Pug or French Bulldog?

Question

I am an active college student and looking into getting one of the two...I am lookin for a dog who i can run with, skate with, bike with, etc...my question is which dog is better suited for physical activity and living in a college atmosphere?

Answer 1

Neither are great dogs for running - Pugs, Boston terriers and other dogs with pushed-in faces (like bulldogs) are very susceptible to heat stroke and breathing problems. A college atmosphere is like living in an apartment - you want a quiet, friendly dog!

I'd recommend one of the Sporting breeds (but NOT a Weimaraner or a Dalmatian!) My all-time favorite mid-sized dog is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed too much, are generally great with people and easy to train. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet. They will need a good thirty minute run every day. Vizslas, Setters, Pointers, Labs and Goldens are usually great with people but they're bigger and are very boisterous until they are about two. Labs shed a LOT and bark more than the others. Whippets and Greyhounds are great too, but they will run away if someone leaves a door open and they get loose.

I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.


Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Find a breed rescue organization by going to www.akc.org - you can get an older, housebroken dog for less money. Be VERY careful about getting a shelter dog though - you are often adopting someone else's problem dog. And people often lie about the dog's temperament, hoping he'll get a new home that can deal with him.

Answer 2

French Bulldog

Answer 3

I don't know much about French Bulldogs, but from what I hear, pugs are very energetic little dogs. Also if you like small active dogs you might consider a Jack Russell Terrier or a Corgi. They are both cute and a lot of fun, as well as very easy to train.

Answer 4

Niether of them are a good idea to run with. The lowest maintenance between the two is the French Bulldog. You want a dog that is small and can exercise? One that's low maintenance and friendly. Try the Welsh Corgi. It's a high energy dog, small, and usually very friendly. They require exercise and you've got that covered. They can have back problems, but a college student should'nt have trouble in that area since you will likely have a pretty tame atmosphere for your dog. They are also great with kids and friends that you have over. Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

pugs are not good for running with. Due to their noses being so smushed in to their face they can have respiratory problems. Same thing with french bulldogs. If you want a dog you can excercise with i would suggest a type of terrier, they are very high active dogs. My favorite terrier is the jack russell terrier. They have A LOT of energy.

Answer 6

they have the same responsibilitys but the bulldog is like twice the amout of care. So try going with the pug but just to warn you those dogs come with bad gas and they snore. i know for a fact because i have a pug. and its not just my pug its all pugs.lol. pugs are very active though, but you have to watch that because they can get over heated.

Answer 7

I would pick the pug. I had one for 14 years. She was the best dog I ever had!!! They are playful and extremely friendly they don't have a mean bone in their bodies. Just make sure to get them from a good breeder. Mine never had breathing problems or was sick. This dog has the best personality and I think you would be very happy with it!!!!

Answer 8

Not a French Bulldog....they are not great at the "high activity" thing. A friend of mine has one and it is quite high maintenance, with quite a few trips to the vet. Because of the smushed faces, neither breed is really suited to major exercise and they tend to overheat quickly. For you, I would to with a border collie.....look for a rescue group for an adult you can adopt. Great dogs!

Answer 9

French Bulldog are more fun!!

Answer 10

Both have problems breathing. If you had to choose one, I would pick a pug. They are sweeter and cost a LOT LESS.