From a distance when a person sees a small stocky dog running around with a flat face they may assume it is a Boston Terrier or a Pug. The breeds have many similarities but are very distinct and different breeds. This blog will discuss the noticeable and slight differences between a Boston Terrier and a Pug.
If a person is trying to decide on a smaller dog to bring into their home they need to realize that not all smaller dog breeds are the same. Although Boston Terriers resemble a Pug, realize that they are not Pugs and should not be considered one and the same. There are many differences in the other breed.
If you want to add a new small dog into your home or apartment, a Boston Terrier and a Pug make good options. The breeds are great pets but read on to understand the differences and why the Boston Terrier is a little more popular than the pug as per the AKC.
What makes a Boston Terrier different from a Pug
It has always been my belief that it’s better to get the bad out of the way quickly and then follow it up with the good. Based on this concept let’s go over the difference in the Boston Terrier breed that would make a new owner consider getting a pug instead.
Although slight there is a little difference in the lifespans between a Boston Terrier and a Pug. On average the Pug lives 13 years while the Boston Terrier will only live for 12. One year may seem like a small difference but that’s just an average. Based on the lifespan ranges it’s possible that a Pug will live up to 5 years longer than a Boston Terrier.
When it comes to the weight of the breeds the Pug is a little bit smaller than a Boston Terrier. A typical Pug male will weigh between 13 and 20 pounds whereas a Boston Terrier will range from 10 to 25 pounds.
I will say based on owning two Boston Terriers ranges doesn’t tell you how big are small your dog will be. Our male Boston hovers around 40 pounds when he is really getting some love from our kids and 35 when he is in shape. His brother down the street on the other false right into the under 25 pound range.
Both Boston Terriers and Pugs will let you get them as out of shape as possible. If you want to feed them snacks and watch tv all day well they will enjoy that as much as any other activity. On the other hand, if you have kids they will run around all day playing with them.
If you are curious about how Boston Terriers are with kids we have written a detailed blog on the subject. Please check it out HERE.
The final difference between Boston Terriers and Pugs that leans in favor of the pug is the breed’s temperament with other dogs. A Boston Terrier needs a little more socialization as a puppy than a Pug would need.
We are not saying that Boston Terriers are not able to be around other dogs, our two love playing with their friends who come over. Now when a strange dog that they don’t know walks by the yard well they are not running up to play with them.
I have also seen in a few male Boston Terriers a dominant trait when it comes to dealing with other dogs. This is something to be aware of if you are going to add one to your home. This won’t matter much to a home that already has dogs as the new Boston will blend in and find his place.
The key to any puppy, if you want them to get along with other dogs and other people, is to ensure they are well socialized while young. If it is part of their normal life as they are learning what is acceptable to be around random dogs, they will understand that it’s okay.
Now that we have all of the negatives out of the way it’s time to point out all of the reasons why Boston Terriers are an all-around better dog breed than Pugs. We will try not to be biased but just wanted to give you a heads up as we are owners of Boston Terriers, we love them very much.
Boston Terriers are the first American dog breed. This means the breed was created and perfected in the United States. The Pug on the other hand originated in China. So I mean if you are a buy American type person then well you have to go a pick the Boston Terrier. I say that in jest but the origin of the breed is true.
The Boston Terrier is more energetic than the pug. They are not a dog that will annoy you because they never stop but they will be ready to play when you are. They also love to cuddle so if that’s what you are looking for they will be ready to go.
If you are curious about how cuddly the Boston Terrier is we have written a post on the topic. You can check this post out HERE.
One of my top reasons why I picked the Boston Terrier over the Pug is their coat. Their coat and the shedding sets them apart. When you have a pug and they are laying on your couch, when they get up you can expect them to leave a little pile of short hair for you.
As an owner of two Boston Terriers who loves to lay all over the couch no matter how I try to train my wife, I can say they do not shed much. If you vacuum the house you will see the small hairs, but when they are laying around and then get up, they won’t leave you a pile to clean up.
One of the last reasons we will point out why a Boston Terrier is a better breed than a Pug, they are considered more healthy. All pure breed dog breeds have their health problems and brachycephalic breeds have a few more. In the end though when you rank them Boston Terriers are a healthier breed than the Pug.
Conclusion on are Boston Terriers Pugs
It is very simple when you get close to both breeds. A Boston Terrier is not a Pug and is not even close to the same breed. Everything from the look, the coat, the temperament, and even the color is different. Some people will love having a little Pug laying around by them but for us Boston Terriers are by far the superior breed.