Chihuahua vs Pug
Compare the Chihuahua to the Pug. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Chihuahuas and Pugs.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Chihuahua is an excellent choice for new/inexperienced owners. The Pug is okay for new owners, but may not be as easy as the Chihuahua.
- Children - Both the Chihuahua and Pug are great with children.
- Grooming - The Chihuahua is very easy to groom. The Pug has high grooming requirements.
- Barking - Both the Chihuahua and Pug are above average barkers.
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| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Pug |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 15-20 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 6-9 in. | 10-14 in. |
| Weight | 3-6 lb | 13-20 lb |
| Intelligence | High | Below Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Mexico | China |
| Origin Year | 1850 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 | 50°F to 80°F | 55°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | Low |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Low |
| Top Running Speed | 18 mph | 12 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | High |
| Shedding | Medium | High |
| Dander | Low | High |
| Drool Amount | None | 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 | Chihuahua | 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 | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Below Average |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | Below Average |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | High | Below Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Watch | High | Below Average |
| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Pug |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 15-20 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Cheyletiella Dermatitis | No | Yes |
| Collapsed Trachea | Yes | No |
| Corneal Ulcers | No | Yes |
| 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 |
| Hydrocephalus | Yes | No |
| Hypoglycemia | Yes | No |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Nerve Degeneration | No | Yes |
| Open Fontanel | Yes | No |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Proptosis | No | Yes |
| Pug Dog Encephalitis | No | Yes |
| Pulmonic Stenosis | Yes | No |
| Shivering | Yes | No |
| Staph Infection | No | Yes |
| Vaccination Sensitivity | No | Yes |
| Yeast Infection | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Pug |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Single Coat | Yes | No |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Silky | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Long | Yes | No |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Black & Red | Yes | No |
| Black & Silver | Yes | No |
| Black & Tan | Yes | No |
| Black & White | Yes | No |
| Black Sabled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Black Sabled Silver | Yes | No |
| Blue | Yes | No |
| Blue & White | Yes | No |
| Blue Brindled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Blue Fawn | Yes | No |
| Chocolate | Yes | No |
| Chocolate & Tan | Yes | No |
| Chocolate & White | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Blue | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Brindled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Sabled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Cream | Yes | No |
| Cream & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | Yes |
| Fawn & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn Brindled Black | Yes | No |
| Gold | Yes | No |
| Gold & White | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | No |
| Red & White | Yes | No |
| Silver | Yes | No |
| Silver & White | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | No |