A Pug (Canus Familiaris) is a toy dog breed with a wrinkly face and medium-small body. The word "Pug" may have derived from the Latin Pugnus (fist); the Pug's face can look like a clenched fist. Or, in nod to the breed's sometimes mischievous nature, from the character "Puck" of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The breed is often summarized as multum in parvo ("much in little"), in reference to the pug's great personality, despite its small size.
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Temperament
Pugs are very sociable dogs, but quite stubborn. They are playful, charming, and clever, and are known to succeed in dog obedience skills. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human, so harsh punishment is generally unnecessary. Pugs get along well with other dogs and pets and require lots of attention; they may become slightly jealous if their owner ignores them or does not play with them. In general, they are very clingy dogs, always at their owner's feet, in their lap, or following them from room to room.
Formal Breed Standard
AKC Breed Standard for the Pug
History and Origins
Bred to adorn the laps of the Chinese emperors during the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BC), in East China, where they were known as "Lo-Chiang-Sze" or "Foo" (ceramic foos, transmogrified into dragon, with their bulging eyes are very Pug-like). The Pug's popularity spread to Tibet, where they were mainly kept by monks, and then went onto Japan, and finally Europe.
The breed was first imported in the late 16th and 17th centuries by merchants and crews from the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. The Pug later became the official dog of the House of Orange. In 1572, a pug saved the Prince of Orange's life by barking at an advancing Spanish onslaught. A pug also traveled with William III and Mary II when they left the Netherlands to ascend to the throne in 1688. This century also saw Pugs' popularity on the rise in other European countries. In Spain, they were painted by Goya, in Italy Pugs dressed in matching jackets and pantaloons sat by the coachmen of the rich, and in Germany and France Pugs appear several times as footnotes to history.
The popularity of the Pug continued to spread in France during the eighteenth century. Before her marriage at age 15 to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette owned a pug named Mops. Before her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine utilized her Pug "Fortune" to carry concealed messages to her family while she was confined at Les Carmes prison as the pet was the only recipient of visiting rights.
In nineteenth century England, Pugs flourished under the patronage of the monarch Queen Victoria. Her many Pugs, which she bred herself, had such names as Olga, Pedro, Minka, Fatima and Venus. Her involvement with the dogs in general helped to establish the Kennel Club, which was formed in 1873. Victoria favoured fawn and apricot Pugs, whereas the aristocrat Lady Brassey is credited with making black Pugs fashionable after she brought some back from China in 1886. The Pug has also thrived in democratic circles, arriving in the United States sometime in the nineteenth century (the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885) and was soon making its way into the family home and show ring.
Size & Weight
Height: Dogs 12-14 inches (30-36 cm.) Bitches 10-12 inches (25-30 cm.)
Weight: Dogs 13-20 pounds (6-9kg.) Bitches 13-18 pounds (6-8kg.)
Grooming Requirements
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.
Exercise Needs
Pugs are strong dogs with short straight legs. 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.
Health Issues
Because they have extremely short snouts and no skeletal brow ridges, Pugs can easily scratch their corneas accidentally. Their short noses can also cause them to develop breathing problems. They are prone to obesity, so 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 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). There is no known cause or cure for PDE, although it is believed to be an inherited disease. All dogs either die or are euthanised within a few months after the onset of clinical signs.
Pugs, along with other brachycephalic dogs (boxers, bulldogs), are also prone to hemivertebrae. The screwtail is an example of a hemivertebrae, but when it occurs in others areas of the spine it can be devastating, causing such severe paralysis that euthanasia is a serious recommendation.
Some pug breeds must give birth by cesarean section.
Pugs are expected to live from about 10 to 15 years.
