A Detailed Comparison of the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd.

French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd

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French Bulldog Versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd.

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 Pyrenean Shepherd

French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Overview

Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd are similar in size. The French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd are both small-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the French Bulldog 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 Pyrenean Shepherd 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.

French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Bulldog to the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 11 to 14 years 15 to 17 years
Weight 16 to 28 pounds 25 to 30 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
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 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 16.0 years
Average Price $4610 No Data
Price Range $3100 – $5000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 5 178

    *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 Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the French Bulldog is a better pet than the Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd

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

  • French Bulldogs have low exercise needs. However, Pyrenean Shepherds require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • French Bulldogs are good for new dog owners. However, Pyrenean Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd

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

  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd

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

    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, Pyrenean Shepherds weigh 25 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Pyrenean Shepherds are 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Adopting the French Bulldog versus Adopting the Pyrenean Shepherd

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many French Bulldogs and many Pyrenean Shepherds 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 Knox that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable French Bulldogs like Knox on pefinder.com.

    Also, like French Bulldogs, Pyrenean Shepherds are also available for adoption. For example, Boone is a Male Pyrenean Shepherd that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pyrenean Shepherds like Boone that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

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

    The Popularity of French Bulldog versus Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    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 Pyrenean Shepherd over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the French Bulldog is more popular with dog owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd is 178 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd

    Year French Bulldog Popularity Rank Pyrenean Shepherd Popularity Rank
    2013 11 169
    2014 9 178
    2015 6 176
    2016 6 176
    2017 4 180
    2018 4 181
    2019 4 182
    2020 2 182

    Health Problems of French Bulldog versus Health Problems of Pyrenean Shepherd

    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 French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 French Bulldog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Pyrenean Shepherd.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the French Bulldog than for the Pyrenean Shepherd.

    7 health tests are recommended for French Bulldog while 5 tests are recommended for the Pyrenean Shepherd.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in French Bulldogs and in Pyrenean Shepherds.

    French Bulldog Health Problems

    French Bulldogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your French Bulldog 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 French Bulldogs for:

  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for French Bulldogs here.

    Pyrenean Shepherd Health Problems

    Pyrenean Shepherds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherds for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pyrenean Shepherds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in French Bulldogs and Pyrenean Shepherds

    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 French Bulldog Breed is Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.

    This is because the French Bulldog ranks 1 out of 5 dog breeds for Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 55 French Bulldogs, 33 of them had Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.

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

  • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 1 out of 5 Dog Breeds
  • Cystinuria problems: Rank 2 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia problems: Rank 3 out of 4 Dog Breeds
  • Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems: Rank 4 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 9 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 15 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 16 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 22 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 25 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 34 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 63 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 77 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 107 out of 115 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 Pyrenean Shepherd Breed is Dentition Database problems.

    This is because the Pyrenean Shepherd ranks 24 out of 49 dog breeds for Dentition Database problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 79 Pyrenean Shepherds, 4 of them had Dentition Database problems.

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

  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 24 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 27 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 44 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 71 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 72 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in French Bulldog and in Pyrenean Shepherd and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the French Bulldog and the Pyrenean Shepherd:

    Disease French Bulldog Rank Pyrenean Shepherd Rank
    Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems 1 out of 5 dog breeds Not Common
    Cystinuria problems 2 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems 3 out of 4 dog breeds Not Common
    Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems 4 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 9 out of 49 dog breeds 24 out of 49 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 15 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 16 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 22 out of 198 dog breeds 71 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems 25 out of 145 dog breeds 72 out of 145 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 34 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 63 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 77 out of 182 dog breeds 44 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 107 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 27 out of 159 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd

    French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Pyrenean Shepherd

    French Bulldogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    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.

    Pyrenean Shepherds 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. Pyrenean Shepherd

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

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

    Do French Bulldogs shed more than Pyrenean Shepherds?

    French Bulldogs shed moderately.

    Pyrenean Shepherds shed moderately.

    Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?

    French Bulldogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    French Bulldogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Pyrenean Shepherds do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to train.

    Pyrenean Shepherds are not easy to train.

    Is the French Bulldog Better for Apartment Owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    French Bulldogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pyrenean Shepherds adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    French Bulldogs are very good for new dog owners.

    Pyrenean Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?

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

    Pyrenean Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Pyrenean Shepherd?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to groom.

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

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

  • Cairn Terrier (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Cairn Terrier.
  • Lakeland Terrier (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the French Bulldog vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Pomsky (73 percent match with Pyrenean Shepherd). 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 Pyrenean Shepherd compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the French Bulldog and of the Pyrenean Shepherd to other breeds:

    French Bulldog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Bulldog versus Giant Schnauzer     French Bulldog versus Border Terrier     French Bulldog versus American Foxhound     French Bulldog versus Shiranian     French Bulldog versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     French Bulldog versus American Eskimo Dog     French Bulldog versus Shih Tzu     French Bulldog versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     French Bulldog versus Airedale Terrier     French Bulldog versus King Shepherd     

    Pyrenean Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pyrenean Shepherd versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Chi-Poo     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Sussex Spaniel     Pyrenean Shepherd versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Pomchi     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Peek A Poo     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Tibetan Spaniel     Pyrenean Shepherd versus Skye Terrier     

    Conclusion: French Bulldog versus Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd better suits you and your family.