The
Pug has a square, thickset, stocky compact,
body, with a sleek, soft coat that comes in
apricot, fawn, black and silver - all with a
short, flat, black muzzle and velvety ears.
Rose shaped ears are preferred. Moles on the
cheeks are considered beauty spots. The eyes
are prominent, expressive, dark and lustrous.
The teeth should meet in a slightly undershot
bite. The back is short, with a level topline.
Their tail lays in a tight curl, or in the best
specimens, a double curl on the back. Their
limbs are straight and strong which gives them
a jaunty, rolling gait that is quite distinctive.
Temperament
A
Pug is "a lot of dog in a small space." They
are perky, rambunctious and loyal, affectionate
and loving, with a happy disposition. They are
playful and charming. Clever and mischievous
- with a heart-winning personality. They can
be a bit willful. Highly intelligent, it bores
easily with repetitive training practices. Pugs
are sensitive to the tone of your voice, so
harsh punishment is unnecessary. The dog is
neither excitable nor dull. They are good watchdogs,
very devoted and are not yappers. Pugs get along
well with other dogs and pets, and they behave
impeccably with both children and visitors.
Do not forget though, that they require lots
of attention and become jealous if their owner
ignores them.
Pugs
catch colds easily and are stressed by hot and
cold weather. They are prone to allergies and
the short muzzle contributes to chronic breathing
problems. (Pugs suffer from poor ventilation.)
They are not the easiest whelpers. Expect Cesarean
Section if breeding. There is a chance of keratites
(inflammation of the cornea) and ulcers on the
cornea. The delicate eyes are prone to weeping.
This breed tends to wheeze and snore, but on
the whole is a very easy-care dog. Do
not overfeed a Pug, as they will eat more than
is good for them, quickly becoming obese and
living much shorter lives. Prone to skin problems.
Pone to Pug Dog Encephalitis (PDE), an inflammation
of the brain that strikes adolescent Pugs usually
between the ages of 2 and 3. The cause is unknown.
Living
Conditions
The
Pug is good for apartment life. It is relatively
inactive indoors and will do okay without a
yard. Cannot withstand hot or cold weather and
should be kept indoors at a comfortable temperature.
Exercise
Pugs
are strong dogs with short straight legs. They
need to be taken on daily walks. They enjoy
energetic games and will keep in better health
if given regular exercise. But be careful not
to over do it, especially if you see them start
to wheeze.
Life
Expectancy
About
12 to 15 years.
Grooming
The
smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom.
Brush and comb with a firm bristle brush and
shampoo only when necessary. After bathing,
dry him quickly and thoroughly to prevent chill.
The creases on the face must be cleaned regularly.
This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.
Origin
One
of the older breeds, the Pug is believed to
have originated before 400 BC in Asia. There
is somewhat of a debate over the origin of the
Pug. Some experts think it came from the
Lowlands, brought back from the Far East by
Dutch traders. It is possibly of Oriental
stock, descended from a short-haired Pekingese,
but another theory is, it is the result of crossing
a small Bulldog. Yet another school of thought
is that it is a miniature form of the rare French
Mastiff called Dogue de Bordeaux. Pugs were
a favorite of the artist Hogarth, who included
his pet Pug "Trump" in several of his works.
From the sixteenth century, it became a fashionable
adornment of the European Courts, reaching its peak
of popularity in Victorian times. He was a pet
at Tibetan monasteries and later traveled to
Japan. The Pug then came to Europe, where the
endearing little dog was the pet of royalty
in several countries and even became the official
dog of the House of Orange in Holland. A Pug
saved William, Prince of Orange's life by alerting
him to the approaching Spaniards in 1572 at
Hermingny. Napoleon's wife, Josephine, sent
secret messages to her husband under the collar
of her Pug while she was in prison. When the
British overran the Chinese Imperial Palace
in 1860, they discovered several Pugs and Pekinese,
and brought the little dogs back to England
with them. The AKC recognized the Pug in 1885
and the breed has since become a popular companion
dog. Some of the Pug's talents include: watchdogging
and performing tricks.
