Which is Better Between the Bolognese and the Puli?

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Bolognese Versus Puli: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bolognese and the Puli? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Bolognese and the Puli better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Bolognese and the Puli.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bolognese and the Puli is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Bolognese and for the Puli. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Bolognese and the Puli.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Bolognese or the Puli.

Bolognese versus Puli: Overview

A very important difference between the Bolognese and the Puli is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bolognese is a tiny-sized dog while the Puli is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Bolognese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Puli belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Bolognese versus Puli: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bolognese to the Puli based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Bolognese and the Puli

Factor Bolognese Puli
Does NOT Shed 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 1/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 25 to 35 pounds
Height 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $2030 $1880
Price Range $1888 – $2162 $1562 – $2188
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 92.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bolognese in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Puli. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Bolognese is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Puli is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Bolognese is a better pet than the Puli. So, you should get the Bolognese!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Bolognese and the Puli so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bolognese and the Puli

    Below is a list of where the Bolognese and the Puli are most different:

    • Bologneses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Pulis have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Bologneses are very friendly towards strangers. However, Pulis are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Bologneses are very easy to train. However, Pulis are not easy to train.

    The Similarities Between the Bolognese and the Puli

    The Bolognese and the Puli are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bolognese and the Puli are most similar:

    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Bolognese and the Puli have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Bolognese versus Puli

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bolognese and the Puli.

    Bologneses weigh 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Bologneses are 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pulis weigh 25 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Pulis are 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Bolognese versus Puli

    The lifespan of Bologneses is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Bologneses is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pulis is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pulis is 12.5 years.

    Bologneses live longer than Pulis.

    Temperament of the Bolognese Versus the Puli

    The Bolognese has a better temperament than the Puli.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bolognese is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Puli is 92.3 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Bolognese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 92.3 percent, the Puli has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bolognese and the Puli by measuring the temperaments of 1 Bologneses and 26 Pulis.

    Price of Bolognese versus Price of Puli

    The average price of the Bolognese puppy is $2030. The price of the Bolognese typically ranges from $1888 – $2162. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2 Bolognese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Puli puppy is $1880. The price of the Puli typically ranges from $1562 – $2188. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 2 Puli puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bolognese is more expensive than the Puli.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Bolognese and Puli. For different price points, the charts show how many Bolognese puppies or how many Puli puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bologneses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bologneses. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pulis

    A breakdown of the prices of Pulis

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Bolognese puppy or the Puli puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bolognese versus Puli

    Bologneses do not like to be left alone.

    Pulis do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bologneses shed more than Pulis?

    Bologneses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Pulis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Bolognese or the Puli

    Bologneses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pulis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bolognese or the Puli?

    Bologneses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Pulis require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Bolognese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Puli?

    Bologneses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Pulis have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Bologneses Bark and Howl? What about Pulis?

    Bologneses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Pulis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Bologneses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pulis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bologneses cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Pulis can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bolognese vs. Puli

    Bologneses do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Pulis have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Bologneses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pulis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bologneses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Pulis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bolognese or the Puli?

    Bologneses get along very well with other dogs.

    Pulis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Bologneses good family dogs? What about Pulis?

    Bologneses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Pulis are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Bologneses and Pulis?

    Bologneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Pulis get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Bolognese Easier to Train than the Puli?

    Bologneses are very easy to train.

    Pulis are not easy to train.

    Is the Bolognese Better for Apartment Owners than the Puli?

    Bologneses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pulis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bolognese or the Puli?

    Bologneses are OK for new dog owners.

    Pulis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bolognese versus Puli. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Bolognese and the Puli better suits you and your family.