Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Poodle | Pug |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $53,397 | $30,209 |
| First year | $7,295 | $5,707 |
| Monthly average | $318 | $217 |
| Puppy price | $1,500 to $3,500 | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Routine care, yearly | $3,421 | $2,233 |
| Documented conditions | 26 | 26 |
| Median lifespan | 14 yrs | 11.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 45 to 70 lb | 14 to 18 lb |
| Daily food | 3.4 cups | 1.3 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $965 | $184 |
| Risk profile | Moderate | High, early onset |
| Biggest single risk | Skin disease | Obesity |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Dental calculus (US) | 18%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Ear Infection (US) | 12%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 11%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dog bite (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Sebaceous cysts (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Giardia (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Cataracts (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Murmur (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Chocolate (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Skin (cutaneous) cyst | 5%owner survey | not priced |
| Conjunctivitis (US) | 5%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 3%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Patellar luxation | 3%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Lipoma | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Otitis externa | 2%owner survey | $100–$270 |
| Addison's disease (primary hypoadrenocorticism) | 2%owner survey | $1,420–$3,822 |
| Conjunctivitis | 2%owner survey | $224–$604 |
| Unspecified tumor/cancer | 2%owner survey | $3,415–$9,194 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 2%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Ear mite infestation | 2%owner survey | not priced |
| Entropion | 2%owner survey | $449–$1,209 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0%screened dogs | not priced |
| Congenital heart disease | 0%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Dental disease | n/a | $246–$663 |
| Hip dysplasia | n/a | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Addison's disease | n/a | $1,420–$3,822 |
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 13%1-yr clinical | $168–$452 |
| Hip dysplasia | 73%screened dogs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 37%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 36%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Ear Infection (US) | 19%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 18%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 12%screened dogs | not priced |
| Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) (US) | 10%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Corneal ulcer (US) | 10%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dog bite (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Hearing loss (incompletely deaf) (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Osteoarthritis (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Deafness (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Stenotic/narrow nares (US) | 8%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Corneal Ulcer | 6%owner survey | $469–$1,264 |
| Patellar luxation | 6%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Umbilical hernia | 5%owner survey | $621–$1,671 |
| Hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder | 4%owner survey | $629–$1,694 |
| Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS Dry Eye) | 4%owner survey | $224–$604 |
| Seizure/Fitting | 3%owner survey | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Entropion | 2%owner survey | $449–$1,209 |
| Epilepsy | 2%owner survey | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Patellar luxation/Slipping kneecap | 2%owner survey | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome | n/a | $1,784–$4,802 |
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Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $0 for the Poodle and $392 for the Pug. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Common questions
Is a Poodle or a Pug more expensive?
The Pug is cheaper by about $23,188 over a lifetime. Poodle: $53,397. Pug: $30,209. Health costs are not inside either figure. They are documented separately below, in the units each study used.
Which lives longer, a Poodle or a Pug?
The Poodle has the longer typical lifespan. Poodle: 14 years. Pug: 11.6 years.
Which is healthier, a Poodle or a Pug?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Poodle's biggest single risk is skin disease, seen in 36% of the breed. For the Pug it is obesity, at 13%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.