Differences and Similarities between the French Bulldog and the Pekingese.

French Bulldog versus Pekingese

Quick Links: Table of Contents

French Bulldog Versus Pekingese: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the French Bulldog and the Pekingese? 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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese 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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Bulldog and the Pekingese 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 French Bulldog and for the Pekingese. 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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese.

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

French Bulldog versus Pekingese

French Bulldog versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the French Bulldog and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The French Bulldog is a small-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are Companion Dogs. This means both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese 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.

French Bulldog versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Bulldog to the Pekingese 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 French Bulldog Pekingese
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 11 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 16 to 28 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $4610 $1930
Price Range $3100 – $5000 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 96.2 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 5 86
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 58 73

    *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 French Bulldog 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 Pekingese. 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 French Bulldog is 86 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

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

    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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    French Bulldog versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the French Bulldog and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are most different:

  • French Bulldogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • French Bulldogs do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Pekingeses do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • French Bulldogs are very easy to groom. However, Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Pekingese

    The French Bulldog and the Pekingese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are most similar:

  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese have low exercise needs.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the French Bulldog and the Pekingese.

    French Bulldogs weigh 16 to 28 pounds when fully grown. French Bulldogs are 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the French Bulldog

    The French Bulldog has a better temperament than the Pekingese.

    This is because the temperament score for the French Bulldog is 96.2 percent while the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 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 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 96.2 percent, the French Bulldog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the French Bulldog and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 52 French Bulldogs and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of French Bulldog versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the French Bulldog puppy is $4610. The price of the French Bulldog typically ranges from $3100 – $5000. However, the price of a French Bulldog can be as low as $123 and as high as $40000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2308 French Bulldog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The French Bulldog is more expensive than the Pekingese.

    French Bulldog Pekingese
    Average Price $4610 $1930
    Price Range $3100 to $5000 $1288 to $2500

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the French Bulldog puppy or the Pekingese 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    French Bulldog versus Pekingese

    Adopting the French Bulldog versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many French Bulldogs and many Pekingeses are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male French Bulldog named Waffle – So Ca that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable French Bulldogs like Waffle – So Ca on pefinder.com.

    Also, like French Bulldogs, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Leo is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Leo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The French Bulldog and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Emerson is the name of another French Bulldog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Jordan, an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    French Bulldogs and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more French Bulldogs and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the French Bulldog versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    French Bulldog Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 58 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the French Bulldog has an obedience intelligence rank of 58 out of 130 dog breeds. The French Bulldog belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that French Bulldogs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The French Bulldog is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    French Bulldog versus Pekingese

    The Popularity of French Bulldog versus Popularity of Pekingese

    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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the French Bulldog is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the French Bulldog is 5 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year French Bulldog Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 11 77
    2014 9 82
    2015 6 80
    2016 6 93
    2017 4 88
    2018 4 92
    2019 4 83
    2020 2 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Pekingese

    French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Pekingese

    French Bulldogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Pekingeses 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: French Bulldog vs. Pekingese

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

    Pekingeses have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Do French Bulldogs shed more than Pekingeses?

    French Bulldogs shed moderately.

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

    Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

    French Bulldogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Pekingeses?

    French Bulldogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the French Bulldog or the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the French Bulldog Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the French Bulldog or the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs are very good for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

    French Bulldogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Pekingese?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to groom.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Bulldog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (75 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Beaglier (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Beaglier.
  • Chihuahua (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Chihuahua.
  • Pug (83 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Pug.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese 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 Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the French Bulldog and how the Pekingese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the French Bulldog and of the Pekingese to other breeds:

    French Bulldog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Bulldog versus Great Pyrenees     French Bulldog versus Boxer     French Bulldog versus Shih Tzu     French Bulldog versus Bullmastiff     French Bulldog versus Plott     French Bulldog versus Border Collie     French Bulldog versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     French Bulldog versus Cairn Terrier     French Bulldog versus Chi-Poo     French Bulldog versus Portuguese Water Dog     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus German Shepherd Dog     Pekingese versus Standard Poodle     Pekingese versus Greyhound     Pekingese versus Cockapoo     Pekingese versus German Longhaired Pointer     Pekingese versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Pekingese versus Rottweiler     Pekingese versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Pekingese versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Pekingese versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    Conclusion: French Bulldog versus Pekingese. 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 French Bulldog and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.