Oldest Pug vs. Oldest Boston Terrier: Who lived Longer?

Written by Kyle Glatz
Published: January 4, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


The average lifespan of dogs is somewhere between 10 and 13 years of age. Some dog breeds are blessed with greater longevity than others. For example, Boston terriers and pugs are two breeds that tend to live on the high side of average. In fact, some members of each breed have doubled the average age of dogs! Still, that makes us wonder, out of the oldest pug vs the oldest Boston terrier, who lived longer?

Let’s take a closer look at the average members and exemplars of each breed and see how long they have survived!

How Long Do Pugs Live on Average?

pug

Pugs tend to live long as they are a small breed.

©220 Selfmade studio/Shutterstock.com

The average pug lives for 12 to 15 years. Members of this small breed routinely exceed 12 years of age, though. Several pugs have lived for close to 20 years, and their long lifespans were recorded by their owners and other agencies.

They are a small breed of dog. Pugs usually grow between 10 and 14 inches tall and weigh between 14 and 18 pounds.

Although pugs are known for developing breathing problems, obesity, skinfold infections, and other health risks, they can still live for a long time. Generally speaking, smaller, lighter dogs tend to live longer than their large and heavy counterparts. That means your pug could be with you for many years with proper care.

How Old Was the Oldest Pug?

The oldest pug that ever lived was 27 years old. The pug was named Snookie, and it reached a lofty age before passing away in 2018. This dog was recognized and verified by Guinness World Records, ensuring the pup’s spot in history.

Now, you are probably wondering whether this was the oldest dog to ever live. Surprisingly, Snookie is only the fourth-oldest dog that was ever recorded!

Let’s continue our examination of these small breeds so we can consider the oldest pug vs the oldest Boston terrier and see which of them survived for longer.

How Long Do Boston Terriers Live?

Boston terrier running through the yard.

Boston terriers live between 13 and 15 years.

©Zero Degrees Photography/Shutterstock.com

Boston terriers are another small breed, and they typically live between 13 and 15 years. Like the pug, some Boston terriers have lived much longer than their breed average.

Their potential longevity probably stems from their small size. By the time they reach adulthood, the average Boston terrier will achieve a weight between 10 and 25 pounds, and it will stand up to 16 inches tall.

Boston terriers are known for developing health problems such as brachycephalic syndrome and walking issues. Dog owners that maintain their pet’s health and regularly take them to the vet are often rewarded with a long-lived companion.  

How Old Was the Oldest Boston Terrier?

The oldest Boston terrier to ever live is a controversial topic since some sources claim that the oldest Boston terrier was 21 years old and others say it was 26 years old. However, none of these claims are backed up by a record-keeping body like Guinness World Records.

That certainly hinders our comparison of the oldest pug vs the oldest Boston terrier.

Moreover, some sources claim that the oldest Boston terrier was 36 years old. A Boston terrier website showed a member of the breed that had turned 20 years old, so that gives us a baseline measure of sorts. Still, very few believable accounts of old Boston terriers are available today.

That being said, 36 years of age for any dog seems to be a stretch of the imagination. Such an age would be significantly higher than the highest age of any dog ever recorded.

The Oldest Pug vs the Oldest Boston Terrier: Who Was Older?

The oldest pug was oldest than the oldest Boston terrier.

The oldest pug was oldest than the oldest Boston terrier. The oldest pug lived for 27 years and 284 days, but the oldest Boston terrier may have lived for 21 years.

Based on the available information, Snookie the pug lived longer than any of the Boston terriers that were either verified or presented with a believable age. Unfortunately, we lack enough data about older Boston terriers, but we do know that they’re capable of living for a long time.

Now that we have considered the oldest pug vs the oldest Boston terrier, let’s consider some of the most aged dogs ever recorded.

How Old Was the Oldest Dog to Ever Live?

The oldest dog to ever live was Bluey the Australian cattle dog. Bluey lived for 29 years and 5 months before passing away in 1939.

This dog is often recognized as the oldest to ever live. However, other claimants to that title have emerged in the past. For example, a dog named Chilla was said to be 32 years and 12 days old. However, it’s difficult to verify the ages of dogs unless the owner has proof of when they obtained their pet. Also, some people don’t think to have their dog’s age verified until years after the dog has passed away.

Currently, no dog is poised to exceed Bluey’s age. Right now, the oldest verified living dog is a 22-year-old Chihuahua mix named Gino Wolf. According to the owner, Gino Wolf is still in good shape but prefers to lounge around these days.

Gino Wolf’s owner makes special meals for his old dog, and he continues to take the dog to the vet for regular checkups. Based on the dog’s latest results, he may be around for a long time to come.

Still, he has a very long way to go if he ever wants to catch up to Bluey in age!

If you want to give your pet dog a chance to reach Bluey’s lofty age, you need to provide a healthy diet, lots of exercise, and trips to their vet. That way, you can prevent or catch health issues that could reduce your beloved pet’s lifespan!

Up Next:

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©

Ready to discover the top 10 cutest dog breeds in the entire world?

How about the fastest dogs, the largest dogs and those that are -- quite frankly -- just the kindest dogs on the planet? Each day, AZ Animals sends out lists just like this to our thousands of email subscribers. And the best part? It's FREE. Join today by entering your email below.

What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?

Share on:
About the Author

Kyle Glatz is a writer at A-Z-Animals where his primary focus is on geography and mammals. Kyle has been writing for researching and writing about animals and numerous other topics for 10 years, and he holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Education from Rowan University. A resident of New Jersey, Kyle enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.