Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Pugs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Pugs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Pugs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Pugs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Pugs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Pugs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Pugs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Pugs Easy to Train?
- Do Pugs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Pugs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Pugs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Pugs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Pugs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Pugs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Pugs
- Conclusion on Pug Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Pug
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Pug out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Pug based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Pug breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Pug by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Pug.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Pug for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Pug.
The summary table below shows the score of the Pug for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 70.5 percent |
| Excitability | 55.2 percent |
| Stubbornness | 54.1 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 48.7 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 47.8 percent |
| Energy Level | 46.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 38.7 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 24.1 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 23.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 21.4 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 21.2 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 19.2 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 15.4 percent |
| Prey Drive | 0.0 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Pug`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Pug, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Pug.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Pugs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Pugs are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Pug ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The Pug ranks number 90 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 23.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Irish Water Spaniel | 25.6 % |
| 88 | Boston Terrier | 25.5 % |
| 89 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 25.4 % |
| 90 | Pug | 23.7 % |
| 91 | Shih Tzu | 23.6 % |
| 92 | Tibetan Terrier | 23.5 % |
| 93 | Pointer | 23.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pugs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Pugs are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Pug ranks average for aggression towards its owner.
The Pug ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has an owner-directed-aggression score of 15.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Akita | 16.4 % |
| 58 | Rat Terrier | 16.4 % |
| 59 | Anatolian Shepherd | 16.3 % |
| 60 | Pug | 15.4 % |
| 61 | Pit Bull mix | 15.2 % |
| 62 | Bichon Frise | 14.9 % |
| 63 | Shetland Sheepdog | 14.8 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pugs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Pugs are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Pug ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Pug ranks number 108 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a dog-directed aggression score of 21.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 105 | Brittany | 25.7 % |
| 106 | Italian Greyhound | 23.5 % |
| 107 | Basset Hound | 21.6 % |
| 108 | Pug | 21.4 % |
| 109 | English Setter | 20.8 % |
| 110 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
| 111 | Shetland Sheepdog | 20.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Pugs Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Pugs are a little bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Pug ranks low for fear of strangers.
The Pug ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a stranger-directed-fear score of 21.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit stranger-fearful just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | West Highland White Terrier | 22.7 % |
| 75 | Poodle (Standard) | 22.2 % |
| 76 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 21.8 % |
| 77 | Pug | 21.2 % |
| 78 | Pit Bull | 21.2 % |
| 79 | English Bulldog | 21.1 % |
| 80 | Whippet | 20.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Pugs Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Pugs are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Pug ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Pug ranks number 60 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a dog-directed-fear score of 38.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | Cairn Terrier | 39.8 % |
| 58 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 39.1 % |
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 39.1 % |
| 60 | Pug | 38.7 % |
| 61 | Belgian Malinois | 38.6 % |
| 62 | German Shepherd | 37.2 % |
| 63 | Alaskan Husky | 37.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Pugs Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Pugs are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Pug ranks low for non-social fear.
The Pug ranks number 77 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a nonsocial-fear score of 24.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Golden Retriever | 25.8 % |
| 75 | Belgian Sheepdog | 24.4 % |
| 76 | Papillon | 24.4 % |
| 77 | Pug | 24.1 % |
| 78 | Akita | 22.9 % |
| 79 | Keeshond | 22.3 % |
| 80 | German Shepherd | 22.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Pugs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Pugs are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Pug ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Pug ranks number 113 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a dog-rivalry score of 19.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Redbone Coonhound | 21.5 % |
| 111 | Great Dane | 21.3 % |
| 112 | Keeshond | 20.1 % |
| 113 | Pug | 19.2 % |
| 114 | Golden Retriever | 18.6 % |
| 115 | Kuvasz | 16.5 % |
| 116 | Brittany | 15.3 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Pugs Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Pugs are not easy to train.
This is because the Pug ranks very low for trainability.
The Pug ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the trainability of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a trainability score of 45.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 104 | Chihuahua | 46.9 % |
| 105 | Dachshund | 46.6 % |
| 106 | Saint Bernard | 46.5 % |
| 107 | Pug | 45.9 % |
| 108 | French Bulldog | 45.4 % |
| 109 | Beagle | 45.3 % |
| 110 | Yorkshire Terrier | 45.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Pug is and how the intelligence of the Pug affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Pug is.
Do Pugs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Pugs are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Pug ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Pug ranks number 124 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a chasing score of 0.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 11.3 % |
| 122 | Shih Tzu | 10.7 % |
| 123 | Bulldog | 7.5 % |
| 124 | Pug | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Pugs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Pugs are very much attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Pug ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Pug ranks number 24 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 70.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Doberman Pinscher | 72.3 % |
| 22 | Australian Shepherd | 72.2 % |
| 23 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 71.8 % |
| 24 | Pug | 70.5 % |
| 25 | Giant Schnauzer | 69.6 % |
| 26 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 69.2 % |
| 27 | Dachshund | 68.7 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Pugs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Pugs are quite a bit prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Pug ranks high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Pug ranks number 41 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a separation anxiety score of 47.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Miniature Schnauzer | 49.1 % |
| 39 | Whippet | 49.0 % |
| 40 | Samoyed | 48.0 % |
| 41 | Pug | 47.8 % |
| 42 | French Bulldog | 47.7 % |
| 43 | Shih Tzu | 47.5 % |
| 44 | English Bulldog | 47.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Pugs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Pugs are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Pug ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Pug ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has a touch-sensitivity score of 48.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Maltese | 50.2 % |
| 11 | Afghan Hound | 50.2 % |
| 12 | Cairn Terrier | 49.3 % |
| 13 | Pug | 48.7 % |
| 14 | Schipperke | 48.6 % |
| 15 | Rat Terrier | 48.2 % |
| 16 | Beagle | 47.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Pugs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Pugs are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Pug ranks high for excitability.
The Pug ranks number 28 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has an excitability score of 55.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Australian Kelpie | 57.4 % |
| 26 | Australian Cattle Dog | 56.5 % |
| 27 | Pomeranian | 56.2 % |
| 28 | Pug | 55.2 % |
| 29 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 54.9 % |
| 30 | French Bulldog | 54.7 % |
| 31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 54.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Pugs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Pugs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Pugs are a little bit energetic.
This is because the Pug ranks low for energy level.
The Pug ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 62 Pug owners reported on the temperament of their Pug in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Pug has an energy-level score of 46.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Pug are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 47.6 % |
| 86 | Bouvier des Flandres | 47.3 % |
| 87 | Saint Bernard | 46.7 % |
| 88 | Pug | 46.5 % |
| 89 | Beagle | 45.5 % |
| 90 | Norwegian Elkhound | 44.6 % |
| 91 | Shiba Inu | 44.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Pug Temperament
The temperament of your Pug comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Pug is exposed to.
You cannot change your Pug`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Pug to.
Exposing your Pug to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Pug to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Pug`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Pug.
If you think the Pug is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Pugs cost and Pug puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Pug breeders in the United States and the prices of their Pug puppies.