Finnish Lapphund versus Pug. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

Finnish Lapphund versus Pug

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Lapphund Versus Pug: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Pug.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug 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 Finnish Lapphund and for the Pug. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug.

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

Finnish Lapphund versus Pug

Finnish Lapphund versus Pug: Overview

A very important difference between the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog while the Pug is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Finnish Lapphund 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.

On the other hand, the Pug 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.

Finnish Lapphund versus Pug: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund to the Pug 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.

Factor Finnish Lapphund Pug
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 14 to 18 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $1875
Average Price No Data $1620
Temperament Score 62.5 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 31

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Finnish Lapphund 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 Pug. 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 a Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Pug is 80 out of 125.

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

    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 Finnish Lapphund and the Pug so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are most different:

  • Finnish Lapphunds are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Pugs have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Finnish Lapphunds can tolerate cold weather. However, Pugs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Finnish Lapphunds are highly intelligent. However, Pugs not very intelligent.
  • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug

    The Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are most similar:

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Pug

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug.

    Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pugs weigh 14 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Pugs are 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Lapphund Versus the Pug

    The Pug has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pug is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 they 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 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 91.7 percent, the Pug has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug by measuring the temperaments of 8 Finnish Lapphunds and 48 Pugs.

    The Popularity of Finnish Lapphund versus Popularity of Pug

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pug is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pug is 31 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Pug

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Pug Popularity Rank
    2013 171 31
    2014 173 33
    2015 169 33
    2016 173 32
    2017 173 31
    2018 161 28
    2019 165 31
    2020 165 29

    Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund versus Health Problems of Pug

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Pug is prone to more genetic health problems than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pug than for the Finnish Lapphund.

    6 health tests are recommended for Finnish Lapphund while 7 tests are recommended for the Pug.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Finnish Lapphunds and in Pugs.

    Finnish Lapphund Health Problems

    Finnish Lapphunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Finnish Lapphund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Finnish Lapphund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Finnish Lapphund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Finnish Lapphunds for:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Finnish Lapphunds here.

    Pug Health Problems

    Pugs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pug puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Pug puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pug breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Pugs for:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pugs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Finnish Lapphunds and Pugs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Finnish Lapphund Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Finnish Lapphund ranks 74 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 160 Finnish Lapphunds, 3 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Finnish Lapphunds, and how common these diseases are in Finnish Lapphunds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 74 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 86 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 90 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 119 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Pug Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Pug ranks 1 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 942 Pugs, 676 of them had Hips problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pugs, and how common these diseases are in Pugs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Hips problems: Rank 1 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia problems: Rank 1 out of 4 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 2 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 14 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 14 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 32 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 60 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Finnish Lapphund and in Pug and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Finnish Lapphund and the Pug:

    Disease Finnish Lapphund Rank Pug Rank
    Patella problems 74 out of 145 dog breeds 32 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 86 out of 144 dog breeds 2 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 90 out of 182 dog breeds 60 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 119 out of 198 dog breeds 1 out of 198 dog breeds
    Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems Not Common 1 out of 4 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 14 out of 70 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 14 out of 40 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Lapphund or the Pug

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pugs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Pug

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Pugs do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pugs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Pugs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Pugs?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Pugs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Pugs?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Pugs are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Better for Apartment Owners than the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pugs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Lapphund or the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Pugs are very good for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Lapphund or the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Pugs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Finnish Lapphund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Pugs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Lapphund vs. Pug

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

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

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pugs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Pugs?

    Finnish Lapphunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Lapphunds and Pugs?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Lapphund or the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Pugs get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Pug?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Pugs are fairly easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Lapphund that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Finnish Lapphund:

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pug

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pug that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pug:

  • Boxer (74 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Boxer.
  • English Toy Spaniel (73 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs English Toy Spaniel.
  • French Bulldog (83 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Finnish Lapphund and how the Pug compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Finnish Lapphund and of the Pug to other breeds:

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Beagle     Finnish Lapphund versus Irish Setter     Finnish Lapphund versus Peek A Poo     Finnish Lapphund versus Miniature Poodle     Finnish Lapphund versus Shiba Inu     Finnish Lapphund versus Skye Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Irish Water Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Pomapoo     Finnish Lapphund versus Mal Shi     Finnish Lapphund versus Yorkshire Terrier     

    Pug Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pug versus Azawakh     Pug versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Pug versus Giant Schnauzer     Pug versus Affenpinscher     Pug versus Harrier     Pug versus English Springer Spaniel     Pug versus Norwegian Buhund     Pug versus French Bulldog     Pug versus Miniature Pinscher     Pug versus Silky Terrier     

    Conclusion: Finnish Lapphund versus Pug. 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Pug better suits you and your family.