Boston Terrier and Pug are great with children.
- Grooming - The Boston Terrier is very easy to groom. The Pug has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - Both the Boston Terrier and Pug are above average barkers.
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| Breed Name | Boston Terrier | Pug |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 13-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 13-15 in. | 10-14 in. |
| Weight | 10-25 lb | 13-20 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | Below Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | United States | China |
| Origin Year | 1870 AD | 206 BC |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | No |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | No | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 55°F to 80°F | 55°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | Low |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Low |
| Top Running Speed | 15 mph | 12 mph |
| Strength | Medium | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | High |
| Shedding | Low | High |
| Dander | Low | High |
| Drool Amount | Low | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Boston Terrier | Pug |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Very Low | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Average | Below Average |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Average | Below Average |
| Breed Name | Boston Terrier | Pug |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 13-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | Yes | Yes |
| Brain Tumors | Yes | No |
| Cataracts | Yes | No |
| Cherry Eye | Yes | No |
| Cheyletiella Dermatitis | No | Yes |
| Corneal Ulcers | No | Yes |
| Deafness | Yes | No |
| Demodectic Mange | No | Yes |
| Distichiasis | No | Yes |
| Dry Eye | No | Yes |
| Entropion | No | Yes |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Heart Murmurs | Yes | No |
| Hemi-vertebrae | No | Yes |
| Hip Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Megaesophagus | Yes | No |
| Nerve Degeneration | No | Yes |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Proptosis | No | Yes |
| Pug Dog Encephalitis | No | Yes |
| Reverse Sneezing | Yes | No |
| Staph Infection | No | Yes |
| Vaccination Sensitivity | No | Yes |
| Yeast Infection | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Boston Terrier | Pug |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Single Coat | Yes | No |
| Double Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black & White | Yes | No |
| Black Brindle, & White | Yes | No |
| Brindle & White | Yes | No |
| Seal & White | Yes | No |
| Seal Brindle & White | Yes | No |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Fawn | No | Yes |