The Pug is a
small but robust
toy dog
breed with a
compressed, wrinkly
face.
Appearance
The Pug's appearance
is characterized by a
flat, wrinkled face,
compact body, and curled
tail. Pugs have four
color variations: fawn
with a black mask and
ears, entirely black,
silver, or apricot. The
silver or apricot-fawn
colors should be decided
so as to make the
contrast complete
between the color and
the trace and the mask.
The breed generally
stands between 10 and 11
inches (25–28 cm) tall
at the
withers with an
ideal weight range of 14
to 18 lb (6.3 to 8.1
kg). However, current
AKC judges indicate
slightly larger Pugs as
higher quality. "Fawn"
is the most common Pug
color, black is rare,
and silver is very rare.
Most fawn Pugs have
black facial features.
Noise
While Pugs do not
bark much, they are
still quite noisy. Many
Pugs make a grunting
nasal noise, which
increases when they get
excited. Some may snore,
especially if
overweight.
Temperament
The Pug is a very
sociable dog, but quite
stubborn. The breed even
has its own motto
associated with it: "multum
in parvo" (a lot of dog
in a little space). The
Pug is a popular breed
for a housepet, as it is
easy to groom (though it
sheds substantially more
than other dogs of
similar size). Pugs are
true "lap dogs", in that
they most often want
nothing more than to
curl up in their owner's
lap (and perhaps a
snack). They require
regular exercise, and
some Pugs will walk for
an hour or more. When
exercising a Pug,
however, it is important
to make sure they do not
overheat, as their short
noses do not cool them
off as easily as those
of longer-nosed breeds.
Pugs are generally
compatible with most
children and other
animals.
Pugs are not noted
for high achievement in
obedience competitions,
although, like all dog
breeds, they are
intelligent and learn
quickly in the right
environment. According
to the book
The Intelligence of Dogs,
they have only fair
ability to learn new
commands and to obey
commands the first time.
On the other hand, it is
worth noting that there
is much debate about how
to accurately measure
dog intelligence.
Unlike many other
breeds, Pugs have not
been bred for physical
attributes, but rather
have been bred for human
companionship. In other
words, Pugs have been
bred to have amiable
dispositions, and to
enjoy being with humans.
Health
Because they have
extremely short snouts
and no skeletal brow
ridges, Pugs can easily
scratch their
corneas or puncture
their eyeballs. Their
short noses can also
cause them to develop
breathing problems.
They are also prone to
skin infections if
the crevices in their
faces are not kept
clean. Additionally,
Pugs may be prone to
skin
allergies, which if
not treated can lead to
infection as the Pug
scratches the inflamed
areas. The breed's
characteristic flat face
may also contribute to
tooth and mouth
problems. Pugs typically
love to eat, and so are
prone to obesity; they
can quickly reach
unhealthy weights. It is
therefore important for
Pug owners to make sure
their pets get regular
exercise. Due to their
short snouts, Pugs are
vulnerable to
temperature extremes. It
is important to make
sure that they do not
overheat in hot weather,
and likewise they should
not be left outside in
very cold weather.
Pugs can also suffer
from a chronic form of
Granulomatous
Meningoencephalitis (an
inflammation of the
brain) specific to
the breed called Pug Dog
Encephalitis (PDE). PDE
is estimated to occur in
1% of Pugs. There is no
known cause or cure for
PDE, although it is
believed to be an
inherited disease.
[1]. PDE is
invariably fatal. All
dogs either die or are
put to sleep within a
few months after the
onset of clinical signs.
[2].
A healthy Pug can be
expected to live 10 to
13 years, although many
well cared for Pugs have
reached 18.
History
The demeanor
of a Pug
ranges from
expressive
and playful
to calm and
warm.
Most agree that the
Pug originated in China,
dating back to around
700 BC, though there is
some debate as to the
breed it was derived
from, perhaps from
Korea. It was bred to be
a
companion dog,
rather than a guardian.
Pugs were kept by the
royalty and were
pampered and spoiled,
and the expectation of
such treatment is a
characteristic that
seems to remain with
them to this day.
Sometimes, as a mark of
great esteem, Pugs were
given to members of the
court.
Some interesting
anecdotal history (not
officially verified, but
worth mentioning)
includes an ancient
Chinese law whereby only
the Emperor was allowed
to own a Pug. According
to these anecdotes, a
person could be put to
death for owning a Pug,
unless it was given to
him by the Emperor
himself.
When the
Dutch started
trading with
China, sailors
smuggled some Pugs home
to
Europe, where the
small dogs and natural
companions quickly
became popular. Like in
China, they soon became
associated with
nobility.
According to legend,
during a campaign
against the Spanish by
Prince of Orange,
William The Silent,
his Pug, Pompey,
thwarted an
assassination attempt.
One night at Hermigny,
while the prince slept,
assassins crept toward
his tent. Pompey heard
them and began barking
and scratching to warn
his master, finally
jumping on his master's
face to alert him to the
impending danger.
[3]
References
Miscellaneous
Famous Pugs
Pugs in the arts
- A modern artform
that is gaining
popularity is the
practice of dressing
Pugs in
humorous costumes.
- The English
painter
William Hogarth
had Pugs and
included them in his
paintings. Several
of these portraits
featured Hogarth's
wife or Hogarth
himself. Others
included his good
friend, financier
Eric Freedgood; a
famed breeder of
pugs who often joked
about his striking
resemblance to the
animals.
Trivia
-
Winston Churchill,
whose wife called
him by the nickname
"Pug", wrote a short
poem about a Pug:
- Poor
Puggy-wug
- Oh, what is the
matter with poor
Puggy-wug
- Pet him and kiss
him and give him a
hug.
- Run and fetch
him a suitable drug,
- Wrap him up
tenderly all in a
rug,
- That is the way
to cure Puggy-wug.
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