Is the Golden Retriever Better than the Pug as a Pet? Answer…

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Golden Retriever Versus Pug: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Golden Retriever and the Pug? 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Pug.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever or the Pug.

Golden Retriever versus Pug

Golden Retriever versus Pug: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Golden Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

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.

Golden Retriever versus Pug: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Golden Retriever 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Golden Retriever and the Pug

Factor Golden Retriever Pug
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 1/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 75 pounds 14 to 18 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1870 $1620
Price Range $1500 – $2200 $1200 – $1875
Temperament Score 85.6 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • 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 3 31
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 4 57

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Golden Retriever 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 the Golden Retriever is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pug is 80 out of 125.

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

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

    Golden Retriever versus Pug

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Golden Retriever and the Pug

    Below is a list of where the Golden Retriever and the Pug are most different:

  • Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pugs adapt well to apartment living.
  • Golden Retrievers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Pugs are very easy to groom.
  • Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Pugs do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Golden Retrievers are highly intelligent. However, Pugs not very intelligent.
  • Golden Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Pugs are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the Golden Retriever and the Pug

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

  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Pug are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Golden Retriever versus Pug

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Golden Retriever and the Pug.

    Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Golden Retrievers are 21 to 24 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.

    Lifespan of Golden Retriever versus Pug

    The lifespan of Golden Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Golden Retrievers is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pugs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pugs is 13.5 years.

    Pugs live longer than Golden Retrievers.

    Golden Retriever versus Pug

    Temperament of the Golden Retriever Versus the Pug

    The Pug has a better temperament than the Golden Retriever.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pug is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 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 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever has an above-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 Golden Retriever and the Pug by measuring the temperaments of 813 Golden Retrievers and 48 Pugs.

    Price of Golden Retriever versus Price of Pug

    The average price of the Golden Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2200. However, the price of a Golden Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2668 Golden Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pug puppy is $1620. The price of the Pug typically ranges from $1200 – $1875. However, the price of the Pug can be as low as $300 and as high as $6525. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 654 Pug puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Golden Retriever is more expensive than the Pug.

    Golden Retriever Pug
    Average Price $1870 $1620
    Price Range $1500 to $2200 $1200 to $1875

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs?

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Golden Retriever puppy or the Pug 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.

    Golden Retriever versus Pug

    Adopting the Golden Retriever versus Adopting the Pug

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Golden Retrievers and many Pugs 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 Golden Retriever named Bear that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Golden Retrievers like Bear on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Golden Retrievers, Pugs are also available for adoption. For example, Otterpop is a Male Pug that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pugs like Otterpop that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Golden Retriever and the Pug can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Archie is the name of another Golden Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Golden Retrievers and Pugs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Golden Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Pug

    Golden Retriever Pug
    Intelligence Rank 4 out of 130 dog breeds 57 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    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 Golden Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 4 out of 130 dog breeds. The Golden Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Golden Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Pug has an obedience intelligence rank of 57 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pug belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pugs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Golden Retriever is more intelligent than the Pug.

    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.

    The Popularity of Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Pug over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Pug. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pug is 31 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Pug

    Year Golden Retriever Popularity Rank Pug Popularity Rank
    2013 3 31
    2014 3 33
    2015 3 33
    2016 3 32
    2017 3 31
    2018 3 28
    2019 3 31
    2020 4 29

    Health Problems of Golden Retriever versus Health Problems of Pug

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

    Both the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pug than for the Golden Retriever.

    4 health tests are recommended for Golden Retriever while 7 tests are recommended for the Pug.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Golden Retrievers and in Pugs.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

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

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 out of 145 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 Golden Retriever and in Pug and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Golden Retriever and the Pug:

    Disease Golden Retriever Rank Pug Rank
    Ichthyosis problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 11 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 17 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 33 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 36 out of 144 dog breeds 2 out of 144 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 39 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 40 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 45 out of 198 dog breeds 1 out of 198 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 56 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 56 out of 70 dog breeds 14 out of 70 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 58 out of 182 dog breeds 60 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 112 out of 145 dog breeds 32 out of 145 dog breeds
    Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems Not Common 1 out of 4 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Golden Retriever versus Pug

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Pugs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Golden Retrievers shed more than Pugs?

    Golden Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Golden Retriever or the Pug

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Pugs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Golden Retriever or the Pug?

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

    Pugs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Golden Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pug?

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

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

    Do Golden Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Pugs?

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pugs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Golden Retriever vs. Pug

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

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

    Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pugs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Golden Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Golden Retriever or the Pug?

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Pugs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Golden Retrievers good family dogs? What about Pugs?

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers and Pugs?

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Golden Retriever Easier to Train than the Pug?

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Pugs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Golden Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Pug?

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pugs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Golden Retriever or the Pug?

    Golden Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Pugs are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Retriever

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

  • Aussiedoodle (74 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Irish Setter (72 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Irish Setter.
  • Labrador Retriever (75 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Labrador Retriever.
  • 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 Golden Retriever vs Boxer.
  • English Toy Spaniel (73 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs English Toy Spaniel.
  • French Bulldog (83 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Golden Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Retriever versus Kuvasz     Golden Retriever versus Goldendoodle     Golden Retriever versus Greyhound     Golden Retriever versus American Eskimo Dog     Golden Retriever versus Havanese     Golden Retriever versus English Setter     Golden Retriever versus Hovawart     Golden Retriever versus Chi-Poo     Golden Retriever versus Goldendoodle     Golden Retriever versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Pomchi     Golden Retriever versus Maltese     Golden Retriever versus Brittany     Golden Retriever versus Samoyed     Golden Retriever versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Norwich Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Lowchen     Golden Retriever versus Clumber Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Barbet     Golden Retriever versus Papipoo     Golden Retriever versus Kooikerhondje     Golden Retriever versus Canaan Dog     Golden Retriever versus American Bulldog     Golden Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Golden Retriever versus English Setter     

    Pug Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pug versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Pug versus Redbone Coonhound     Pug versus American Hairless Terrier     Pug versus Goldador     Pug versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Pug versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Pug versus Cockalier     Pug versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Pug versus Sealyham Terrier     Pug versus Westiepoo     Pug versus Chihuahua     Pug versus Spanish Mastiff     Pug versus American Eskimo Dog     Pug versus Dogo Argentino     Pug versus Newfoundland     Pug versus Jack Russell Terrier     Pug versus Pomsky     Pug versus Kai Ken     Pug versus Labradoodle     Pug versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Pug versus Golden Retriever     Pug versus German Pinscher     Pug versus Border Collie     Pug versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Pug versus Australian Kelpie     

    Conclusion: Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Pug better suits you and your family.